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Class Action Litigation

 

Renowned class action law firm of Lite DePalma Greenberg Afanador, LLC earns national recognition and praise from courts for protecting the rights of individuals and entities

Lite DePalma Greenberg Afanador has successfully brought and participated in class actions that have resulted in the recovery of billions of dollars for our clients.

Lite DePalma Greenberg Afanador is a class action law firm with impressive results and special expertise in the following areas: 

FEDERAL SECURITIES LITIGATION - When companies issuing securities, or their officers, directors, underwriters or accounting and other professionals are suspected of committing securities fraud, Lite DePalma Greenberg Afanador helps aggrieved investors to recover their lost investment caused by that fraud. Lite DePalma Greenberg Afanador is also the leading class action law firm in New Jersey in the area of ERISA litigation on behalf of employees of companies that have committed securities fraud.

The firm has participated in many successful federal securities cases. Currently, Lite DePalma Greenberg is Co-Lead Counsel in some of the largest securities fraud cases in the nation, which are pending in courts around the country.

ANTITRUST - Lite DePalma Greenberg Afanador has taken a leadership role and participated in many cases seeking to win compensation for violations of the federal antitrust laws, including claims of price-fixing and monopolization.

CONSUMER FRAUD - Lite DePalma Greenberg Afanador, as a leading class action law firm, has been strongly committed to stopping fraudulent and deceptive conduct against consumers. The firm's consumer cases have focused on the sale of defective products, the misrepresentation of products, and other deceptive and unconscionable practices. Invoking both state and federal laws, Lite DePalma Greenberg Afanador cases have recovered billions of dollars for consumers.

The firm is especially known for its leading role in combating fraudulent insurance sales practices. Lite DePalma Greenberg Afanador cases against many major insurance companies have won recoveries of billions of dollars for policyholders.

Read more about our class action settlements & successes

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Ambro Hegab v. Family Dollar Stores, Inc., Civil Action No. 11-1206 (CCC)(JAD), the Court granted final approval of class action settlement in a case involving allegations that Family Dollar Stores, Inc. violated New Jersey Wage and Hour Law by misclassifying its store managers in New Jersey as exempt from state overtime premium pay.  Click here to read the Opinion.

Haley v. Kolbe & Kolbe Millwork Co., No. 3:14-cv-00099, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 171589 (W.D. Wis. Dec. 10, 2014)

Haley v. Kolbe & Kolbe Millwork Co., No. 3:14-cv-00099, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 100829 (W.D. Wis. July 24, 2014)

Schwartz v. Avis Rent a Car Sys., LLC, No. 11-4052, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 189251 (D.N.J. Sept. 18, 2012)

In re Samsung DLP Television Class Action Litigation, No. 07-2141, 2009 WL 3584352  (D.N.J. Oct. 27, 2009)

In re Par Pharmaceutical Securities Litigation, No. 06-cv-3226 (PGS), 2009 WL 3234273 (D.N.J. Sept. 30, 2009).

Bosland v. Warnock Dodge Inc., 197 N.J.543 (2009) (Consumer Fraud Act does not require victimized consumer to give pre-suit notice to seller).

Zhu v. Schering Plough Corporation, No. 03-1204(KSH), 2008 WL 4510039 (D.N.J. Sep. 30, 2008).

In re Municipal Derivatives Antitrust Litigation, MDL 1950 (S.D.N.Y. 2008)

In re Atlas Mining Company Securities Litigation, No. CV 07-428-N-EJL-MHW, 2008 WL 821756 (D. Idaho March 25, 2008).

In re Atlas Mining Co. Sec. Litigation, 2008 WL 821756 (D. Idaho, March 25, 2008) (appointing Lite DePalma Greenberg Afanador Lead Counsel in nationwide securities fraud class action).

New Jersey v. Sprint Corp., 531 F. Supp. 2d 1273 (D. Kan 2008) (sustaining complaint for securities fraud under new Tellabs standard).

In re Tenet Healthcare Corp. Securities Litigation, No. CV 02-8462-RSWL (RZx), 2007 WL 5673884 (C.D. Cal. Dec. 5, 2007).

