http://www.lexisnexis.com/mealeys/news.aspx Headline Class Actions Legal News from LexisNexis® en-us http://www.lexisnexis.com/mealeys/images/lexismealeyslogo.gif 130 29 http://www.lexisnexis.com/mealeys/news.aspx Copyright 2011 http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-6%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%201%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank NEW ORLEANS - An arbitrator exceeded his powers when he ordered that an online school and a former student must submit to class arbitration in a dispute over the validity of the degrees provided by the school, the Fifth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruled May 18, reversing the order and remanding with instructions to refer the parties to bilateral arbitration (Jeffrey H. Reed v. Florida Metropolitan University, Incorporated, et al., No. 11-50509, 5th Cir.; 2012 U.S. App. LEXIS 10048). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-6%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%202%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Supreme Court on May 21 denied a petition for rehearing of its denial of a petition for a writ of certiorari filed by indirect purchasers of diamonds that sought review of a divided en banc Third Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals' ruling reinstating a $295 million settlement of a class action lawsuit that alleged that De Beers companies fixed prices in the wholesale market for gem-quality diamonds (David T. Murray, et al. v. Shawn Sullivan, et al., No. 11-1111, U.S. Sup.; See 4/6/2012, Page 5). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-6%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%203%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank SCRANTON, Pa. - A decision not to certify a class in a physician's state complaint over unsolicited faxes was not a final decision and does not bar the physician from bringing a parallel federal action, a Pennsylvania federal judge ruled May 14 (Ari Weitzner, et al. v. Sanofi Pasteur, Inc., et al., No. 11-2198, M.D. Pa.; 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 87016). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-6%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%204%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank SAN FRANCISCO - A putative class of former college athletes who are accusing video game manufacturer Electronic Arts Inc. (EA) of conspiring with the National Collegiate Athletic Association and the Collegiate Licensing Co. (CLC) to use the former athletes names and likenesses in products without compensation in violation of the Sherman Act sufficiently allege a "meeting of the minds," the federal judge in California overseeing the multidistrict litigation ruled May 16 in denying EA's motion for judgment on the pleadings (In re NCAA Student-Athlete Name & Likeness Licensing Litigation, No. C 09-1967, N.D. Calif.; 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 68712). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-6%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%205%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank WASHINGTON, D.C. - A U.S. Court of Federal Claims judge on May 4 dismissed Missouri landowners' Fifth Amendment takings claims related to the government activation of a floodway (Big Oak Farms, Inc., et al. v. The United States, No. 11-275L, Fed. Claims; 2012 U.S. Claims LEXIS 460). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-6%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%206%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank SAN FRANCISCO - A California federal judge on May 7 dismissed an Arizona man's class complaint accusing eBay Inc., an online auction site, of shortchanging sellers via its automatic bidding process (Marshall Block v. eBay, Inc., No. 11-6718, N.D. Calif.; 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 63866; See 1/20/12, Page 30). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-6%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%207%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank NEW YORK - The Second Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals on May 9 upheld the dismissal of a law firm's class complaint accusing its bank of improperly delaying its access to the proceeds of a very large check (Law Offices of K.C. Okoli, P.C. v. BNB Bank, N.A., No. 11-904, 2nd Cir.; 2012 U.S. App. LEXIS 9384). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-6%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%208%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank SAN FRANCISCO - A Sony video game console consumer failed twice to amend his complaint to add sufficient factual allegations in support of his claim that Sony knew that its console would overheat during normal game play with certain newer games, rendering the console inoperable, a California federal judge ruled May 8, dismissing the class complaint without leave to amend (Henry Garcia, et al. v. Sony Computer Entertainment America, LLC, et al., No. 11-2246, N.D. Calif.; 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 64560). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-6%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%209%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank NEW YORK - In a May 16 bench ruling, a New York federal judge rejected, on standing grounds, a lawyer's claim that Reed Elsevier Inc. and West Publishing Corp. commit copyright infringement when publishing legal briefs online (Edward L. White, Edward L. White PC and Kenneth Elan v. West Publishing Corporation and Reed Elsevier Inc., d/b/a LexisNexis, No. 12-1340, S.D. N.Y.). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-6%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2010%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - A Puerto Rico federal judge on May 2 declined to set aside an earlier opinion that left only a breach of contract claim in a class action reimbursement suit, saying that the plaintiffs provided no evidence in support of the relief requested (College of Dental Surgeons of Puerto Rico v. Triple S Management Inc., No. 09-1209, D. Puerto Rico; 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 61462). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-6%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2011%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank CHICAGO - Pharmaceutical sales representatives fall within the administrative exemption to the overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the Seventh Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruled May 8 in a single opinion addressing two separate cases (Susan Schaefer-LaRose v. Eli Lilly & Company, No. 10-3855, James Jirak, et al. v. Abbott Laboratories, Inc., Nos. 11-1980 & 11-2131, 7th Cir.; 2012 U.S. App. LEXIS 9300). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-6%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2012%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank CINCINNATI - A company is liable for retiree health care benefits and reimbursement for Medicare Part B premiums for retirees of the company's predecessors, the Sixth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals affirmed May 3 (Willard Bender, et al. v. Newell Window Furnishings, Inc., Kirsch Division, et al., No. 11-1335, 6th Cir.; 2012 U.S. App. LEXIS 9003). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-6%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2013%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank CHICAGO - Foreign workers' claims that the administrators of plans governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act improperly withheld taxes from the workers' benefits are barred by the U.S. tax code to the extent the claims seek monetary damages and injunctive and declaratory relief, a federal judge in Illinois ruled May 2 (Ramon Mejia, et al. v. Verizon Management Pension Plan, et al., No. 11 C 3949, N.D. Ill.; 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 61090). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-6%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2014%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank NEW YORK - Fiduciaries of the JP Morgan Chase 401(k) Savings Plan did not breach their fiduciary duties under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act by offering company stock as an investment option when the company had billions of dollars in undisclosed loss exposure to Enron Corp., the Second Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals affirmed May 8 in an unpublished order (Isadore Fisher, et al. v. JP Morgan Chase & Co., et al., No. 10-1303-cv, 2nd Cir.; 2012 U.S. App. LEXIS 9288). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-6%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2015%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank CHICAGO - The Seventh Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals on May 11 affirmed dismissal of a consumer's class complaint alleging that a collection agency's dunning letter violated the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) (Misty M. Zemeckis v. Global Credit & Collection Corporation, No. 11-2334, 7th Cir.; 2012 U.S. App. LEXIS 9557). