Contact: David McDowell or William L. Stern
Morrison & Foerster has a premier national reputation defending consumer-related lawsuits and class actions in a wide range
of industries. Our expertise includes successful defense of nationwide class actions, and serving as national coordinating
counsel in multi-district litigation (MDL). We have defeated class certification in scores of cases across the nation. Our
winning track record, our deep experience in a variety of industries, and our commitment to learning our clients’ business
so we can identify potential problems before they arise are the hallmarks of our practice.
Our Consumer Litigation and Class Actions Practice Group is interdisciplinary, drawing on the national expertise of our lawyers
in a variety of industries, including consumer products and retail, financial services, technology, energy and life sciences.
Our experience in these industries encompasses false advertising, unfair business practices, products liability, antitrust,
securities, environmental law, construction, transportation and labor and employment.
While we are always prepared to take a case to trial, our first priority is the business objectives of our clients. In many
cases we have employed strategies eliminating the need for litigation and have successfully negotiated settlements that are
cost effective and consistent with our client’s goals. When a win at trial is a client imperative, you can rely on our deep
and talented pool of trial attorneys, which includes many of the most renowned trial attorneys in the U.S., based in all of
our major offices.
False Advertising and Unfair Business Practices
The firm maintains a preeminent practice handling lawsuits alleging deceptive or false advertising claims throughout the United
States. Our experience includes the complex issues related to Lanham Act and California B & P 17200 and 17500 disputes.
We have successfully represented companies in a wide variety of industries by obtaining early dismissal of cases, defeating
class certification, or winning at trial.
Financial Services
The firm is a national leader representing major banks, savings associations and other financial services institutions in
consumer litigation and class actions dealing with a wide array of banking practices. For more information, see Financial Services Litigation.
Product Liability and Environmental
Our experience defending against product liability cases, including large class actions and multiple-suit cases, is unparalled.
We have defeated claims of design, manufacturing or product defect and/or failure to warn in hundreds of cases across the
nation. For more information, see Product Liability.
Securities
We have a long and proven track record of successful outcomes in securities litigation, from outright wins and settlements
to summary judgments and dismissals, in a wide range of securities matters, especially class actions. For more information,
see Securities Litigation.
Employment and Labor
Our history defeating class certification in labor and employment cases is a matter of substantial pride for our attorneys.
We defend national companies in wage and hour and discrimination claims brought on a class-wide basis. For more information,
see Employment and Labor.
Representative Matters
DeCrooy v. City of Oakland (California – State Court). Defeated class certification in action brought by Oakland Raiders football fans for alleged unfair business practices and
false advertising of sale of seat licenses to National Football League games.
In Re Currency Conversion Fee Antitrust Litigation (New York – Federal Court). Defended MDL proceeding comprising several nationwide class actions challenging banks’ foreign currency conversion rates.
SB Goodman Builders, Inc. v. Fujitsu PC Corp. (Texas – State and Federal Courts). Defended Fujitsu in unfair trade practice action regarding laptop computers.
Hurkes-Harris v. Fujitsu Computer Products of America, Inc. (California – State Court). Counsel for Fujitsu Computer Products of America, Inc. in consumer class action alleging product defect and misrepresentation
claims regarding computer hard disk drives.
In re DoubleClick Privacy Litigation. (Various State and Federal Courts). Counsel for DoubleClick Inc., in multidistrict federal and multi-state class action litigation involving alleged violations
of Internet privacy. We successfully obtained a dismissal with prejudice at the pleading stage of the federal class action cases, a decision reported
at In re DoubleClick Privacy Litigation, 154 F. Supp. 2d 497 (S.D.N.Y. 2001).
In re Excess Value Insurance Coverage Litigation. (Various State and Federal Courts). Counsel to UPS in 26 state and federal class action lawsuits asserting contract, tort,
deceptive trade practices and antitrust claims. After removal, consolidation in Multidistrict Litigation proceedings, and motions to dismiss which disposed of most claims
for relief, the cases settled on terms favorable to defendants.
National Organization of Professional Athletes v. UPS. (Florida – State Court): Counsel to UPS in obtaining order dismissing action asserting deceptive trade practices related to package deliveries.