In re Static Random Access Memory (SRAM) Antitrust Litigation, Cv-1819 (N.D. Cal. 2007)

In re Motorola Securities Litigation, 2007 WL 487738 (N.D. Ill. March 29, 2007) (denying in substantial part defendants’ motions for summary judgment in certified nationwide securities fraud class action; case settled on eve of trial for $190 million).

Zeno v. Ford Motor Co., Inc., 480 F. Supp. 2d 825 (W.D. Pa. 2007) (denying defendant’s motion for summary judgment in certified class action for breach of contract; case later settled for full benefit of the bargain recovery).

Muise v. GPU, Inc., 391 N.J. Super. 90 (App. Div. 2007) (reversing Law Division’s refusal to obey appellate mandate to certify class).

Steiner v. MedQuist, Civil Action No. 04-CV-05487-JBS, 2006 WL 2827740 (D.N.J. Sept. 29, 2006).

Chin v. Chrysler Corporation, Civil Action No. 95-5569 (JCL), District of New Jersey, 461 F. Supp.2d 279 (D.N.J. 2006) (Co-Lead Counsel) (catalyst for $53 million in relief to class)

Zeno v. Ford Motor Co., 238 F.R.D. 173 (W.D. Pa. 2006) (certifying class of Pennsylvania auto buyers and lessees in breach of contract case; case later settled for full benefit of the bargain recovery).

In re Bradley Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Sec. Litig., 421 F. Supp. 822 (D.N.J. 2006) (sustaining securities class action complaint).

Gross v. German Foundation Industrial Initiative, 456 F.3d 363 (3d Cir. 2006) (suit seeking monies for victims of Nazi-era wrongs is justiciable, despite political question, act of state, and international comity doctrines).

In re Royal Dutch/Shell Transport Litigation, 404 F. Supp. 2d 605 (D.N.J. 2005); 380 F. Supp.2d 509 (D.N.J. 2005).

Lite DePalma Greenberg Afanador won final approval of a $768 million settlement in a nationwide insurance sales practices class action against Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company. Lite DePalma Greenberg Afanador served as Co-Lead Counsel for the Class. The settlement, is the third largest insurance sales practices settlement in history. It represents the culmination of nearly ten years of litigation in courts around the country. Varacallo v. Massachusetts Mutual Life Ins. Co., 226 F.R.D. 207 (D.N.J. 2005).

Varacallo v. Massachusetts Mutual Life Ins. Co., 226 F.R.D. 207 (D.N.J. 2005) (approving nationwide class action settlement of insurance sales practices case worth over $768 million to class members, and noting that this was third largest insurance sales practices settlement ever).

In re Schering ERISA Litigation, 420 F.3d 231 (3d Cir. 2005) (reversing dismissal of ERISA securities class action).

In re Motorola Securities Litigation, No. 03 C 287, 2004 WL 2032769 (N.D. Ill. Sept. 9, 2004).

New Jersey v. Sprint Corp., No. 03-2071-JWL, 2010 WL 610671 (Feb. 19, 2010); 2008 WL 191780 (D. Kan. Jan. 23, 2008); 2004 WL 1960130 (D. Kan. Sept. 3, 2004); 314 F. Supp. 2d 1119 (D. Kan. 2004).

Muise v. GPU, Inc., 371 N.J. Super. 13 (App. Div. 2004) (re-certifying large portion of class that was erroneously decertified by lower court)

In re Lucent Technologies Securities Litigation, No. 00-CV-621 (JAP), 2003 WL 25488395 (D.N.J. Dec. 15, 2003).

In re Aremissoft Corp. Securities Litigation, 210 F.R.D. 109 (D.N.J. 2002).

In re Lucent Technologies Securities Litigation, 217 F. Supp. 2d 529 (D.N.J. 2002).