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-6%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2016%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank NEW YORK - Electronic book purchasers may continue their class action lawsuit against Apple Inc. and several e-book publishers alleging that the defendants engaged in a conspiracy to fix prices of digital books in violation of federal and state antitrust laws, the federal judge in New York overseeing the multidistrict litigation ruled May 15 in denying the defendants' motion to dismiss (In re: Electronic Books Antitrust Litigation, Nos. 11 MD 2293, 11 Civ. 5576, 11 Civ. 5609, 11 Civ. 5621, 11 Civ. 5707, 11 Civ. 5750, 11 Civ. 5896, 11 Civ. 5898, 11 Civ. 5976, 11 Civ. 6019, 11 Civ. 6079, 11 Civ. 7507, 11 Civ. 7534, 11 Civ. 7323, 11 Civ. 8329, 11 Civ. 8608, 11 Civ. 9016, 11 Civ. 9014, 11 Civ. 9559, 11 Civ. 9560, 11 Civ. 9561, 11 Civ. 9562, 11 Civ. 9563, 11 Civ. 9564, 11 Civ. 9565, 11 Civ. 9566, 11 Civ. 9567, 12 Civ. 0476, S.D. N.Y.; 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 68058). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-6%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2017%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank BOSTON - A consumer's allegations that U-Haul International Inc. violated Massachusetts baby Federal Trade Commission Act by inviting its competitors to match prices and by increasing its prices incident to those invitations made the claim plausible, the First Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruled May 4 in vacating the trial court's dismissal for failure to state a claim (Marcia Mei-Lee Liu v. Amerco, et al., No. 11-2053, 1st Cir.; 2012 U.S. App. LEXIS 9172). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-6%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2018%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank RICHMOND, Va. - Purchasers of real estate brokerage services in South Carolina who brought two putative class actions against licensed real estate brokerages that served as board members of the local multiple listing services (MLSs) stated plausible claims that the defendants conspired to unfairly restrain market competition in violation of Section 1 of the Sherman Act, the Fourth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruled May 14 in affirming the denial of the defendants' motions to dismiss (Albert Robertson, et al. v. Sea Pines Real Estate Companies, Incorporated, et al., Nos. 11-1538, 11-1540, 4th Cir.; Thomas Boland v. Consolidated Multiple Listings Service, Incorporated, et al., Nos. 11-1539, 11-1541, 4th Cir.; 2012 U.S. App. LEXIS 9694). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-6%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2019%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank PHILADELPHIA - A federal judge in Pennsylvania on May 11 granted summary judgment to the producers and distributors of Wellbutrin XL on direct and indirect purchasers' claims that the defendants illegally conspired to prevent generic versions of the drug from entering the American market by filing sham patent infringement lawsuits and a citizen petition (In re: Wellbutrin XL Antitrust Litigation, Nos. 08-2431 [direct], 08-2431 [indirect], E.D. Pa.; 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 66312). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-6%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2020%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank PHILADELPHIA - A panel of the Third Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals on May 18 reversed and remanded a ruling, concluding that the class action claims against bankrupt Owens Corning related to defective roof shingles were not discharged in the company's bankruptcy proceeding (Patricia Wright, et al. v. Owens Corning, No. 11-2026, Chapter 11, 3rd Cir.). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-6%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2021%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank OMAHA, Neb. - The Eighth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals on May 7 upheld a District Court's decision to have the same class counsel represent both active and retired employees of a Nebraska city in a dispute over health care benefits, finding that all class members were properly represented and the settlement agreement was fair (Professional Firefighters Association of Omaha, Local 385, et al. v. James Conrad Zalewski, No. 11-1817/3253, 8th Cir.; 2012 U.S. App. LEXIS 9226). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-6%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2022%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank SAN JOSE, Calif. - A California federal judge on May 14 certified a class of medical device company sales representatives who allege that their employer violated state law by failing to reimburse them for ordinary business expenses (John Hopkins, et al. v. Stryker Sales Corporation, No. 5:11-cv-02786, N.D. Calif.; 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 67101). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-6%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2023%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank PITTSBURGH - A Pennsylvania federal judge on May 9 conditionally certified a class of salaried workers age 50 and older who are alleging violations of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), finding that the act's provision that it protects individuals who are at least 40 does not preclude subgroups limited to older workers (Rudolph A. Karlo, et al. v. Pittsburgh Glass Works, LLC, No. 10-1283, W.D. Pa.; 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 64801). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-6%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2024%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank ST. LOUIS - A Missouri federal judge on May 17 conditionally certified a class of phone company sales representatives who allege that they are owed overtime pay, finding that the two-phase procedure for class certification is appropriate, even though the Eighth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals has not addressed the issue for Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) claims (Kyle O'Donnell, et al. v. Southwestern Bell Yellow Pages, Inc., No. 4:11-cv-1107, E.D. Mo.; 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 68960). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-6%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2025%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank NEW YORK - A federal judge in New York on May 3 certified a class of 29 employee benefit plans that lost money after investing plan assets with Bernard Madoff on breach of fiduciary duty claims arising under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (In re: Beacon Associates Litigation [Buffalo Laborers Security Fund, et al., v. J.P. Jeanneret Associates, Inc., et al.], No. 09 Civ. 777, S.D. N.Y.; 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 63549). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-6%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2026%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank MIAMI - A federal judge in Florida on May 16 certified a nationwide class and 11 regional subclasses of PNC Bank N.A. account holders accusing the bank of using a software scheme to illegally collect excessive overdraft fees (In re Checking Account Overdraft Litigation, No. 09-md-2036, S.D. Fla.). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-6%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2027%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank LOS ANGELES - A California federal judge on May 7 granted class certification in two consolidated lawsuits accusing a hair product manufacturer of failing to properly label its anti-frizz serum as being flammable and suggesting that the serum was safe to use with high-heat styling appliances (Jill Guido, et al. v. L'Oreal, USA, Inc., et al., No. 11-1067, Catherine Altamura, et al. v. L'Oreal, USA, Inc., et al., No. 11-5465, C.D. Calif.; 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 65200). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-6%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2028%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation rejected the objections of cigarette companies about possible disparate class certification rulings and, in an April 14 order, remanded the four remaining consolidated cases without a ruling on class certification to their transferor courts (In re: Light Cigarettes Marketing and Sales Practices Litigation, MDL No. 2068, JPMDL, No. 1:09-md-2068, D. Maine; See 12/16/11, Page 18). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-6%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2029%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank CINCINNATI - The Sixth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals on May 3 upheld the certification of a class of Ohio residents who purchased washing machines that allegedly grew mold, finding that a federal district court did not abuse its discretion in certifying the class on the issue of liability (In re: Whirlpool Corporation Front-Loading Washer Products Liability Litigation, No. 10-4188, 6th Cir.; 2012 U.S. App. LEXIS 9002). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-6%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2030%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank CINCINNATI - A Sixth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals panel on May 9 agreed to take up Mortgage Electronic Registration System Inc.'s challenge of a ruling remanding a class action suit against it but found that remand was proper because language in the Class Action Fairness Act (CAFA) does not allow third-party defendants to remove cases (In re: Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems Inc., No. 12-501, 6th Cir.). