Successes
2006-2007 | 2004-2005 | 2001-2003 |
1998-2000
Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP is a fifty-plus attorney law firm with offices in San Francisco,
New York and Nashville. Our lawyers represent plaintiffs in individual lawsuits
and class actions across America in cases involving dangerous or defective
products; consumer, securities and investment fraud; employment discrimination;
overtime pay and ERISA violations; environmental damage and toxic exposures;
antitrust violations; aviation disasters; and the abuse of civil and human
rights.
For the past five years, The National Law Journal has selected Lieff Cabraser
as one of the top plaintiffs' law firms in the nation. The National Law
Journal examined recent verdicts and settlements in class actions and individual lawsuits.
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 summary of the outcomes of recent Lieff Cabraser cases.
For a comprehensive listing of our prominent cases, please see our firm
resume.
2000
Holocaust Era Litigation
Lieff Cabraser played in a leading role in negotiations that led to the
creation of a 10 billion Deutschmark (US $5.2 billion) foundation announced
at the end of 1999. This settlement is intended to resolve (and be the
source of compensation for) all Nazi-era claims against German entities,
including all Holocaust-era banking, insurance, and slave labor claims.
We also represented Holocaust survivors and their families in the case
involving claims against Swiss banks and other Swiss entities. The plaintiffs
alleged that the Swiss banks had blocked their efforts to reclaim money
that they deposited in the banks or that the Nazis had looted and stored
in the banks. On July 26, 2000, the United States District Court gave final
approval to a $1.25 billion accord to settle the claims.
Diet Drug Litigation
On August 28, 2000, the federal court hearing the case against American
Home Products Corporation, the manufacturer of diet drugs Pondimin (fenfluramine)
and Redux (dexfenfluramine), approved a settlement valued at $4.75 billion.
The settlement involves approximately six million U.S. consumers who used
Pondimin and/or Redux, for any length of time, along or in combination
with phentermine. Lieff Cabraser served as a member of the plaintiffs'
management committee prosecuting the action.
Defective Building Products Cases
The year 2000 marked another successful year for Lieff Cabraser in prosecuting
claims by property owners against major corporations for producing allegedly
defective construction products. On May 26, 2000, the Court granted final
approval to a $105 million partial settlement of a case involving manufacturers
of a cement/fiber shingle. The shingle was sold under the brand names of
Cemwood Shakes, Permatek Shakes, Permatek II Shakes, Trieste Tiles, Pacific
Slate, Royal Shakes, or Cascade Shakes. For more information, including
how to identify these shingles, please visit the official
web site.
We also served as co-lead counsel in the Weyerhaeuser hardboard siding
class action. We represented a nationwide class of owners of structures
on which Weyerhaeuser hardboard siding has been applied at any time from
January 1, 1981 through December 31, 1999. Plaintiffs alleged that the
siding was inherently defective and prematurely failed when exposed to
normal weather conditions. On December 22, 2000, the Court granted final
approval to a nationwide global settlement of the case. Under the terms
of the settlement, Weyerhaeuser agreed to pay fully all timely, qualified
claims made during a nine-year claims program. There is no cap on Weyerhaeuser's
potential total liability. Please visit the official
web site.
American Family Publishers Class Action
We served as co-lead counsel for a nationwide class of persons who received
any sweepstakes materials sent under the name "American Family Publishers" from
January 20, 1992 through December 9, 1999. Plaintiffs alleged that they
were deceived by defendants into purchasing magazine subscriptions and
merchandise in the belief that such purchases were necessary to win an
American Family Publishers' sweepstakes prize or enhanced their chances
of winning a sweepstakes prize. In September 2000, the United States District
Court granted final approval of a $33 million settlement of the class action.
In April 2001, over 63,000 class members received refunds averaging over
$500 each, representing 92% of their eligible purchases. In addition, American
Family Publishers agreed to make significant changes to the way it conducts
the sweepstakes.
Toys "R" Us Antitrust Case
We have an active practice in the field of antitrust and have actively
litigated some of the nation's most prominent antitrust cases. Along with
co-counsel, we sued Toys "R" Us and toy manufacturers, alleging
that since 1989 they have conspired to restrict the toys available to discount
retailers or warehouse clubs such as Price-Costco and Sam's Club, thereby
increasing prices for consumers. On February 17, 2000, the federal district
court approved a settlement of over $56 million which resolves both actions
filed on behalf of consumers and filed by state Attorneys General.
1999
Silicone Gel Breast Implant Litigation
Lieff Cabraser has a long history of aiding patients who received defective
medical devices or products. On November 29, 1999, the bankruptcy court
overseeing the Dow Corning bankruptcy approved a Joint Plan and Proposed
Plan of Reorganization. The Joint Plan provides $3.2 billion for women
whose silicone gel breast implants ruptured or caused injuries. Lieff Cabraser
is a member of the Plaintiffs' Steering Committee and helped to negotiate
the terms of the Joint Plan.
Informix Corporation Securities Fraud Class Action
On October 29, 1999, in an action against Informix Corporation, the United
States District Court granted final approval to a settlement of cash and
stock for a combined value of $136.5 million with Informix Corporation
for accounting irregularities. This was one of the largest settlements
ever involving a high technology company alleged to have committed securities
fraud.