Varacallo v. Mass. Mut. Life Ins. Co., 332 N.J. Super. 31 (App. Div. 2000) (reversing denial of certification of New Jersey class, resulting in the first certified class against MassMutual, which ultimately led to nationwide federal class action settlement worth over $750 million)

In re Nazi Era Cases Against German Defendants Litigation, Civil Action No. 98-4104(WGB), District of New Jersey, 198 F.R.D. 429 (D.N.J. 2000) (Liaison Counsel in 60 actions filed throughout the United States and consolidated in the District of New Jersey; $5.2 billion settlement)

In re Prudential Insurance Company of America Sales Practices Litigation, Master File No. 95-4704 (AMW), District of New Jersey, 962 F. Supp. 450 (D.N.J. 1997), aff'd as to settlement approval, 148 F.3d 283 (3d Cir. 1998) (Liaison Counsel) (settlement worth over $4 billion)

In re TFT-LCD (Flat Panel) Antitrust Litigation, MDL 1827 (N.D. Cal.)

In re Direct Random Access Memory (DRAM) Antitrust Litigation, No. 02-cv-01486-OHG (N.D. Cal.)

In re Brand Names Prescription Drugs Antitrust Litigation, MDL 997 (N.D. Ill.)

In re NASDAQ Market Makers Antitrust Litigation, MDL 1023 (S.D.N.Y.)

In re Commercial Tissue Antitrust Litigation, MDL 1189 (N.D. Fla.)

Superior Beverage/Glass Container Antitrust Litigation, 89 C 5251 (N.D. Ill.)

In re Chlorine and Caustic Soda Antitrust Litigation, No. 86-5428 (E.D. Pa.)

In re Records and Tapes Antitrust Litigation (N.D. Ill.)

In re Broiler Chicken Antitrust Litigation (N.D. Ga.)

In re High Pressure Laminates Antitrust Litigation, No. 00-MD-1368 (CLB) (S.D.N.Y.)

In re Carbon Dioxide Antitrust Litigation, MDL 940 (M.D.Fla.)

Working with the Southern Poverty Law Center and the New York City office of Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP, Allyn Z. Lite and Jeffrey A. Shooman of LDG filed a Consumer Fraud Act Complaint against a New Jersey entity, its principal and an affiliate who offer “conversion therapy” that purports to help gay persons become straight. Such “conversion therapy” has been universally recognized in the psychological profession as having no scientific basis, and has been condemned for being demeaning and harmful. The case is pending in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Hudson County, before Judge Patrick J. Arre. To read the Complaint, click here.

Lite DePalma Greenberg Afanador was one of two law firms that prosecuted a Section 11 Securities Act class action against Prudential Financial and underwriters stemming from Prudential's participation in the auction rate securities market, after that market collapsed in early 2008. The United States District Court for the District of New Jersey granted final approval to a nationwide settlement of $16,500,000.

Lite DePalma Greenberg Afanador was one of two law firms that prosecuted a Section 11 Securities Act class action against Prudential Financial and underwriters stemming from Prudential’s participation in the auction rate securities market, after that market collapsed in early 2008. The United States District Court for the District of New Jersey granted final approval to a nationwide settlement of $16.5 million.

Lite DePalma Greenberg Afanador obtained a $193 million settlement in a nationwide securities fraud class action against Motorola, Inc. Lite DePalma Greenberg Afanador served as Co-Lead Counsel for the Class, and for the court-appointed Lead Plaintiff, the State of New Jersey, Division of Investment. The settlement was reached shortly before trial was scheduled to begin, after four years of hotly contested litigation, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

Lite DePalma Greenberg Afanador obtained a $185 million settlement of a nationwide securities class action against Bristol-Myers Squibb. Lite DePalma Greenberg Afanador served as liaison counsel for the Class. The settlement was granted final approval by the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey.

Lite DePalma Greenberg Afanador won final approval of a settlement in a consumer fraud case involving model year 2000 and 2001 Ford F-150 vehicles. The settlement covers four states, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, California, and South Carolina. Lite DePalma Greenberg Afanador obtained certifications of New Jersey and Pennsylvania classes and was named Co-Lead Counsel for those classes. The plaintiffs alleged that Ford had charged extra for towing packages on the F-150 vehicles, that part of that extra charge was for an upgraded radiator, and that, as Ford later admitted, Ford did not equip any of those vehicles with the upgraded radiator. The settlement provides every class member with the right to make a claim for what discovery revealed was the full value of the difference between the standard and upgraded radiators, or for 50% of the actual cost that a class member paid to have the upgraded radiator installed.

