Class Action Defense

Overview

Crowell’s class action practice combines regulatory depth and litigation strength, reflecting the unparalleled skills of over 120 former government regulatory officials with 70+ litigators experienced in defending class actions, from pre-filing resolution to trial victory. With veteran litigators admitted in battleground jurisdictions, a robust network of local counsel, and a deep knowledge of the Plaintiff’s bar, Fortune 100 companies turn to Crowell for our practical guidance, creative solutions, and historical success.

Whether it’s defeating class certification, winning summary judgment, or securing a complete defense win, Crowell provides its clients the best service across industries and the country. Bolstered by the firm’s expansive regulatory experience, we excel in representing clients in heavily regulated industries, including advertising, consumer products, education, energy, financial services, food and beverage, health care, hospitality, insurance, technology, and transportation.

While clients routinely turn to Crowell for diverse class action defense needs, our litigators have been recognized as industry leaders in the following areas:

Insights

Publication | 01.15.25

Administrative Law: Big Shifts in Administrative Law

As companies consider taking class actions to trial, a blockbuster decision from the U.S. Supreme Court instructing lower courts not to defer to federal agencies’ interpretations of the statutes Congress charged them with administering may prove useful. Companies should also be aware of a second decision holding agencies’ use of in-house judges to mete out civil penalties to be unconstitutional....

Representative Matters

  • Represented The Regents of the University of California in 17 class actions stemming from a cyber-intrusion at the UCLA Health System involving the records of 4.5 million individuals. We worked closely with the client in investigating the intrusion, coordinating responses to multiple regulatory bodies and liaising with the FBI, and we negotiated a class wide settlement without formal discovery.  
  • Representing United Healthcare and its affiliated companies in numerous nationwide class actions, including in a three-week trial in the Northern District of California. Obtained dismissal of prayer for monetary relief seeking a billion dollars.
  • Representing General Motors in more than 20 high profile nationwide and multi-state consumer class action lawsuits throughout the United States. Many of these lawsuits involve GM’s premiere automotive brands and bring breach of warranty, consumer fraud and false advertising claims under state and federal laws.
  • Representing CSX Transportation in class actions alleging antitrust violations, breach of contract, negligence, and nuisance claims arising from railroad operations and business practices.
  • Representing Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies in nationwide antitrust multidistrict litigation. This MDL centralizes over 50 class actions asserted by plan members, physicians, hospitals, and other health care providers accusing Blue Cross Blue Shield companies and the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association of conspiring to violate antitrust laws by limiting competition through exclusive service area.
  • Obtained unanimous defense verdict in consumer class action after two-week jury trial in federal court on behalf of the world’s leading manufacturer of homeopathic drugs. Plaintiff brought claims on behalf of a class of consumers alleging false advertising under California’s Unfair Competition Law (Section 17200) and Consumer Legal Remedies Act.
  • Representing United Airlines in its defense of a putative antitrust class action pending in an MDL proceeding in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

Insights

Publication | 01.15.25

Administrative Law: Big Shifts in Administrative Law

As companies consider taking class actions to trial, a blockbuster decision from the U.S. Supreme Court instructing lower courts not to defer to federal agencies’ interpretations of the statutes Congress charged them with administering may prove useful. Companies should also be aware of a second decision holding agencies’ use of in-house judges to mete out civil penalties to be unconstitutional....

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Professionals

Insights

Publication | 01.15.25

Administrative Law: Big Shifts in Administrative Law

As companies consider taking class actions to trial, a blockbuster decision from the U.S. Supreme Court instructing lower courts not to defer to federal agencies’ interpretations of the statutes Congress charged them with administering may prove useful. Companies should also be aware of a second decision holding agencies’ use of in-house judges to mete out civil penalties to be unconstitutional....

Insights

Publication | 01.15.25

Administrative Law: Big Shifts in Administrative Law

As companies consider taking class actions to trial, a blockbuster decision from the U.S. Supreme Court instructing lower courts not to defer to federal agencies’ interpretations of the statutes Congress charged them with administering may prove useful. Companies should also be aware of a second decision holding agencies’ use of in-house judges to mete out civil penalties to be unconstitutional....