Featured Articles

Anti-Spam Class Action Defense Cases–Kleffman v. Vonage: Following Dismissal Of Class Action Ninth Circuit Certifies Question Concerning California’s Anti-Spam Law To California Supreme Court

Michael J. Hassen
January 08, 2009 12:30

Propriety of District Court Dismissal of Anti-Spam Class Action Complaint would Benefit from California Supreme Court Interpretation of Statute Ninth Circuit Holds Plaintiff filed a class action against Vonage Holdings, Vonage America and Vonage Marketing (collectively “Vonage”)...

Recent Articles

Class Action Defense Cases–KPMG v. Cocchi: Supreme Court Reiterates Requirement That State Courts Follow Concepcion And Enforce Arbitration Agreements Under The Federal Arbitration Act (FAA)

Michael J. Hassen
November 28, 2011 12:57

State Courts Erred in Denying Defense Motion to Compel Arbitration Under FAA (Federal Arbitration Act) because They Failed to Consider Whether Any Claims were Subject to Arbitration Plaintiffs filed a putative class action in Florida state court against various defendants, including KPMG LLP,...

Richard Watts: "Fables of Fortune: What Rich People Have That You Don't Want"

Michael J. Hassen
October 31, 2011 14:42

California Attorney Richard Watts Publishes Book Based On His Experience In Representing The "Super-Wealthy" Richard Watts, a personal friend of the author and a superb lawyer, has published a book based on his 30-year career representing individuals with a net worth in excess of $100 million. The...

Class Action Defense Cases–Ellis v. Costco Wholesale Corp.: Ninth Circuit Vacates And Remands Class Action Certification In Gender Discrimination Labor Law Case

Michael J. Hassen
October 10, 2011 12:27

District Court Applied Wrong Legal Criteria in Certifying Gender Discrimination Class Action Requiring Remand for Reconsideration based on Standards Enunciated in Wal-Mart v. Dukes Ninth Circuit Holds Plaintiffs filed a putative class action against Costco Wholesale alleging that it...

California Supreme Court One Step Closer to Decision in Long-Awaited Meal and Rest Period Case: Decision Expected By Mid-February

Michael J. Hassen
October 07, 2011 15:04

The California Supreme Court will hear oral argument in Brinker Restaurant v. Superior Court (Hohnbaum, et al., real parties in interest) on November 8, 2011, according to the Court docket issued recently. The Court generally issues decisions within 90 days after completion of oral argument and...

Class Action Defense Cases–Kaltwasser v. AT&T Mobility: Federal Court Grants Motion To Compel Arbitration Under Federal Arbitration Act (FAA) Following Concepcion

Michael J. Hassen
October 06, 2011 20:31

Supreme Court Decision in Concepcion Compelled Granting AT&T’s Motion to Compel Arbitration of Individual Claims because FAA Preempts California Laws Barring Class Action Arbitration Waivers Plaintiff filed a putative class action against cellular telephone service provider, AT&T...

Class Action Defense Cases–In re Community Bank: Third Circuit Court Again Reverses Approval Of Class Action Settlement Holding Wrong Legal Standard Applied To Determine Adequacy Of Representation

Michael J. Hassen
October 04, 2011 21:20

District Court Applied Wrong Legal Standard in Finding Named Plaintiffs and Their Counsel to be Adequate Representatives of the Proposed Class under Rule 23(a)(4) and thus Abused its Discretion in Certifying Class and Approving Nationwide Class Action Settlement Third Circuit Holds Several...

Class Action Defense Cases–Wal-Mart v. Dukes: Supreme Court Reverses Class Action Certification Of Largest Labor Law Class Action In History Holding Sex Discrimination Claims Lacked Commonality

Michael J. Hassen
June 21, 2011 11:50

Class Action Treatment of Sex Discrimination in Promotion Claim Against Wal-Mart not Proper because Commonality Requirement not Met and because Rule 23(b)(2) Class Inappropriate given Monetary Relief Sought Supreme Court Holds Plaintiffs filed a putative labor law class action against...

New Labor Law Class Action Filings Maintain Top Spot Among Weekly Class Actions Filed In California State And Federal Courts

Michael J. Hassen
June 11, 2011 19:15

To assist class action defense attorneys anticipate the types of cases against which they will have to defend in California, we provide weekly, unofficial summaries of the legal categories for new class action lawsuits filed in California state and federal courts in the Los Angeles, San Francisco,...

Third Week Of "Normal" Class Action Filings Finds Drop In Labor Law Class Actions Though They Again Claim Top Spot Among Weekly Class Actions Filed In California State And Federal Courts

Michael J. Hassen
June 04, 2011 15:56

As a resource to California class action defense attorneys, we provide weekly, unofficial summaries of the legal categories for new class action lawsuits filed in California state and federal courts in the Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, San Diego, San Mateo, Oakland/Alameda and...