Select Data Breach Class Actions
Yahoo! Data Security Breach Litigation
Gayle M. Blatt serves on the five-member Executive Committee in a class action against Yahoo! concerning three separate data breaches: a breach in 2013, another in 2014, and a “forged cookie” breach. Billions of users were affected. Yahoo! made the estimate public only after it had announced an agreement to sell its operating assets to Verizon. The class action alleges that Yahoo! had lax data security and ignored warnings that users’ identifying information was vulnerable to large-scale hacking efforts. In July 2019, U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh preliminarily approved a settlement off $117 million.
Gayle M. Blatt serves on the Law and Briefing Committee in a class action involving a breach of Facebook’s network. Hackers had direct access to about 30 million accounts for over a year, undetected by Facebook. For 15 million users, the cybercriminals gained access to their names and contact details.
Sony PlayStation Data Breach
Gayle M. Blatt was named Co-liaison Counsel in a class action against Sony Computer Entertainment America involving a breach that violated users’ privacy rights and exposed them to the risk of identity theft. The breach happened when a hacker stole the names, possibly credit card data, and other information, from 77 million people who played Sony PlayStation video games online. A settlement of $15 million was reached.
Citrix Data Breach
Employees are alleging that Citrix Systems Inc. failed to protect their personal information, leading it to be exposed and used.
Intel Security Flaw Litigation
U.S. District Judge Michael H. Simon appointed Gayle M. Blatt to serve on the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee in a class action against Intel Corp. The litigation alleges that for many years, the company was designing and selling computer processors (CPUs) with serious security flaws. When Intel was made aware of the vulnerabilities, it failed to notify millions of potentially affected consumers. Once patches for the vulnerabilities were released, users reported noticeable performance declines.
Select Automaker Class Actions
Defective Cadillac ‘CUE’ System
CaseyGerry filed a class action complaint against General Motors in September 2019 over Cadillac’s defective CUE system. Car owners’ infotainment systems are delaminating and becoming nonfunctional. Many displays are breaking after the warranty has lapsed, and the only fix appears to be replacement. This can cost owners thousands of dollars to repair.
Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep Emissions Scandal
David S. Casey, Jr. was appointed to serve on the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee in a class action against Chrysler. The litigation arose out of allegations that approximately 100,000 Ecodiesel® Jeep Grand Cherokees and Ram 1500 trucks utilized “defeat devices” to allow the vehicles to perform more efficiently on emissions tests than in real-world driving. Although the vehicles at issue were equipped with “clean diesel” engines, they allegedly emitted up to 20 times the legal limit of certain pollutants. The case was resolved for $300 million.
Volkswagen Emissions Scandal
David S. Casey, Jr. served on the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee to represent individuals impacted by Volkswagen’s fraud and violation of state regulations. In September 2015, the EPA accused Volkswagen of utilizing software to dupe federal emission regulators into believing the cars met Clean Air Act standards. According to reports, once the cars were out of the lab, emissions control software was deactivated, and the vehicles emitted dangerous pollutants at rates of up to 40 times acceptable standards. A class-wide settlement was reached to compensate owners and lessees of Volkswagen and Audi 2.0-liter diesel vehicles through buybacks and lease terminations, cash payments, and government-approved emissions modifications, while fixing or removing these polluting vehicles from the road. A historic settlement of $14.7 billion was reached.
Select Product Class Actions
Apple Consumer Fraud
Firm partner Gayle M. Blatt was appointed to serve on the Plaintiffs’ Executive Committee in a class action against Apple. The litigation stems from an iPhone update that intentionally degraded the performance of older phones.
LuLaRoe Defective Leggings
CaseyGerry filed a class action against retailer LuLaRoe on behalf of consumers who bought clothing items from the company and noticed holes and rips in them shortly after purchase. Due to LuLaRoe’s company policies, consumers are often stuck with poor quality clothing items and no option to return them.
Select Banking, Insurance, Home & Work-Related Class Actions
Wells Fargo Collateral Protection Insurance
Partners David S. Casey, Jr. was appointed by Judge Guilford to serve as Liaison Counsel in a class action lawsuit accusing Wells Fargo and National General of wrongfully requiring certain Wells Fargo car loan applicants to purchase automobile insurance regardless of the borrower’s existing insurance. In August 2019, U.S. District Judge Andrew J. Guilford preliminarily approved a $393.5 million settlement in the case.
Blue Shield of California Misrepresentations
CaseyGerry filed a class action on behalf of subscribers of individual health insurance plans offered by Blue Shield of California. Members of the class were motivated to purchase insurance based on Blue Shield’s misrepresentations and failure to disclose information about the network of physicians that would be available to people with those plans. CaseyGerry partner Gayle M. Blatt was appointed to serve as Class Counsel in the litigation.
Chula Vista’s Illegal Taxing of Mobile Phone Service
CaseyGerry, along with a Newport Beach-based firm, represented the plaintiffs in a class action claiming that the city of Chula Vista illegally taxed their mobile phone service. City residents argued that the tax, introduced in 1970 and charged against telephone and electricity users, was automatically added to monthly charges on their utilities bill. As a result, many residents were unaware they were paying the tax. The plaintiffs settled the class action for $8 million.
California Waste Management Wage-and-Hour Law Violations
A class action lawsuit arose out of an ongoing scheme by waste management companies to blatantly deny employees their benefits due under California’s wage-and-hour laws. The plaintiffs worked throughout California as sanitation workers. Their employers failed to provide full and uninterrupted off-duty lunch periods when required, failed to authorize paid rest periods, rounded down employees’ time, and took other actions that violate state law.
San Diego Landlords’ Improper Security Deposit Deductions
CaseyGerry and two other San Diego firms obtained a settlement in a class of about 3,500 former tenants of residential properties in San Diego. The tenants brought the litigation against their former landlords over improper deductions from the tenants’ security deposits.
Getting Specialized Help
If you suffered a preventable injury or other harm as a result of negligence, we can help. In addition to our leading class action attorneys, CaseyGerry has a team of lawyers and professional investigators who help people on an individual basis. Our firm can get answers regarding how the incident happened, who is at fault, and whether others are dealing with the same problems. We welcome you to contact CaseyGerry at (619) 238-1811.
