California Supreme Court Denies Review of Decision Permitting Precertification Discovery To Identify Substitute Class Action Representatives

California Supreme Court Denies Petition for Review and Request to Depublish Appellate Court Opinion in Best Buy v. Superior Court In a post dated April 11, 2006, we summarized a then-recent California appellate decision in a class action against Best Buy that permitted the plaintiff-lawyer to conduct discovery for the purpose of finding substitute plaintiffs to serve as class representatives. See Best Buy Stores, L.P. v. Superior Court, 137 Cal.App.4th 772 (Cal.

Class Actions In The News Uncategorized

Relation to State Laws and Exemption for State Regulation (15 U.S.C. §§ 1692n and 1692o): Statutory Language for the Defense Lawyer of Federal Class Action Lawsuits Under the FDCPA (Fair Debt Collection Practices Act)

While Congress enacted the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), 15 U.S.C. § 1692 et seq., in 1978 for the purpose of establishing certain that ethical guidelines for the collection of consumer debts, and to provide debtors with a means for challenging payoff demands and determining the validity and accuracy of asserted debts, it did not intend to foreclose States from enacting laws concerning debt collection practices. Several states, such as California, have enacted such laws, and defense attorneys must frequently defend against class actions filed under such State laws.

FDCPA Class Actions Statutes & Rules Uncategorized

Commission Reports to Congress (15 U.S.C. § 1692m): Statutory Language for the Federal Defense Lawyer of Class Action Lawsuits Under the FDCPA (Fair Debt Collection Practices Act)

Congress enacted the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), 15 U.S.C. § 1692 et seq., in 1978 for the purpose of establishing certain that ethical guidelines for the collection of consumer debts, and to provide debtors with a means for challenging payoff demands and determining the validity and accuracy of asserted debts. Congress also authorized the Federal Trade Commission to commence administrative actions against debt collectors for violations of the FDCPA, and charged the Commission with an obligation to report to Congress annually on FDCPA matters.

FDCPA Class Actions Statutes & Rules Uncategorized

Kronemeyer v. U.S. Bank: Class Action Alleging Bank Wrongfully Charged Fee To Negotiate Checks Preempted By Federal National Bank Act Illinois Court Holds

Illinois Appellate Court Holds Defense Motion to Dismiss Class Action Should Have Been Granted Because Plaintiffs Lack Standing To Allege Wrongful Dishonor Of Check and Because Federal National Bank Act Preempts Illinois State Law Regarding Fees Charged to Negotiate Checks for Non-Customers

On July 5, 2006, an Illinois appellate court issued a surprising opinion in favor of the defense in a class action case. Illinois follows the rule that courts with interlocutory appeal/certified question procedures usually follow: “Th[e] court’s examination of an interlocutory appeal is usually limited to the questions certified by the trial court and, as with all questions of law, is a de novo review.” Kronemeyer v. U.S. Bank Nat’l Ass’n, ___ Ill.App.3d __ (Ill.App. 2006) (citation omitted) [Slip Opn., at 2]. Rarely do courts deviate from this general rule but the _Kronemeyer_ appellate court did just that, sidestepping one of the questions certified for appeal, addressing a question that had **_not_** been certified for appeal, and reversing the trial court’s order denying the defense motion to dismiss the class action.

Plaintiffs filed a putative nationwide class action alleging that U.S. Bank “regularly charges a fee of $10 to persons who do not have accounts at U.S. Bank and who present for payment checks drawn by its depositors,” and pleading state law causes of action. The defense filed a motion to dismiss the class action on the grounds, inter alia, that plaintiffs lacked standing to prosecute the “wrongful dishonor” claim, and that the claims were preempted by federal National Bank Act, 12 U.S.C. § 93a (2000), and the regulations and regulation interpretations issued by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC). Slip Opn., at 2. The trial court denied the motion to dismiss, id., but certified for interlocutory appeal two questions: “(1) whether the plaintiffs’ claims are preempted under the National Bank Act . . . and the regulations and regulatory interpretations issued thereunder by the [OCC] and (2) whether the circuit court has jurisdiction to review whether the OCC correctly interpreted its own regulation or whether that review lies within the exclusive jurisdiction of the federal courts pursuant to the Administrative Procedures Act,” id., at 1 (citations omitted).

Class Action Court Decisions Class Actions In The News Uncategorized

WFS Financial v. Superior Court: Federal Home Owners’ Loan Act (HOLA) Preempts California Automobile Sales Finance Act California Court Holds

California Appellate Court Agrees With Defense And Dismisses Lawsuit Against Lender Based on Federal Preemption: Class Action Defense Issues

WFS Financial and its subsidiary are federal savings associations that operate under the federal HOLA (Home Owners’ Loan Act), 12 U.S.C. §§ 1461 et seq. A car dealer assigned WFS a motor vehicle loan and the borrower defaulted: “WFS repossessed the vehicle, gave notice of its intent to dispose of the vehicle by private sale, sold the vehicle, and filed suit against [the borrower] for the deficiency between the sale price and remaining balance due, including various costs and fees.” WFS Financial, Inc. v. Superior Court, 140 Cal.App.4th 637, 44 Cal.Rptr.3d 561 (Cal.App. 2006). The borrower cross-complained, alleging that WFS failed to comply with California’s Rees-Levering Automobile Sales Finance Act, California Civil Code, §§ 2981 et seq., and included an unfair business practice claim under California Unfair Competition Law (UCL), California Business & Professions Code, §§ 17200 et seq., based on the alleged violations of Rees-Levering. Id., at 563-64. In defense, WFS demurred, arguing that HOLA preempted Rees-Levering. The trial court disagree and overruled the demurrer, and WFS sought a petition for writ of mandate from the California Court of Appeal.. Id., at 564.

