Are You Covered? Warnings From Recent Face Mask Litigation
- While the use of masks to combat the spread of COVID-19 has become a politicized issue in the United States, the scientific community largely agrees that wearing face coverings is one of the most effective ways to slow infections.[1] State and local governments have... ›
Advertising Checklist for In-House Counsel
By: Penelope A. Preovolos and Claudia M. Vetesi
Along with making their advertising materials eye-catching and influential, consumer‑facing companies need to ensure that their representations about products and services comply with advertising laws. This article discusses basic advertising law, some things to avoid and some things to do. Although every state has... ›Fool Me Once, No Injunctive Relief on Behalf of a Class of Purchasers
Does a plaintiff who files a class action alleging false advertising have Article III standing to seek injunctive relief—even when that plaintiff is a past purchaser of the product, and therefore is aware of the defendant’s allegedly false statements regarding the product? The Ninth... ›- - Class Action, FCRA
Ninth Circuit Confirms No Choice-of-Law Analysis Necessary to Certify Settlement Class
By: Claudia M. Vetesi
The Ninth Circuit recently issued an opinion holding that district courts usually need not engage in rigorous analysis under the predominance inquiry of Rule 23(b)(3) before certifying a settlement class. In Jabbari v. Farmer ,[1] the Ninth Circuit affirmed the district court’s certification of... › Ninth Circuit Addresses FCRA Standing Analysis and Emphasizes Importance of Remedial Measures
The Ninth Circuit recently issued an opinion addressing standing and willfulness under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). In Ramirez v. TransUnion ,[1] the Ninth Circuit affirmed a jury verdict and punitive damages award, although it reduced those damages by a third. The court... ›Ninth Circuit Holds Plaintiffs Not Entitled To Equitable Restitution Under UCL/CLRA If Adequate Remedy At Law Is Available
Earlier this month, the Ninth Circuit held that state law cannot expand or confine a federal court’s power to issue equitable restitution because federal courts are bound by traditional equitable principles, which require, among other things, a showing of an inadequate remedy at law.... ›Class Action Litigation in the Wake of COVID-19
By: Tiffany Cheung
Class action claims have taken on a new twist in the wake of COVID-19. Already, the global pandemic has generated litigation across a broad swath of areas, including privacy, data security, and consumer, among others. To date, hundreds of business lawsuits related to the... ›Ninth Circuit Provides Guidance on Pre-certification Discovery
By: Claudia M. Vetesi
Earlier this year, the Ninth Circuit held that plaintiffs cannot avail themselves of liberal discovery rules in order to locate class representatives. The court found that Rule 26(b)(1) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, which governs the discovery process, does not authorize discovery... ›Ninth Circuit Weighs In on Standing Requirements for Privacy Claims and Approval of Injunctive Relief-Only Class Settlements
Courts scrutinize class action settlements to ensure they result from arms-length negotiations and are fair and reasonable to absent class members. Applying that standard to a nationwide settlement of a privacy lawsuit against Facebook, on March 3, 2020, the Ninth Circuit provided a helpful... ›- - Appellate & Supreme Court, Class Certification, Product Liability, Consumer Products, Class Action
Ninth Circuit’s En Banc Hyundai Decision: Less Strict Standard For Settlement Classes
By: Penelope A. Preovolos
On June 7, 2019, an en banc Ninth Circuit panel affirmed certification of a nationwide settlement class and held, 8-3, that class certification criteria are applied less strictly in a settlement context.[1] Hyundai II preserves the ability to certify nationwide settlement classes while maintaining... ›