Lite DePalma Greenberg Afanador helped achieve three partial settlements in In re Insurance Brokerage Litigation, a multi-district litigation that is pending in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey. Lite DePalma Greenberg Afanador serves as Liaison Counsel for the Commercial Case in that matter. The Zurich Defendants have agreed to pay at least $121.8 million, the Marsh Defendants agreed to pay over $62 million, and the Gallagher Defendants have agreed to pay $28 million.

In Re: National Collegiate Athletic Association Student-Athlete Concussion Injury Litigation, (13-cv-09116, USDC NDIL), a class action on behalf of college athletes who suffered or were at risk of suffering head trauma, achieving structured relief, in-game medical protocols and medical monitoring of athletes, while preserving their right to pursue individual litigation.

Hegab v. Family Dollar Stores, Inc. (11-cv-01206-CCC – JAD, USDC DNJ), involving the successful representation of the plaintiff class in this wage-and-hour dispute.

In re Human Tissue Product Liability Litigation, a complex MDL mass action proceeding involving the illegal harvesting of body parts and the untested surgical implanting of those parts,which leg to a favorable, global settlement.

In re Bristol-Myers Squibb Securities Litigation, which settled for $185 million.

In re Merck & Co. ERISA Litigation, a $49.5 million ERISA settlement.

Galanti v. Goodyear, a $300 million product liability settlement.

Reginald Newton v. Tenet Healthcare Corp. (Tenet Healthcare Securities Litigation)(C.D. Cal.), in which settlements of $216.5 million.

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Today, the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey granted the motion of the plaintiffs and the class of former Russell Building tenants whom they represent and preliminary approved a proposed classwide settlement. By order of the Court, a Court-approved notice of the settlement, with details about its terms and former Russell tenants’ options regarding the settlement, will go out by mail or e-mail to all former Russell Building tenants for whom AvalonBay has addresses within 20 days. The Court will conduct a hearing on July 11, 2017 at 10:30 A.M. to decide whether to grant final approval to the settlement and allow it to go into effect.  click here.

Lite DePalma Greenberg Afanador is pleased to announce that the settlement class consisting of purchasers of Rust-Oleum’s Restore Products in In Re: Rust-Oleum Restore Marketing Sales Practices And Products Liability Litigation, Case No. MDL No. 2602, Case No. 1:15-cv-1364 (N.D. Ill.) received final approval of the $9.3 million settlement reached in October 2016 with defendant Rust-Oleum Corp. The multidistrict litigation involved 13 lawsuits accusing Rust-Oleum of marketing its Restore Products as rejuvenating for wooden and concrete decks, when, in actuality, the products peeled-off and left decks in need of repair. The settlement provides relief relative to the injuries suffered by settlement class members. Katrina Carroll, Member of the Firm, is co-lead counsel for the settlement class. During the final approval hearing, Jude Amy St. Eve, who presided over the litigation and the settlement, told Katrina Carroll, , “You are a model I wish all lawyers would follow.”  To read more about the settlement, click here.

Kyle A. Shamberg was quoted in an article in Law360 entitled “Treadmill Buyers Get Another Chance in False Ad Suit.” To read this article, discussing LDG’s successful bid to amend its claims in a class action against Precor, Inc. alleging that Precor misrepresented the accuracy of the touch sensor heart rate monitors on its treadmills, click here.

Earlier this week, the federal court handling the Avalon at Edgewater fire class action, in which LDG is a court-appointed co-lead counsel, dismissed the plaintiffs’ claim under the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act. Among other things, AvalonBay had advertised Avalon at Edgewater as a luxury complex with “thoughtfully designed floor plans,” when in fact the buildings were a fire trap that quickly burned to the ground when AvalonBay’s employees negligently started the fire. Despite that, the court found that the plaintiffs had not done enough to show consumer fraud, and that “not every alleged wrong can be remedied with every cause of action.” AvalonBay has not tried to dismiss the plaintiffs’ other causes of action, and those claims are proceeding. Plaintiffs’ motion for class certification has already been filed, and briefing on that motion is to conclude in January 2016. Meanwhile, the court has scheduled a settlement conference for December 14, 2015, in an effort to achieve a prompt and fair resolution for all Avalon at Edgewater tenants.

