Class Actions

Richardson, Patrick, Westbrook & Brickman, in conjunction with their Canadian co-counsel, recently achieved a significant class action settlement on behalf of Canadian consumers against DuPont and Shell Oil on claims arising out of defective polybutylene plumbing systems. Those cases were brought in courts throughout Canada and have established avenues of recovery for thousands of affected Canadian consumers, Gariepy, et al. v. Shell Oil Company, et al., Ontario Superior Court of Justice; Furlan, et al. v. Shell Oil Company, et al., In the Supreme Court of British Columbia; and Couture, et al. v. Shell Oil Company, et al., Quebec Superior Court of Justice.

RPWB attorneys recently obtained another success in Canada by working with their Canadian co-counsel to reach a class action settlement for Canadian citizens against Bristol-Myers Squibb Canada. Those cases, brought in the provinces of Ontario and Quebec, will provide compensation for Canadians who became addicted to the Stadol NS migraine nasal spray.

Our firm also reached a broad settlement for employees of Abercrombie & Fitch who brought claims for the company's non-compliance with various wage and hour laws, Mohme v. Abercrombie & Fitch, Circuit Court of St. Clair County, State of Illinois; Zemany v. Abercrombie & Fitch, in the Court of Common Pleas of Alleghany County, Pennsylvania.

In the area of automobile warranties, RPWB was instrumental in obtaining broad relief for consumers across the country in litigation arising out of defective brakes with Kia Sephia automobiles. The firm represented class members in three states, Illinois, North Carolina and Tennessee, and enhanced relief for consumers in other states when the claims were resolved in a multi-state settlement in Orange County, California.

During recent years, one of South Carolina's most prominent litigations arose out of a Norfolk Southern train derailment and chlorine spill that caused nine deaths, hundreds of injuries and led to the evacuation of thousands of residents in Graniteville, South Carolina. Following appointment of RPWB as co-lead class counsel, the firm was instrumental in swiftly resolving considerable property damage and personal injury claims from the chemical spill.

RPWB has also negotiated complete relief for all class members nationwide who were denied rebate claims on consumer electronic merchandise purchased from Soyo Group, Inc. This litigation, brought in the U.S. District Court, Central District of California, obtained a one-hundred cents on the dollar recovery for the class.

In the field of consumer finance litigation, RPWB attorneys have obtained some of the nation's most significant second mortgage class settlements. To date, the firm's consumer finance litigation team has recovered more than $100,000,000.00 for class members. Our firm brought claims alleging that originating banks charged excessive fees or interest, or otherwise violated various federal and state lending or consumer protection laws.

RPWB pursued both the originators and assignees of the second mortgage loans, including the following representative cases:

Bess, et. al. v. German American Capital Corp., et al.
Pending in the Circuit Court of Maryland for Baltimore City, a multi-state class settlement. more >

Cates, et al. v. U.S. Bank, National Ass'n, ND
Pending in the Fourth Judicial District, Hennepin County, Minnesota, a multi-state class settlement. more >

Dundon v. U.S. Bank, National Ass'n, ND
Pending in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, a single state Illinois class settlement. The Dundon settlement is believed to have provided one of the largest class member recoveries in the history of consumer finance litigation. more >

For more information on RPWB's recent history and successes with class actions, please visit specific practice areas noted elsewhere on our firm's website.

Please contact us with any questions or if you'd like to explore your legal rights.