|
$100
Million-Plus Verdicts &
Settlements 1992-2004
|
| In
2003 and 2004, the National Law Journal selected
Lieff Cabraser as one of the top 20 plaintiffs' law firms
in the nation. In compiling the list, the National Law
Journal examined recent verdicts and settlements in
addition to overall track records. The editors also contacted
plaintiff and defense counsel, as well as dozens of corporate
general counsel, asking them for the names of plaintiffs'
litigation firms that they would use and recommend. |
| The
following is a list of the settlements and verdicts over
the past twelve years valued at $100 million or greater
that Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP has participated
in either as Lead Counsel for plaintiffs or as co-counsel
playing a significant role in the litigation. For a comprehensive
list of our cases, please see our firm
resume (Adobe
Acrobat format). |
| 1. |
$206
Billion Settlement in Tobacco Litigation in Federal
and State Courts Nationwide |
|
| We
represented Attorneys' General of Massachusetts, Louisiana
and Illinois, several additional states, and 18 cities and
counties in California in the litigation that resulted in
the $206 billion settlement announced in November 1998 between
the tobacco industry and the states' attorneys general.
In California alone, our clients will receive an estimated
$12.5 billion over the next 25 years. |
| 2. |
$6.75
Billion Verdict in Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Litigation
(D. Alaska) |
|
| We
served as one of the court-appointed Plaintiffs' Class Counsel
representing over 32,000 fishermen, Alaska natives, landowners
and others whose livelihoods were gravely affected by the
disaster. In July 2001, The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
upheld the $260 million compensatory damages verdict, but
remanded the case to trial court to reconsider the punitive
damages award. On January 28, 2004, Judge Holland issued
an order finding that a punitive damages award of $4.5 billion
plus $2.2 billion in interest was in accordance with recent
U.S. Supreme Court authority. The case is now back before
the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. |
| 3. |
$6
Billion in Settlements in Holocaust Cases |
|
| We
served as Settlement Class Counsel in the case against the
Swiss Banks that resulted in $1.25 billion in July 2000,
and participated in multi-national negotiations that led
to Executive Agreements between Germany and the United States
establishing an additional $5 billion in funds for survivors
and victims of Nazi persecution. Judicial decree approving
these settlements published at 105 F. Supp. 2d 139 (E.D.N.Y.
2000) ("Swiss Banks") and In re Nazi Era Cases
Against German Defendants Litigation, MDL No. 1337,
198 F.R.D. 429 (D.N.J. 2000). |
| 4. |
$4.75
Billion Settlement in Fen-Phen Diet Drugs Litigation,
MDL No. 1203 (E.D. Pa.) |
|
| Elizabeth
J. Cabraser was appointed to the Plaintiffs' Management
Committee which organized and directed the Fen-Phen diet
drugs litigation filed across the nation in federal courts.
Our firm continues to represent individuals pursuing personal
injury claims. |
| 5. |
$4.25
Billion in Settlements in Silicone Gel Breast Implants
Litigation, MDL No. 926 (N.D. Ala.) |
|
| We
served on the Plaintiffs' Steering Committee and the five-member
negotiating committee which achieved a $4.25 billion global
settlement of the action, and later a $3.25 billion Plan
of Reorganization when Defendant Dow withdrew from the settlement
and sought bankruptcy protection. |
| 6. |
$3.3
Billion Verdict in ACC/Lincoln Savings Securities
Litigation (MDL No. 834) |
|
| With
co-counsel, we participated in all phases of the prosecution
of this action and helped to obtain the class judgment of
over $3.3 billion and settlements totaling over $250 million. |
| 7. |
$1.5
Billion Settlement in El Paso Natural Gas Antitrust
Cases (California State Coordinated Proceedings) |
|
| With
co-counsel, we represented California residential and business
consumers of natural gas in a class action lawsuit against
El Paso Natural Gas. The complaint alleged that during the
California energy crisis in 2000-2001, El Paso rigged bids
and otherwise manipulated the market for natural gas pipeline
transmission into California. In December 2003, the Court
granted final approval to an almost $1.5 billion settlement. |
| 8. |
$1.1
Billion Judgment in State Farm Imitation Auto Parts
Litigation (Illinois State Court) |
|
| The
combined jury verdict/court judgment was the largest ever
against a U.S. insurance company for consumer fraud. The
appeals court rejected State Farm's appeal and the case
is now before the Illinois Supreme Court. The judgment upheld
on appeal included $600 million in judicially-imposed punitive
damages, and nationwide class certification was also affirmed.
The appellate decision is reported at 746 N.E. 2d 1242 (Ill.