Kyle Shamberg was quoted in an article from KOMO TV News, “Free Samples Not Necessarily Free.” To read this article, click here.

Katrina Carroll was mentioned in an article on Law360, "Shutterfly Hit With Privacy Suit Over Facial Recognition".  To read this article, click here.

Bruce D. Greenberg was quoted in an article on Law360.com about the Appellate Division’s recent decision in Daniels v. Hollister, which rejected the Third Circuit’s view that, in order to certify a class of consumers, each class member must be individually ascertainable at the time of class certification.

Katrina Carroll was quoted in an article on ABC News 10, "Class action lawsuit filed in San Diego against Anthem".  Click here to view this article.

Katrina Carroll was a speaker/panelist for "Playing in the Not So Friendly Confines: Offensive and Defensive Strategies for Litigating Privacy and Data-Breach Class Actions in this Season's High-Tech e-Commerce Game," at the 18th Annual National Institute on Class Actions held in Chicago, Illinois, October 23-24, 2014.

Susana Cruz Hodge was included in an article on Law360.com, “Avis Can’t Escape Reward Program Fee Class Action” (August 7, 2014), covering a federal district court’s rejection of the car-rental company’s bid to toss a class-action suit, and its ruling that the plaintiff has standing to pursue the suit.

Susana Cruz Hodge was included in an article on Law360.com, “Shop-Vac, Lowe’s False-Ad MDL Trimmed to 2 Lead Plaintiffs” (July 18, 2014), covering a Pennsylvania judge’s acceptance of a Lite DePalma Greenberg Afanador motion on all issues except one.

Bruce D. Greenberg was a speaker at NJSBA's “Hot Topics in Class Actions."

Bruce D. Greenberg spoke at the “Mass Tort Litigation Conference with Judge Marina Corodemus (Ret.),” HarrisMartin, April 4, 2014.

Katrina Carroll was a presenter at the Chicago Bar Association’s 2014 seminar on “The Ethics of Class Action Settlements.”

Susana Cruz Hodge was included in an article on Law360.com, “Sun Pharma Can’t Quell Patent Feud Over Epilepsy Drug” (October 7, 2013), covering a New Jersey federal judge’s refusal to dismiss claims against a pharmaceutical company in a patent suit over a generic version of an anti-epilepsy drug.

Bruce D. Greenberg was a panelist at a Morris County Bar Association seminar entitled "Building a Trial Record and Arguing it on Appeal," on September 16, 2013. Other panelists included Supreme Court Justice Anne Patterson, Appellate Division Judge Jack Sabatino, and retired Appellate Division Judges Edwin Stern and Francine Axelrad.

Susana Cruz Hodge was included in an article on Law360.com, “Avis Can’t Race Past Consumer Suit Over E-Toll Fees” (April 12, 2012), covering a New Jersey federal judge’s refusal to toss a proposed class action claiming Avis Budget Group Inc. did not tell customers about hidden fees.

Bruce D. Greenberg spoke on "Class Actions Today … and Tomorrow," New Jersey State Bar Association, May 19, 2011

Bruce D. Greenberg served as a moderator for "Consumer Class Actions & Beyond: Threatened or Alive and Well?" New Jersey ICLE, April 27, 2011

Bruce D. Greenberg spoke on "Significant Developments in Class Actions," New Jersey ICLE, June 24, 2009 (webinar).

Bruce D. Greenberg was reappointed as co-Chair of the New Jersey State Bar Association's Class Actions Committee. He has served as co-Chair since 2008. Mr. Greenberg succeeded Allyn Z. Lite, who served as co-Chair for four years.