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-6%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2031%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank NEW YORK - A federal judge in New York on April 9 appointed two Sonar Capital Management LLC shareholders as lead plaintiffs in a securities class action filed against Sonar and others over allegations of insider trading, ruling that both shareholders will "aid the class in its pursuit of relief" (Sidney Gordon v. Sonar Capital Management LLC, et al., No. 11-9665, S.D. N.Y.; 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 50572). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-6%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2032%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Based on Sixth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals precedent, a Tennessee federal judge on May 21 denied a motion to strike an offer of judgment in a Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) proposed class suit that provides only the named plaintiff with $25,000 (Jesus R. Sanchez, et al. v. Verified Person, Inc., et al., No. 11-2548, W.D. Tenn.; 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 70128). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-6%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2033%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank SAN FRANCISCO - A California federal judge on May 11 disqualified the lead named plaintiff in a wage-and-hour class suit filed against a restaurant chain and ordered him to pay more than $15,000 in sanctions (Brittney Calvert, et al. v. Red Robin International, Inc., No. 11-3026, N.D. Calif.; 2012 U.S. App. LEXIS 66476). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-6%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2034%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank PHILADELPHIA - The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania judge presiding over the multidistrict Imprelis products liability litigation approved and adopted the joint proposed preservation of documents protocol in the case management order entered May 9 (In re: Imprelis Herbicide Marketing, Sales Practices & Products Liability Litigation, No. 11-2284, MDL 2284, E.D. Pa.). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-6%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2035%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank NEW YORK - A federal judge in New York on April 26 upheld a magistrate judge's recommendation allowing the use of predictive coding software to aide in searching for and retrieving electronically stored information (ESI) in an employment discrimination class action suit, after finding that there is not enough evidence to show that the method is unreliable or that it will prevent the plaintiffs from discovery (Monique Da Silva Moore, et al. v. Publicis Groupe SA, et al., No. 11-cv-1279, S.D. N.Y.). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-6%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2036%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank PHILADELPHIA - A Philadelphia man on May 21 moved for reconsideration after a Pennsylvania federal judge on May 9 denied a request to dismiss the man's class suit accusing a Philadelphia restaurant franchise of overcharging customers by imposing an 8 percent sales tax on alcoholic beverages but stayed the case to allow the plaintiff to file a petition with the Pennsylvania Revenue Department (Alan Johnson v. Famous Dave's of America Inc., et al., No. 12-344, E.D. Pa.). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-6%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2037%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank KANSAS CITY, Kan. - Skechers U.S.A. Inc., in a settlement agreement filed in Kentucky federal court on May 16, has agreed to pay $45 million to settle two California federal class action lawsuits alleging that the company's "toning" footwear were falsely advertised to improve posture, promote weight loss, strengthen the back, improve blood circulation, promote sleep, reduce stress and burn calories (In Re: Skechers Toning Shoes Products Liability Litigation, No. 11-2308, W.D. Ky.). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-6%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2038%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - A global private equity firm will pay $275,000 to settle a claim that it violated the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act of 1988 (WARN Act) when it shut down a company that administered employee incentive and reward programs, according to a settlement agreement that received preliminary approval May 7 from a Tennessee federal judge (Ron Kizer v. Summit Partners, L.P., No. 1:11-cv-38, E.D. Tenn.; 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 63795). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-6%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2039%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - An Arkansas federal judge on May 11 refused to approve a confidential settlement of 16 workers' unpaid overtime claims, finding that the public's interest outweighs any need to keep the agreement confidential (Bill Hollomon, et al. v. AT&T Mobility Services, LLC, No. 4:11-cv-00600, E.D. Ark.; 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 66158). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-6%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2040%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank PROVIDENCE, R.I. - A federal judge in Rhode Island on May 4 denied final approval of the proposed settlement of a class action alleging that Bank of America Corp. (BAC) imposed unfair late fees on its credit card customers, calling the plaintiffs' request for $1.5 million in attorney fees and expenses "excessive" and saying the proposed settlement provides "too little benefit" to the class (Bruce J. Trombley and Ryan Sukaskas v. Bank of America Corp., No. 08-00456, D. R.I.). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-6%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2041%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank SAN JOSE - An amended complaint filed in California federal court on May 17 combining more than 20 similar cases around the county seeks more than $15 billion from Facebook Inc. for allegedly intercepting and tracking users' Internet communications and activity after users log out of their Facebook accounts (In Re: Facebook, Inc. Internet Tracking Litigation, No. 12-2314, N.D. Calif.). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-6%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2042%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank NEW YORK - Four baseball fans filed a putative class action in federal court in New York on May 9 against Major League Baseball Enterprises Inc. (MLB), several MLB member clubs and several cable and Internet providers, alleging that live-game video offerings violate antitrust laws (Fernanda Garber, et al. v. Office of the Commissioner of Baseball, et al., No. 12-cv-3704, S.D. N.Y.). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-5%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%201%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank NEW ORLEANS - The Louisiana federal judge overseeing the multidistrict litigation for claims arising from the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon rig and ensuing oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico gave preliminary approval for two separate class settlement agreements on May 2, one resolving certain economic and property damage claims and one resolving certain medical claims stemming from the cleanup response effort (In re: Oil Spill by the Oil Rig "Deepwater Horizon" in the Gulf of Mexico on April 20, 2010, MDL 2179, No. 10-md-2179, E.D. La.; See 2/18/11, Page 17). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-5%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%202%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank DETROIT - A Michigan federal judge on April 27 granted preliminary approval to an $8.4 million settlement of a property rights dispute brought by Michigan residents that arose out of the installation of fiber-optic cable on railroad rights of way by several of the nation's largest telecommunications companies (James Coghlan, et al. v. Sprint Communications Company L.P., et al., No. 11-11563, E.D. Mich.; 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 59086). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-5%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%203%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank CORAL GABLES, Fla. - Citizens Financial Group Inc., RBS Citizens N.A. and Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania (collectively, Citizens), in an April 25 joint notice of settlement filed in Florida federal court, have agreed to pay $137.5 million to settle a class action lawsuit in which it was accused of manipulating its customers' transactions to generate excess overdraft fee revenues (In Re: Checking Account Overdraft Litigation, No. 09-2036, S.D. Fla.; See 11/18/11, Page 22). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-5%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%204%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank NEW YORK - A federal judge in New York on April 30 granted final approval to a $49.5 million class action settlement with American Express on claims that American Express violated antitrust laws by conspiring with credit-card-issuing banks to fix foreign currency conversion fees; however, claims that it conspired to impose arbitration clauses in cardholder agreements continue (In re Currency Conversion Fee Antitrust Litigation [Robert Ross, et al. v. American Express Company, et al.], MDL No. 1409, 04 Civ. 5723, S.D. N.Y.). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-5%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%205%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank KANSAS CITY, Kan. - The judge supervising multidistrict litigation over automatic temperature compensation (ATC) in motor fuel sales has approved a settlement whereby Costco Wholesale Corp. agrees to install ATC on fuel pumps in states where it buys temperature-adjusted fuel (In re Motor Fuel Temperature Sales Practices Litigation, MDL No. 1840, No. 2:07-md-1840 KHV, D. Kan.; 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 56927). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-5%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%206%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank NEWARK, N.J. - The American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey announced April 23 that a settlement has been approved in the federal class action lawsuit accusing Passaic County, N.J., of unconstitutional and inhumane conditions at the Passaic County Jail (Angel Colon, et al. v. Passaic County, et al., No. 08-4439, D. N.J.). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-5%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%207%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank SAN DIEGO - A California federal judge on April 24 granted preliminary approval of an $8.5 million settlement in a multidistrict litigation accusing an online deals company and some of its merchant partners of selling vouchers with illegal expiration dates (In re Groupon Marketing and Sales Practices Litigation, No. 11-2238, S.D. Calif.). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-5%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%208%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank LOS ANGELES - Walt Disney Parks and Resorts US Inc. and Disney Online Inc. have agreed to make its theme parks more accessible to settle a class complaint alleging discrimination against people with visual impairments visiting the Disney theme parks in California and Florida (Cari Shields, et al. v. Walt Disney Parks and Resorts US, Inc., et al., No.10-5810, C.D. Calif.). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-5%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%209%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank OAKLAND, Calif. - A California federal judge on April 27 certified a class of consumers claiming privacy violations after their credit reports were provided by a credit-reporting company to another company seeking to collect on towing deficiency claims (Roane Holman, et al. v. Experian Information Solutions, Inc., No. 11-180, N.D. Calif.; 2012 U.S. App. LEXIS 59401). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-5%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2010%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank BOSTON - A federal judge in Massachusetts on April 30 held that three proposed classes for residents claiming that loan servicers and law firms improperly foreclosed on their homes by failing to show valid assignments of the underlying mortgage loans after finding that the classes' claims failed to satisfy the requirements of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23(a) (Darlene Manson, et al. v. GMAC Mortgage LLC, et al., No. 08-12166-RGS, D. Mass.; 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 59492). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-5%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2011%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank SAN FRANCISCO - The Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals on April 27 denied a petition for permission to appeal a district court's order decertifying a class of iPhone purchasers in their antitrust claims against Apple Inc. and AT&T Mobility Inc. (ATTM) and granting motions to compel arbitration filed by Apple and AT&T (Paul Holman, et al. v. Apple, Inc., et al., No. 12-80012, 9th Cir.). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-5%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2012%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank NASHVILLE, Tenn. - A Tennessee federal judge on April 27 granted certification to a class of Nashville parents suing over rezoning alleging that the changes exacerbated racial segregation in the school and deprived black student of equal education opportunities and three days later denied a summary judgment motion by the defendants (Frances Spurlock, et al. v. David Fox, et al., No. 09-756, M.D. Tenn.; 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 59719). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-5%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2013%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank WARREN, Ohio - An Ohio appellate court on April 30 dismissed the second appeal of the certification of a class of consumers alleging that a debt collection company violates the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) by filing time-barred lawsuits (Asset Acceptance LLC v. Sean C. Caszatt, et al., No. 2011-L-080, Ohio App., 11th Dist.; 2012 Ohio App. LEXIS 1662). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-5%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2014%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank DES MOINES, Iowa - A federal judge in Iowa on April 24 denied class certification for former insurance agents in a potential putative class action alleging that an insurance company wrongly cut renewal commissions because the agents sought a class with an overly broad definition and one that did not meet the numerosity requirement (Bruce Copp, et al. v. American Enterprises Services Co. and American Republic Insurance Co., No. 11-189, S.D. Iowa). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-5%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2015%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank SAN DIEGO - A California federal judge on April 26 certified a class of field technicians that work for a global computer services company in that state in a lawsuit alleging unpaid overtime and other wage-and-hour claims (George Schulz and Pablo Cardona v. QualxServ, LLC, and Worldwide TechServices, LLC, No. 09-cv-17, S.D. Calif.; 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 58561). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-5%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2016%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank SAN JOSE, Calif. - A federal judge in California on April 25 certified a nationwide class for borrowers who obtained a mortgage loan through Washington Mutual Bank FA (WMB) since June 2006 in which the lender obtained appraisals through eAppraiseIT LLC after finding that the plaintiffs sufficiently demonstrated that proof of an alleged conspiracy can be proven on a classwide basis and that common proof can be used to determine inflation in the aggregate (Felton A. Spears, et al. v. First American EAppraiseIT, a/k/a eAppraiseIT LLC, No. C-08-00868 RMW, N.D. Calif.; 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 58077). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-5%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2017%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - The Southern District Missouri Court of Appeals on April 30 reversed a trial court order certifying a class of motorists injured on an allegedly dangerous stretch of highway, concluding that there were too many different circumstances involved with the individual accidents (Sherry Smith, et al. v. Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission, No. SD31590, Mo. App., Southern Dist.; 2012 Mo. App. LEXIS 585). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-5%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2018%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank MADISON, Wis. - Class certification was granted April 16 in a lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin in which the class representatives allege chlorinated solvent vapor intrusion from a Madison factory site (Kathleen McHugh, et al. v Madison-Kipp Corp., et al., No. 11-724, W.D. Wis.). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-5%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2019%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Certification was denied April 19 in a putative class action in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas for plaintiffs seeking to represent neighbors of natural gas pipeline compressors and transmission stations for alleged exposure to noise, methane and hydrogen sulfide contamination (Peggy Ginardi, et al. v. Frontier Gas Services, et al., No. 11-420, E.D. Ark.; 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 54845). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-5%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2020%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank LOS ANGELES - A California federal judge on April 27 ruled that two privacy lawsuits brought by cell phone users alleging that their communications were secretly recorded belong in state and not federal court because California's Invasion of Privacy Act is not completely preempted by the Federal Wiretap Act (Cindy Leong, et al. v. Carrier IQ Inc., et al., No. 12-1562, Carey Eckert, et al. v. Carrier IQ Inc., et al., No. 12-1564, C.D. Calif.; 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 59480). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-5%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2021%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank SANTA ANA, Calif. - A California federal judge on April 24 remanded a class complaint accusing a pharmacy chain of selling a product marketed as honey in its California stores that failed to meet the state's requirements to be sold as honey (Meryl Overton v. CVS Caremark Corporation, et al., No. 12-121, C.D. Calif.; 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 57537). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-5%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2022%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank NEW ORLEANS - The Louisiana federal judge overseeing the Vioxx multidistrict litigation on April 23 enjoined plaintiffs in a Missouri state court class action from offering evidence that does not exclude damages that were already paid by defendant Merck, Sharp & Dohme in two global settlements in the MDL (In Re: Vioxx Products Liability Litigation, MDL Docket No. 1657, No. 2:05-md-1657, E.D. Pa.; 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 56634). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-5%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2023%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank SAN DIEGO - A California federal magistrate judge on April 27 denied a motion by plaintiffs in a wage-and-hour class dispute to compel defendants to produce contact information for past and present financial advisers (FA) from December 2005 to the present (Michael E. Taylor, et al. v. Waddell & Reed, Inc., et al., No. 09-2909, S.D. Calif.; 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 59324). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-5%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2024%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Supreme Court on April 23 refused to hear an appeal of the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals' decision to partially revive one of three class action complaints accusing Ticketmaster Corp. and two other companies of creating a "free trial" offer for a coupon program that transmits a consumer's payment information from Ticketmaster to the online coupon company when the consumer selects it (Ticketmaster, et al. v. Stephen C. Stearns, et al., No. 11-983, U.S. Sup.). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-5%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2025%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank WASHINGTON, D.C. - A class of approximately 2 million non-basic cable television customers in the Philadelphia market on April 9 filed a brief in opposition to Comcast's petition seeking U.S. Supreme Court review, in light of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. v. Dukes (131 S.Ct. 2541 [2011]), of a Third Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruling affirming the certification of the class on its claims that Comcast Corp. worked to establish a monopoly in the Philadelphia market and then increased prices once it had eliminated competition (Comcast Corporation, et al. v. Caroline Behrend, et al., No. 11-864, U.S. Sup.; See 2/3/12, Page 26). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-5%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2026%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank BOSTON - The First Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals on April 18 upheld a finding that two hospital employees failed to sufficiently plead their wage-and-hour claims but rejected the dismissal with prejudice and remanded the suit to give the employees one more chance to amend their complaint (Ashleigh Pruell, et al. v. Caritas Christi, et al., No. 11-1929, 1st Cir.; 2012 U.S. App. LEXIS 7859). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-5%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2027%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank CINCINNATI - The bulk purchase of motor vehicle records without a specific need does not violate the Driver's Privacy Protection Act (DPPA), the Sixth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruled April 30, upholding a trial court's rejection of a class complaint (Norma Wiles, et al. v. Ascom Transport System, Inc., dba ACS Transport Solutions, Inc., No. 11-5342, 6th Cir.; 2012 U.S. App. LEXIS 8991). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-5%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2028%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank PHILADELPHIA - Indirect purchasers' Sherman Act conspiracy claims against several egg producers were dismissed without prejudice because the purchasers' allegations did not directly connect the producers to a price-fixing conspiracy, but federal conspiracy claims against other producers and state antitrust, consumer protection and unjust enrichment claims can continue, the federal judge in Pennsylvania who is overseeing the multidistrict litigation ruled April 24 (In re: Processed Egg Products Antitrust Litigation [All Indirect Purchaser Plaintiff Actions], MDL No. 2002, No. 08-md-02002, E.D. Pa.; 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 57846; See 4/6/12, Page 29). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-5%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2029%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank CHICAGO - An Illinois federal judge cannot enjoin a California unfair competition law (UCL) class action involving advertising of stainless steel drums in dryers under the All Writs Act, the Seventh Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals held May 1 (Steven J. Thorogood, et al. v. Sears, Roebuck and Co., Nos. 10-2407, 11-2133, 7th Cir.; 2012 U.S. App. LEXIS 8811). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-5%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2030%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank SAN JOSE, Calif. - Employees of seven high-tech companies with principal places of business in the San Francisco-Silicon Valley may continue with their allegations that the defendants, including Apple Inc., conspired to fix and suppress employee compensation and to restrict employee mobility by entering into identical bilateral "Do Not Cold Call" agreements, a federal judge in California ruled April 18 (In re: High-Tech Employee Antitrust Litigation, No. 11-CV-02509-LHK, N.D. Calif.; 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 55302). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-5%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2031%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank BOSTON - A Massachusetts federal judge on April 18 dismissed with prejudice a complaint alleging overtime violations against a Boston hospital, finding that the plaintiffs failed to state a claim just as the plaintiffs have done in several similar cases filed by the same law firm against other medical centers (Elizabeth Manning, et al. v. Boston Medical Center Corporation, et al., No. 09-11463, D. Mass.; 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 54692). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-5%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2032%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank CHICAGO - In a putative class action on interlocutory appeal, the Seventh Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals on April 18 determined that Shell Oil defendants did not willfully violate the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA) by printing the last four digits of the "account number" on credit card receipts (Natalie Van Straaten v. Shell Oil Products Company LLC, et al., No. 11-8031, 7th Cir.; 2012 U.S. App. LEXIS 7789). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-5%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2033%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank CAMDEN, N.J. - A federal judge in New Jersey on April 19 denied TD Bank N.A.'s motion to dismiss a putative class action in which the plaintiffs allege that the bank committed unlawful banking practices by automatically registering customers in its overdraft protection program, concurring with a multidistrict litigation finding in a similar case that the plaintiffs have plausibly pleaded facts that state a claim for relief (Hughes, et al. v. TD Bank, N.A., No. 11-07257, D. N.J.; 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 54765). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-5%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2034%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank BANGOR, Maine - A federal judge in Maine on April 27 granted the defendant's motion to dismiss a proposed class action accusing the defendant of violating the Fair and Accurate Credit Transaction Act of 2003 (FACTA), finding that the plaintiff failed to plausibly allege that the defendant committed a willful violation of the act when it included a credit card expiration date on a receipt (Adam Vidoni v. The Acadia Corporation, No. 11-00448, D. Maine; 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 59967). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-5%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2035%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank NEWARK, N.J. - In an unpublished opinion, a New Jersey federal judge on April 24 dismissed a putative class action case against a health insurer, saying the plaintiff failed to state a cause of action because the actions taken by the defendant in seeking repayment of money for services provided failed to implicate the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (TR13 Enterprises v. Aetna Inc., et al., No. 11-3021, D. N.J.; 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 57158). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-5%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2036%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank SAN FRANCISCO - Direct and indirect purchasers may continue with their claims alleging a wide-ranging conspiracy to fix the prices of optical disk drives (ODDs) by manufacturers and sellers of ODDs, a federal judge in California ruled April 19 in denying the defendant's motions to dismiss the purchasers' amended complaints (In re Optical Disk Drive Antitrust Litigation, No. 3:10-md-2143 RS, N.D. Calif.; 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 55300). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-5%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2037%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank NEW ORLEANS - The judge presiding over a putative class action in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana brought by Louisiana and Mississippi plaintiffs for personal injuries and business losses against the owner of a paper mill issued an order April 27 dismissing maritime law punitive damages, but the plaintiffs may pursue punitive damages under state law (Terral Evans, et al. v. TIN Inc., No. 11-2067, E.D. La.; 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 58990). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-5%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2038%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank SAN DIEGO - A California federal judge on April 30 allowed plaintiffs in a vitamin class action to conduct discovery into defendant Bayer Corp.'s profits and expenses to possibly determine "restitutionary disgorgement" of profits (David Johns, et al. v. Bayer Corporation, et al., No. 3:09-cv-1935, S.D. Calif.; 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 60121). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-5%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2039%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Two black men filed a federal class complaint on April 18, claiming that American Broadcast Cos. Inc. intentionally excludes people of color from the lead roles in its popular television programs, "The Bachelor" and "The Bachelorette" (Nathaniel Claybrooks, et al. v. American Broadcasting Companies, Inc., et al., No. 12-388, M.D. Tenn.). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-5%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2040%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank MUSCATINE, Iowa - Residents of Muscatine, Iowa, filed a putative class action lawsuit April 23 in the Muscatine County, Iowa, District Court against the owner/operator of an ethanol plant for releasing chemicals and particulate matter (Laurie Freeman, et al. v. Grain Processing Corp., No. LA-CV-0212320, Iowa Dist., Muscatine Co.). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-5%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2041%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank SACRAMENTO, Calif. - A federal judge in California on April 23 granted a consumer's motion to amend a complaint against a debt collector to add a number of class claims, ruling that the consumer timely filed the motion and the debt collector won't be prejudiced by amendment (Robin Langley v. Sentry Credit, Inc., No. 10-3060, E.D. Calif.; 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 56847). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-5%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2042%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank DALLAS - Six noncitizen Americans (NCAs) filed a class complaint on April 18 in a Texas federal court challenging the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE's) decision to place ankle bracelet monitors on a certain class of people with final orders of deportation or in proceedings while under supervision in the United States (Angel Hernandez, et al. v. Scott Weber, ICE Acting Director Dallas Field Office, et al., No. 12-1191, N.D. Texas). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-5%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2043%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - An Alabama man and his employer filed a class action lawsuit on April 17 in federal court against Blue Cross companies, alleging antitrust violations for allegedly conspiring to divide and allocate markets for commercial, consumer health insurance in the state (Fred R. Richards, et al. v. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama, et al., No. 12-1133, N.D. Ala.). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-5%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2044%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - In the wake of a lawsuit brought by their village, residents of Roxana, Ill., have filed a class action lawsuit against several oil refining companies in state court, saying in an April 16 complaint that the Wood River Oil Refinery has contaminated the village's land, air and water with benzene and other cancer-causing hydrocarbons (Jeane Parko, et al. v. Shell Oil Company, et al., No. 2012 L 483, Ill. Cir., 3rd Judicial Dist., Madison Co.). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-5%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2045%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank SEATTLE - Three Washington men filed a federal class complaint on April 26 against the U.S. Office of Border Patrol, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and a number of officials, alleging that they and many others have been seized and/or interrogated in violation of the U.S. constitution by border patrol agents throughout Washington State's Olympic Peninsula (Jose Sanchez, et al. v. United States Office of Border Patrol, et al., No. 12-5378, W.D. Wash.). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-5%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2046%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank By Alan P. Jacobus and Eric J. Knapp I. Abstract: Three 2011 United States Supreme Court Decisions Will Change The Way Insurance Class Actions Are Litigated http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-4%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%201%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank SAN FRANCISCO - The California Supreme Court on April 12, in a highly anticipated ruling, held that employees suing over meal and rest breaks may proceed with a certified rest break subclass, reversing in part an appellate panel ruling (Brinker Restaurant Corporation, et al. v. The Superior Court of San Diego County, No. S166350, Calif. Sup.; 2012 Cal. LEXIS 3149; See 11/13/2008, Page 27). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-4%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%202%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank WASHINGTON, D.C. - Pharmaceutical sales representatives, or "detailers," "tout" drugs to doctors but do not actually engage in sales as defined in the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and thus are entitled to overtime pay, an attorney representing a class of sales representatives argued April 16 before the U.S. Supreme Court (Michael Shane Christopher, et al. v. SmithKline Beecham Corporation, dba GlaxoSmithKline, No. 11-204, U.S. Sup.; See 12/2/11, Page 4). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-4%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%203%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Supreme Court on March 19 declined to review a divided Sixth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals opinion reversing class certification in a multiemployer trust fund's action alleging that Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM) breached its fiduciary duties by charging a fee to subsidize coverage for nongroup clients (Pipefitters Local 636 Insurance Fund, et al. v. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, No. 11-901, U.S. Sup.; 2012 U.S. LEXIS 2125). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-4%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%204%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank OAKLAND, Calif. - Finding that the plaintiffs in a purported class action over cost-per-click (CPC) advertising agreements with Facebook Inc. failed to establish "that questions of law or fact common to the class members predominate over questions affecting only individual members," a California federal judge on April 13 denied their motion to certify the class complaint for breach of contract and unfair business practices (In re Facebook Inc. PPC Advertising Litigation, No. 09-3043, N.D. Calif.; 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 52512). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-4%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%205%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank LAS VEGAS - A Nevada federal judge on April 17 granted a renewed motion for class certification in a wage-and-hour complaint after previously declining to certify the class for failure to satisfy the numerosity requirement of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23 (Robert Greene v. Alan Waxler Group Charter Services, LLC dba AWG Charter Services, et al., No. 09-748, D. Nev.; 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 53568). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-4%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%206%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank DETROIT - A Michigan federal judge on April 9 refused to certify a class of people issued tickets for violating a Detroit loitering ordinance that one Michigan man claims violates the U.S. Constitution (Jason Morton v. City of Detroit, No. 11-12925, E.D. Mich.; 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 49473). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-4%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%207%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank SANTA ANA, Calif. - A California appeals panel on April 4 affirmed a trial court's rejection of class certification and leave to file a second amended complaint in a lawsuit accusing a women's fashion retailer of various wage-and-hour violations (Sally I. Chaaban, et al. v. Wet Seal, Inc., et al., No. G044815, Calif. App., 4th Dist., Div. 3; 2012 Cal. App. Unpub. LEXIS 2560). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-4%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%208%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank PHILADELPHIA - A federal judge in Pennsylvania on April 9 refused to reconsider her order granting certification of a class of indirect purchasers who are suing the producers and distributors of Wellbutrin XL for illegally conspiring to prevent generic versions of the drug from entering the American market (In re: Wellbutrin XL Antitrust Litigation, No. 08-2431 [indirect], E.D. Pa.). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-4%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%209%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank SAN DIEGO - The question of whether CVS Pharmacy violates state labor laws by not providing seats for cashiers does not have a common answer for a proposed class of more than 17,000 cashiers at CVS stores in California, a federal judge in that state held April 4 in denying class certification in a former cashier's lawsuit against the company (Nykeya Kilby v. CVS Pharmacy, Inc., No. 09-cv-2051, S.D. Calif.; 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 47855). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-4%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2010%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank NEW YORK - A New York federal judge on April 9 declined to certify a nationwide class of utility meter service workers but conditionally certified a local class of meter workers in a complaint alleging wage-and-hour violations by the employer (Michael McGlone v. Contract Callers, Inc., et al., No. 11-3004, S.D. N.Y.; 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 49702). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-4%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2011%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank GREENBELT, Md. - A Maryland federal judge on April 10 conditionally certified a class of satellite television installers in a complaint alleging unpaid overtime wages (Jeffrey Butler, et al. v. DirectSat USA, LLC, et al., No. 10-2747, D. Md.; 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 50119). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-4%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2012%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank CINCINNATI - A federal judge in Ohio on April 11 granted a motion to certify a class of veterans and spouses of veterans seeking injunctive relief regarding how the Ohio Medicaid program calculates eligibility for the state's Home and Community Based Medicaid Waiver Program (Betty A. Ledford, et al., v. Michael B. Colbert, in his capacity as Director of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, No. 1:10cv706, S.D. Ohio, Western Div.; 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 50613). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-4%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2013%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank CHICAGO - A federal judge in Illinois on March 12 decertified a class in an Employee Retirement Income Security Act action that has been pending since 1996, finding that the plaintiff failed to demonstrate commonality at the class certification stage as required by the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in Wal-Mart, Inc. v. Dukes (131 S.Ct. 2541 [2011]; See 6/22/11, Page 4) (Robert J. Matz v. Household International Tax Reduction Investment Plan, No. 96 C 1095, N.D. Ill.). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-4%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2014%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank SAN FRANCISCO - A new named class member may be added to a wage-and-hour class complaint, but an attempt to add a new claim comes months too late, a California federal judge ruled April 17 (Kevin McConnell, et al. v. Red Robin International, Inc., No. 11-3026, N.D. Calif.; 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 53942). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-4%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2015%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank CHICAGO - An Illinois federal judge on April 13 refused to dismiss or transfer a class suit accusing a college planning services company of violating the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) (Atif N. Rana, et al. v. College Admissions Assistance, LLC, No. 11-4280, N.D. Ill.; 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 51949). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-4%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2016%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank KANSAS CITY, Kan. - A Kansas federal judge on April 16 granted a motion to remand a Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) class complaint, finding that the removal notice was filed too late (Critchfield Physical Therapy, P.C., d/b/a Montgomery County Physical Therapy, et al. v. The Taranto Group, Inc., No. 12-2087, D. Kan.; 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 52545). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-4%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2017%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank ST. LOUIS - A Missouri federal judge on April 12 granted a motion to conduct jurisdictional discovery in a class complaint accusing the operators of a St. Louis medical facility of failing to protect patients' personal information when a unencrypted laptop was stolen in December 2010 (Rita Barricks v. Barnes-Jewish Hospital, et al., No. 11-1386, E.D. Mo.; 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 51422). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-4%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2018%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. - An Illinois federal judge on April 13 refused to aggregate three Plavix multiplaintiff lawsuits in order to justify removal under the Class Action Fairness Act (CAFA) as a "mass action" (Richard Davidson, et al. v. Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, et al., No. 12-58, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 52429; Thomas Boyer, et al. v. Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, et al., No. 12-61, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 52430; Kenneth Anglin, et al. v. Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, et al., No. 12-60, S.D. Ill.). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-4%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2019%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank SAN DIEGO - A California federal judge on April 13 rejected two multidistrict litigation plaintiffs' motion to remand their individual class action complaints or, in the alternative, to designate them as a subclass in the suit alleging improper automated cellular telephone calls (In Re: Portfolio Recovery Associates, LLC, Telephone Consumer Protection Act Litigation, No. 11-2295, S.D. Calif.; 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 52378). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-4%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2020%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank OPELIKA, Ala. - An Alabama federal judge on April 10 denied a motion to stay an order remanding a class complaint over mortgage fees to Alabama state court (Celestine Thomas, et al. v. Countrywide Home Loans, No. 11-399, M.D. Ala.; 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 49844). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-4%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2021%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank NEW YORK - A federal judge in New York on April 5 granted preliminary approval to a $10 million settlement between Bear Stearns Cos. Inc. and participants in its employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) who alleged that the plan fiduciaries breached their duties under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act by allowing the plan to invest in the company's stock when they knew that Bear Stearns' involvement in the securitized subprime mortgage market made it imprudent to do so (In re Bear Stearns Companies ERISA Litigation, No. 1:08-md-01963, 08 Civ. 2804, S.D. N.Y.). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-4%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2022%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank Case name: J. Paul Charlebois, et al. v. Angels Baseball LP, et al. Case number: 10-853 Court: C.D. Calif. http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-4%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2023%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank NEW YORK - A federal judge in New York on March 30 granted preliminary approval of a $150 million settlement between JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A. and three pension plans on the plans' claims that JPMorgan breached its fiduciary duty of loyalty by investing the plans' and other entities' cash collateral in medium-term notes (MTNs) of Sigma Finance Inc. (SFI) pursuant to its securities lending program while at the same time extending repurchasing financing to Sigma (Board of Trustees of the AFTRA Retirement Fund v. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., No. 09-686; Board of Trustees of the Imperial County Employees' Retirement System v. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., No. 09-3020; The Investment Committee of the Manhattan and Bronx Surface Transit Operating Authority Pension Plan v. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., No. 09-4408, S.D. N.Y.). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-4%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2024%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank NEW YORK - A New York federal magistrate judge on April 16 approved a $2.5 million settlement of a class action lawsuit alleging that a global project management and construction company misclassified some employees and failed to pay them overtime wages (Renee Sewell, et al., Bovis Lend Lease, Inc. and Bovis Lend Lease LMB, Inc., No. 09-6548, S.D. N.Y.; 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 53556). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-4%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2025%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank PASADENA, Calif. - The Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals on April 5 reversed and remanded the dismissal of a suit brought on behalf of a putative class of consumers who incurred certain expenses while enrolled in Bank of America N.A.'s overdraft protection program (ODP) (Eduardo Larin v. Bank of America, N.A., No. 10-56276, 9th Cir.; 2012 U.S. App. LEXIS 7023). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-4%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2026%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank OMAHA, Neb. - A federal judge in Nebraska on April 13 denied a defendant's motion for judgment on the pleadings in a putative class action that alleges violations of the Fair and Accurate Credit Transaction Act of 2003 (FACTA) regarding a debit card receipt (Keith v. Back Yard Burgers of Nebraska, Inc., et al., No. 11-00135, D. Neb.; 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 52012). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-4%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2027%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank CLEVELAND - An Ohio federal judge on April 10 denied a vitamin maker's motion for summary judgment in a class complaint claiming that the company falsely advertised its line of vitamins as promoting prostate health (Gerald Godec, et al. v. Bayer Corp., et al., No. 10-224, N.D. Ohio; 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 49990; See 11/18/11, Page 9). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-4%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2028%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank KEY WEST, Fla. - A Florida federal judge on April 5 tossed an airline passenger's class complaint seeking damages for her baggage being lost, finding that her claims were preempted and untimely (Susan Miller, et al. v. Delta Air Lines, Inc., No. 11-10099, S.D. Fla.; 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 48294). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-4%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2029%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank DETROIT - A Michigan federal judge on March 30 dismissed a health insurance company from a class action lawsuit that accused the insurer and 21 hospital and health systems of illegally contracting, conspiring and engaging in anticompetitive conduct through the execution of "most favored nation" (MFN) clauses in contracts between the parties (City of Pontiac v. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, et al., No. 11-10276, E.D. Mich.; 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 45088). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-4%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2030%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank WILMINGTON, Del. - Dismissal of a securities class action lawsuit against Ford Motor Co. and others is proper because the lead plaintiff failed to properly plead loss causation in making his federal securities law claims, a federal judge in Delaware ruled April 2 (Bradd Gold v. Ford Motor Co., et al., No. 10-587, D. Del.; 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 46533). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-4%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2031%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank PHILADELPHIA - Saying the plaintiff failed to marshal sufficient facts to support her consumer fraud claims, a Pennsylvania federal judge dismissed a putative class action over flaming box fans on April 10, but granted the plaintiff leave to refile (Deborah Osness, individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated, v. Lasko Products Inc., No. 11-3846, E.D. Pa.; 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 504200). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-4%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2032%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank TACOMA, Wash. - A federal judge in Washington on April 11 granted in part and denied in part a motion to dismiss a putative class action brought by a plaintiff who says a bank charged her fees for a credit card payment protection service even though she was ineligible for the program (Denton v. Department Store National Bank, No.10-05830, W.D. Wash.; 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 51106). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-4%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2033%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank BOSTON - The First Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals on April 18 affirmed the dismissal of state law claims brought by two health care workers alleging various wage violations but reinstated federal claims brought by the same plaintiffs in a separate complaint (Patricia Cavallaro, et al. v. UMass Memorial Healthcare, Inc., et al., Nos. 11-1073 and 11-1793, 1st Cir.; 2012 U.S. App. LEXIS 7858). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-4%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2034%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank LOS ANGELES - A manufacturer's representation that ice cream products contain zero trans fats complies with federal labeling law, preempting California unfair competition law (UCL) claims, the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals held April 5 while also finding that the use of the terms "original" and "classic" were not deceptive (Mirko Carrea, et al. v. Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream Inc., No. 11-15263, 9th Cir.; 2012 U.S. App. LEXIS 6851). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-4%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2035%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank PHILADELPHIA - The Third Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals on April 17 upheld a trial court's refusal to revive an inmate's individual lawsuit, which had been part of a consolidated action against the prison, more than a decade after dismissal (In re: Bayside Prison Litigation Jeffrey Morton v. Bayside State Prison, No. 11-1714, 3rd Cir.; 2012 U.S. App. LEXIS 7651). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-4%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2036%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank PHILADELPHIA - Approximately 2 million nonbasic cable television customers in the Philadelphia market may proceed to trial against Comcast on the class's Sherman Act Section 1 rule-of-reason claim and certain of its Section 2 monopolization and attempted monopolization claims related to the company's swap agreements, a federal judge in Pennsylvania ruled April 12 (Caroline Behrend, et al. v. Comcast Corporation, et al., No. 03-6604, E.D. Pa.; 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 51889). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=12-4%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Class%20Actions%2037%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank PHILADELPHIA - A Third Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals panel on April 3 affirmed a lower court's decision that an arbitrator correctly held that an agreement between a physician and health insurer did provide for class arbitration (John Ivan Sutter, M.D. v. Oxford Health Plans, No. 11-1773, 3rd. Cir.; 2012 U.S. App. LEXIS 6618).