Pharmaceutical Companies Antitrust Class Action
On April 21, 1999, the San Francisco Superior Court approved a settlement
with pharmaceutical makers accused of overcharging retail pharmacies that
will provide $148 million in free, brand-name prescription drugs to health
agencies that serve California's poor and uninsured. In support of the
settlement, William Bernstein of Lieff Cabraser noted that giving drugs
to public health agencies would in the long run produce tremendous public
health care savings by reducing hospitalizations caused by infections and
other diseases that the prescription drugs are designed to prevent.
In October 2001, the Court approved a settlement with the remaining defendants
in the case that provided an additional $23 million in free, brand-name
prescription drugs to these agencies.
UPS Racial Discrimination Class Action
Lieff Cabraser has served as counsel in some of the nation's most significant
employment discrimination class actions. In April 1999, the United States
District Court approved an $12.4 million settlement of a class action alleging
race discrimination by African American part-time employees of United Parcel
Service. In addition to monetary relief, under the settlement UPS agreed
to monitor the rate at which African Americans are promoted and better
inform them of job opportunities within the corporation.
1998
Tobacco Litigation
We represented several states' attorneys general and 21 cities and counties
in California, including the City and County of San Francisco, City of
Los Angeles and City of San Jose, in suits to recover from the tobacco
industry the public health costs of treating smoking-caused diseases from
the tobacco industry and to recover the tobacco industry's wrongfully obtained
profits. States in which we served as special assistant attorneys general
were Massachusetts, Illinois, Indiana, Rhode Island, Louisiana and New
Hampshire.
The lawsuits were part of the $206 billion settlement announced November
16, 1998 between the tobacco industry and the states' attorney generals,
which also include broad restrictions on the sale and advertising of cigarettes
and other tobacco products. The marketing curbs consist of bans on billboards,
transit ads, cartoon characters, targeting of minors, youth access to free
samples, and paid-for product placement in movies, TV shows, plays and
concerts. Tobacco brand-name sponsorships are also limited. California
cities and counties will receive half of the $25 billion slated to come
to California over the next 25 years.
Home Depot Gender Discrimination Class Action
We have represented employees in multiple employment discrimination class
actions, whether the complaint was for gender, age or race discrimination.
Lieff Cabraser and co-counsel represented a class of approximately 25,000
female employees and applicants for employment with Home Depot's West Coast
Division who alleged gender discrimination in connection with hiring, promotions,
pay, job assignment, and other terms and conditions of employment. The
class was certified in January 1995. In January 1998, the Court approved
a $87.5 million settlement of the action that included comprehensive injunctive
relief over the term of a five year Consent Decree.
Under the terms of the settlement, Home Depot committed to modify its
hiring, promotion, and compensation practices to ensure that interested
and qualified women will be hired for, and promoted to, sales and management
positions. Through June 2002, the injunctive relief had created thousands
of new jobs at Home Depot for women, generating collectively over $100
million per year in wages for these women.
Vanderbilt Radiation Litigation
We represent persons exposed to toxic substances, including radiation.
In the Vanderbilt Radiation Litigation, plaintiffs filed claim arising
from the administration of radioactive iron to some 800 pregnant women
without their knowledge in the 1940's. On July 27, 1998, United States
District Court approved a $10.3 million settlement of the lawsuit, which
included an apology from Vanderbilt University.
Chrysler Minivan Class Action
Lieff Cabraser has an active practice in cases involving allegedly defective
auto parts, ranging from gas tanks to door latches. In 1998, the federal
appeals court in San Francisco upheld a settlement of a nationwide consumer
class action that alleged Chrysler Corporation produced defective rear
liftgate latches that would pop open, even while the van was in motion,
on its 1984-1994 minivans. As part of the settlement, Chrysler agreed to
replace the rear latches with redesigned latches.
Mediavision Securities Class Action
We served as co-lead counsel for a class composed of all persons who purchased
stock in Mediavision, a high-tech company that went bankrupt in 1994 after
reports revealed massive accounting irregularities and "phantom" sales
of products. Plaintiffs alleged that the company's officers, accountants,
and underwriters inflated the price of the company's stock by engaging
in deceptive accounting which overstated the companies earnings. Including
settlements approved in 1998, Lieff Cabraser has obtained $28.15 million
from the various defendants.
Defective Building Products Cases
With co-counsel, we represented a nationwide class of 4 million homeowners
with alleged defective Masonite
hardboard siding on their homes. On January
21, 1998, the Court gave final approval to a class settlement, valued at
$300 million to $1 billion, providing for costs of repair and replacement
of failing siding for all persons with Masonite siding who wish to participate
in the settlement. Also in 1998, we achieved an almost $70 million dollar
settlement on behalf of property owners of ABS pipe that allegedly was
defective and caused other property damage by leaking. Finally, in December
1998, we served as co-counsel in the successful conclusion to a suit on
behalf of owners of gas-filled windows and doors in the Hurd
Millwork Co. Litigation.
About Lieff Cabraser
Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP is a fifty-plus attorney law firm that has represented plaintiffs nationwide since 1972. We have offices in San Francisco, New York and Nashville. We represent plaintiffs in class and group actions and in individual lawsuits in cases involving substantial losses. For the last five years, the National Law Journal has selected Lieff Cabraser as one of the top plaintiffs' law firms in the nation.
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