App. 2001). |
| 9. |
$1.033
Billion Settlement in Sulzer Hip and Knee Implants
Litigation, MDL No. 1401 (N.D. Ohio) |
|
| We
spearheaded the opposition to an initial settlement offer
by Sulzer that was deficient, and played a significant role
in creating a revised, court-approved settlement valued
at more than $1 billion. In addition, Lieff Cabraser Partner
Richard Heimann was named to the court-appointed committee
advising on attorneys’ fees. |
| 10. |
$1
Billion in Settlements in First Capital Holdings Corporation
Litigation, MDL No. 901 (C.D. Cal.) |
|
| We
helped recover damages sustained by policyholders of First
Capital Life Insurance Company and Fidelity Bankers Life
Insurance Company resulting from the insurance companies’
allegedly fraudulent investment practices, and the manipulation
of financial statements. California state and federal courts
jointly certified the class and approved the settlements. |
| 11. |
Up
to $1 Billion Settlement in Masonite Hardboard Siding
Litigation (Alabama State Court) |
|
| We
served as Class Counsel on behalf of a nationwide class
of 4 million homeowners with defective hardboard siding
on their homes that resulted in a favorable class action
trial verdict and subsequent settlement, valued at $350
million-$1 billion, for certain costs of repair and replacement
of failing Masonite hardboard siding. |
| 12. |
$950
Million Settlement in Polybutylene Litigation, Obion
County (Tennessee State Court) |
|
| We
served as Class Counsel on behalf of a nationwide class
of approximately 6 million owners of property equipped with
defective polybutylene plumbing systems and yard service
lines. Chancellor Maloon of Obion County, Tennessee, presided
over the case, certified the class for trial purposes, and
approved the settlement. |
| 13. |
$723
Million in Settlements in Brand Name Prescription
Drugs Litigation (N.D. Ill.) |
|
| We
served as Class Counsel for tens of thousands of retail
pharmacies against the leading pharmaceutical manufacturers
and wholesalers of brand name prescription drugs for alleged
price-fixing from 1989 to 1995. |
| 14. |
$500+
Million in Settlement in Louisiana-Pacific Inner-Seal
Siding Litigation (D. Or.) |
|
| We
served as Co-Lead Class Counsel on behalf of a nationwide
class of homeowners with defective exterior siding on their
homes. Over 155,000 claims have been paid in the multi-year
settlement program, exceeding $500 million in payments to
date. |
| 15. |
$219
Million in Media Vision Securities Fraud Litigation
(N.D. Cal.) |
|
| We
served as Co-Lead Counsel in a class action lawsuit which
alleged that certain of Media Vision's officers, outside
directors, accountants and underwriters engaged in a fraudulent
scheme to inflate the company's earnings. By 1998, the Court
approved partial settlements with many of Media Vision's
officers and directors, accountants and underwriters which
totalled $31 million. The evidence that Lieff Cabraser developed
in the civil case led prosecutors to commence an investigation
and ultimately file criminal charges against Media Vision's
former Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer.
In the criminal proceedings, the CEO plead guilty on several
counts, and the CFO was convicted at trial. In October 2003,
the Court granted plaintiffs' motions for summary judgment
and entered a judgment in favor of the class against these
two defendants in the amount of $188 million. |
| 16. |
$180
Million Settlement in the General Chemical Richmond
Works Cases (California State Coordinated Proceedings) |
|
| We
served as Co-Lead and Co-Liaison Counsel representing residents
of Richmond, California who were exposed to a sulfuric acid
mist when the General Chemical Company overheated a railcar
containing oleum, causing a massive release of sulfur trioxide
into the atmosphere. |
| 17. |
$171
Million Verdict in Claghorn v. Edsaco Ltd. (N.D. Cal.) |
|
| In
April 2002, the federal jury returned a $170.7 million verdict
against Edsaco Ltd, finding that Edsaco helped set up phony
European companies as part of scheme to defraud U.S. investors
in a high tech company. Included in the jury verdict, the
fourth largest in the U.S. in 2002, was $165 million in
punitive damages. Richard M. Heimann conducted the trial
for plaintiffs. |
| 18. |
$150
Million in Settlements in Synthroid Marketing Litigation,
MDL No. 1182 (N.D. Ill.) |
|
| We
served as one of the consumer class counsel in combined
settlements of consumers and health plans’ drug overcharge
claims approved after class certification for trial purposes.
Reported decisions include 264 F.3d 712 (7th Cir. 2001);
201 F. Supp. 2d 861 (N.D. Ill. 2002); 110 F. Supp. 2d 676
(N.D. Ill. 2000); 188 F.R.D. 295 (N.D. Ill. 1999). |
| 19. |
$148
Million in Settlements in California Pharmaceutical
Antitrust Cases (California State Court) |
|
| We
served as Co-Lead and Co-Liaison Counsel representing a
certified class of indirect purchasers (consumers) on claims
against the major pharmaceutical manufacturers for alleged
price fixing of prescription drugs sold to retail pharmacies. |
| 20. |
$140
Million Settlement in Cemwood Shakes Litigation (California
State Court) |
|
| An
estimated 30,000 owners of housing and other structures
will receive a pro rata share of the settlement fund according
to the size of their roofs for the repair of defective shingles.
Settlements were obtained from a number of defendants, including
Cemwood's insurance carries. |
| 21. |
$136
Million Settlement in Informix/Illustra Securities
Litigation (N.D. Cal.) |
|
| We
represented Richard H. Williams, the former CEO of Illustra
Information Technologies, Inc., and a class of Illustra
shareholders in a securities fraud lawsuit arising out Informix
Corporation's purchase of Illustra. The global settlement,
which included claims by shareholders in addition to the
class we represented, was one of the largest ever against
a high tech company in a securities fraud lawsuit. |
| 22. |
$107.5
Million Settlement in Behr Wood Sealant Products Litigation
(California State Court) |
|
| We
served as Co-Lead counsel in a nationwide class action lawsuit
on behalf of homeowners and other consumers that purchased
and applied certain Behr wood sealant products, Super Liquid
Raw-Hide or Natural Seal Plus, to exterior wood surfaces.
In May 2003, the court granted final approval to a $107.5
million settlement to provide compensation for mildew damage
to wood surfaces that Class members incurred. |
| 23. |
$105
Million Settlement in Providian Credit Card Cases,
MDL No. 1301 (E.D. Pa./California State Court) |
|
| We
served as Co-Lead Counsel for Providian credit cardholders
nationwide who alleged that Providian had engaged in widespread
misconduct. The $105+ million settlement, combined with
an earlier settlement by government agencies, was one of
the largest settlements ever against a credit card bank
for consumer fraud. The case was coordinated between the
MDL court in Philadelphia and the California state court
in San Francisco. |