Class Action Settlements

Recent court decisions on settlements of lawsuits filed after The Class Action Fairness Act (CAFA), as well as settlements of litigation filed before CAFA, have heightened the complexity for obtaining approval of class settlements -- both before and after the class has been certified.

Our panel of class action and complex litigation specialists will analyze the issues that arise for both plaintiffs and defendants in pre- and post-CAFA litigation settlements -- and strategies toward achieving settlement approval.

John Beisner, Partner, O’Melveny & Myers LLP, Washington, DC, heads the firms Class Action, Mass Torts and Aggregated Litigation Practice and focuses on class action defense, mass tort cases, and federal and state litigation. He has frequently testified on class action and claims aggregation issues before the U.S. Senate and House Judiciary Committees.

Barry B. Cepelewicz, M.D., Partner, Meiselman, Denlea, Packman, Carton & Eberz P.C., White Plains, NY, chairs the firm’s Health Care group. He represents health care providers as plaintiffs and defendants in all stages of civil litigation, and is currently spearheading a class action case against major health insurance companies.

Frank Hirsch, Partner, Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP, Raleigh, concentrates on class actions in the financial services and insurance industries and has also defended class action claims in the telecommunications and consumer products industries. He is a regular speaker at seminar programs regarding consumer finance litigation.

They will consider these and other key questions:

• What are the primary considerations in attempting settlements of purported class action lawsuits that were filed pre-CAFA, and post-CAFA?
• How are different jurisdictions treating the issue of considering settlements before and after certifying the class?
• What are the major notice challenges -- and best practices for overcoming them -- that arise in pursuing pre- and post-CAFA class action settlements?

*******************************************************************************

TELECONFERENCE CD
Purchase a CD of the full conference proceedings.

CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION

CLE credit is available for an additional $65 each for attorneys seeking CLE credits for NY or CT.
Other states may grant CLE credits for listening to this CD - check with your state about applying for self-study credit on CD-listening.