Bruce D. Greenberg spoke on "Hot Topics in Class Action Litigation," New Jersey State Bar Association, May 17, 2007.

Bruce D. Greenberg spoke on "The Future of Class Actions in New Jersey- Alive and Well?!," New Jersey ICLE, May 19 and June 17, 2005

Lite DePalma Greenberg Afanador was mentioned in the New Jersey Law Journal for the firm's role on the team that achieved a $42 million class action settlement against Staples on behalf of Staples managers. Joseph J. DePalma and Mayra V. Tarantino participated in that case for the firm.

Joseph J. DePalma appeared in an article in the New Jersey Law Journal about a nationwide class action lawsuit that LDG filed against Maibec, Incorporated for defective siding shingles.

Joseph J. DePalma was quoted in an article in the New Jersey Law Journal about ERISA securities litigation. The article highlighted the firm's success in In re Schering-Plough ERISA Litigation, 420 F.3d 231.

Joseph J. DePalma appeared in an article in the New Jersey Law Journal about a nationwide class action lawsuit that LDG filed against Maibec, Incorporated for defective siding shingles

Joseph J. DePalma was quoted in an article in the New Jersey Law Journal about ERISA securities litigation. The article highlighted the firm's success in In re Schering-Plough ERISA Litigation, 420 F.3d 231.

Bruce D. Greenberg was quoted in the New Jersey Lawyer newspaper on the subject of the impact of the Class Action Fairness Act on New Jersey class action cases.

Bruce D. Greenberg was quoted in the Newark Star-Ledger article about Bosland v. Warnock Dodge, Inc., a New Jersey Supreme Court decision that rejected an attempt to reduce protections for consumers under the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act. Mr. Greenberg had submitted a friend of the court brief in the case on behalf of Consumers League of New Jersey, whose reasoning was adopted by the Supreme Court in its unanimous opinion.

Bruce D. Greenberg was quoted in the New Jersey Law Journal about the mechanics of the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation. The article focused on the Pet Food Products Liability Litigation, in which Lite DePalma Greenberg Afanador filed more cases than any other firm in the nation.

Bruce D. Greenberg was quoted in an article in the National Law Journal about the use of confidential witnesses in class action securities cases. A similar version of that article appeared in the New Jersey Law Journal as well.

Lite DePalma Greenberg Afanador was mentioned in an article in The AmLaw Daily as one of the firms representing plaintiffs in the Olympus securities fraud litigation. Steven J. Greenfogel of the firm's Philadelphia office is leading the firm's efforts in that case.

Bruce D. Greenberg and Katrina Carroll were mentioned in the New Jersey Law Journal in connection with their success in defeating a motion by Wells Fargo Bank to dismiss a class action case that LDG brought against the bank and its predecessor.

Allyn Z. Lite was quoted in the New Jersey Law Journal in connection with LDG’s defense of Gann Law Books in a class action brought against Gann under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act.

Bruce D. Greenberg presented a seminar for the Insurance Society of Philadelphia entitled "Class Actions in New Jersey Courts." The seminar was approved for continuing legal education credit in Pennsylvania.

Allyn Z. Lite was the moderator and Bruce D. Greenberg was a panelist on the subject of "Hot Topics in Class Action Litigation" at the New Jersey State Bar Association annual convention. Other panelists included Superior Court Judges Jonathan N. Harris and Marina Corodemus, J.S.C. (retired).

Allyn Z. Lite was a featured speaker at the Camden County Bar Association's seminar on federal practice, entitled "Succeeding in Federal Court: The Masters on the Federal Rules, Local Rules, Civil Case Management and Discovery." Among the other featured speakers were United States District Judges Jerome B. Simandle and Robert B. Kugler and United States Magistrate Judge Ann Marie Donio.

Allyn Z. Lite was the featured speaker at a program in Washington, DC sponsored by the Chicago Bar Association in commemoration of the sixtieth anniversary of the Nuremberg trials.

Bruce D. Greenberg was a featured speaker at the New Jersey Association of Justice's Meadowlands Seminar. His topic was "Consumer Class Action Caselaw Updates."

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