Before agreeing with the defense, the appellate court set forth a detailed summary of HOLA, the Federal Home Loan Bank Board (FHLBB) that originally regulated federal savings and loan associations, and FHLBB’s replacement by the Office of Thrift Supervision (OTS). Id., at 565-68. The Court highlighted evidence from numerous sources that Congress intended HOLA to preempt state laws and regulations, concluding:

Class Action Court Decisions Class Actions In The News Uncategorized

UC Irvine Settles Lawsuit Under Willed Body Program: Class Action And Individual Actions Remain Pending For Defense

Defense Opts to Settle Rather Than Take First Case to Trial Christian Berthelsen of the Los Angeles Times reports today that defense attorneys for the University of California at Irvine have settled what “would have been the first lawsuit to go to jury trial” arising out of its Willed Body Program: a class action defense must still be mounted, and dozens of individual lawsuits remain pending. The lawsuit alleged that rather than using bodies donated to the University for research, body parts were sold.

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Federal Administrative Actions Against Debt Collectors (15 U.S.C. § 1692l): Statutory Language for the Defense Lawyer of Class Action Lawsuits Under the FDCPA (Fair Debt Collection Practices Act)

When Congress enacted the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), 15 U.S.C. § 1692 et seq., in 1978, it provided not only for private rights of action by debtors against debt collectors, it also provided for administrative enforcement by the Federal Trade Commission. While defense against a class action is certainly a concern for debt collectors, the lawyer advising debt collectors does well to keep in mind and advise the client as to the administrative proceedings that may be brought to bear.

FDCPA Class Actions Statutes & Rules Uncategorized

Bell v. Farmers Insurance: Defense Deposit Of Class Action Judgment Funds With Claims Administrator Constituted Satisfaction Of Judgment Cutting Off Post-Judgment Interest California Court Holds

California Appellate Court Holds that Defense in Class Action Gave Up Control of Funds for Payment of Damages Satisfying Payment of Judgment and Ending Obligation to Pay Postjudgment Interest Employees filed an overtime pay class action against Farmers Insurance Exchange, ultimately resulting in a jury verdict against the defense totaling nearly $90,000,000 for unpaid time-and-a-half and double-time. The trial court awarded prejudgment interest in the class action, and approved a plan for distribution of the funds to the class members.

Class Action Court Decisions Uncategorized

Chong v. State Farm: Class Action Alleging Insurer’s Violation of California’s Make-Whole Rule Survives Defense Motion To Dismiss Federal District Court Holds

California District Court Rejects Defense Rule 12(b)(6) Motion to Dismiss Class Action and Holds, as Matter of First Impression, that Insured is Entitled to Recover Lawyer Fees and Costs to be Made Whole

Liability insurers may pay a first party claim and then seek reimbursement from the third-party tortfeasor either by (1) joining in and/or financing the insured’s action against the responsible party, or (2) waiting until the insured prevails in a lawsuit against the third party and then demanding reimbursement. Kathleen Chong filed a putative class action against State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company alleging that it violates California’s make-whole rule waiting until the insured prevails in a lawsuit against the third party and then demanding reimbursement in full, regardless of the amount of the insured’s recovery. Defense attorneys filed a motion to dismiss the class action under Rule 12(b)(6), and the motion was denied. Chong v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 428 F.Supp.2d 1136 (S.D. Cal. 2006),

The facts underlying the class action representative’s claim are as follows. Chong had first party medical insurance limits of $5,000; she was injured in a car accident, and State Farm paid her $5,000. Chong then filed suit against the driver of the other car; State Farm knew about the lawsuit but did not participate in it and did not fund it. Ultimately, Chong spent $28,000 in litigation costs and settled the case for $65,000. State Farm then demanded reimbursement of the $5,000 it paid under the policy. Chong, at 1138. Plaintiff filed a class action against State Farm, alleging that it acted improperly because “her net recovery after taking into account her attorney fees and costs was far below the amount she needed to make her whole.” Id.

The defense motion to dismiss argued that California has not adopted a “blanket make whole rule” and that “no California case . . . has ever held that a policyholder’s payment of attorney fees to secure a damage recovery from a third party means the policyholder has not bee made whole and that the carrier is therefore not entitled to reimbursement.” Chong, at 1139. The District Court disagreed. First, it concisely summarized California law on the make-whole rule:

Class Action Court Decisions Uncategorized

Merck Must Prepare State And Federal Class Action Defense Against New Lawsuits Involving Fosamax

Plaintiff Class Action Lawyers Again Set Sights On Pharmaceutical Giant, Still in Defense Mode on Vioxx Los Angeles Times reporter Molly Selvin believes pharmaceutical giant Merck & Co. is seeing the beginning of a new wave of class action litigation. Merck is already dealing with the near-daily filing of class action lawsuits involving pain reliever Vioxx. See, e.g., International Union of Operating Engineers Local #68 Welfare Fund v. Merck & Co.

Class Actions In The News Uncategorized