Class Action & Mass Tort

The attorneys of Lewis Brisbois' Class Action and Mass Tort Practice are experienced in a broad range of high stakes and complex litigation including suits alleging unfair competition, false advertising, violation of state and federal consumer protection laws, employment litigation (wage and hour and discrimination claims), products liability, breach of express and implied warranties, ERISA, privacy and debt collection, violation of federal and state securities regulations, construction defect and insurance related matters.

We are the law firm of choice for major corporations as well as more modestly sized businesses involved in national class action and mass tort litigation or statewide or narrower class action or mass tort suits.  With our size and numerous offices across the country, including the major cities that seem to act as magnets for class action and mass tort litigation, we are well positioned to defend national class action and mass tort suits. We have particular experience in representation of the automobile, medical device, health care, food, insurance, chemical, construction, paint and solvent industries, including manufacturers, distributors and retailers.

Our strategies frequently involve utilizing the favorable provisions of the Class Action Fairness Act (CAFA) to remove litigation from state courts to federal courts.  When confronted with multiple actions in diverse jurisdictions, our attorneys are able to make litigation more manageable and economical by filing motions with the federal Judicial Panel on Multi-District Litigation to coordinate and consolidate large numbers of suits in one federal court, and before one judge, for all pretrial proceedings. Our strategies involve early investigation and analysis, working closely with our clients, attacking suits at the pleading stage (with an impressive record of knocking out putative class actions on early motions to dismiss), and, when litigation proceeds past the pleading stage, aggressively opposing class certification.

While most suits resolve short of trial, our Class Action and Mass Tort Group includes experienced and nationally recognized trial attorneys who are more than capable of taking cases through trial. When appropriate, we are also experienced in structuring and managing favorable settlements through the court approval process.

While we recognize that class action and mass tort litigation may threaten the client’s business enterprise, at the same time we also appreciate that the defense must be handled efficiently. Our clients benefit from our ability to control defense expense.

Chairs

  • Jon Kardassakis (Partner) - Jon.Kardassakis@lewisbrisbois.com, 213.680.5040
  • Eric Kizirian (Partner) - Eric.Kizirian@lewisbrisbois.com, 213.580.3981

Vice Chairs

  • Pamela Ferguson (Partner) - Pamela.Ferguson@lewisbrisbois.com, 415.438.6638
  • Kathryn Honecker (Partner) - Kathryn.Honecker@lewisbrisbois.com, 602.385.7864