Class Actions Brief Blog

Those who follow class action law probably will be familiar with In re Trulia (2016), the seminal decision of the Delaware Court of Chancery that put the brakes on disclosure-only settlements.  Before Trulia, these controversial settlements were ubiquitous in deal litigation, in which shareholders of a company file a class action lawsuit seeking to stop the company from engaging in a merger or acquisition on the ground the company failed to disclose sufficient information about the transaction.  Under a typical disclosure-only settlement, the company agrees to supplement its ...

Not every class action court filing in North and South Carolina becomes a full-length post on our blog. Here is a recap of January filings:

Sciabacucchi v. Snyder’s-Lance, Inc., et al., No. 3:18-cv-00049 (W.D.N.C. January 29, 2018) (previously reported similar action as Shaev Profit Sharing Account v. Snyder’s-Lance, Inc., et al., No. 3:18-cv-00039 (W.D.N.C. January 25, 2018) wherein shareholders allege financial harm from issuance of a false proxy statement for a proposed merger transaction between Snyder’s-Lance and Campbell Soup Company)

Shaev Profit Sharing ...

A good while ago, we reported in this space, about so-called “cy pres” settlements. We highlighted the Chief Justice’s cautionary comments about this practice – under which third parties, not class members, are compensated by defendants. See Marek v. Lane, 134 S.Ct. 8 (2013). After the Ninth Circuit recently approved a cy pres settlement, In Re Google Referrer Header Privacy Litigat., 869 F.3d 737 (9th Cir. 2017), which awarded plaintiffs’ counsel $3.5 million, and six nonprofits/educational institutions another $5.3 million – all while awarding class members the ...

Not every class action court filing in North and South Carolina becomes a full-length post on our blog. Here is a recap of December filings:

Hicks, et al. v. Houston Baptist University, No. 5:17-cv-00629 (E.D.N.C. December 20, 2017) (putative class action brought under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act against Houston Baptist University for alleged solicitation of consumers for college classes via telephone calls using an automated telephone dialing system)

Martinez, et al. v. Alpha Technologies Services, Inc., et al., No. 5:17-cv-00628 (E.D.N.C. December 20, 2017)

Not every class action court filing in North and South Carolina becomes a full-length post on our blog. Here is a recap of November's filings: Fox, et al. v. SCANA Corporation, et al.; No. 3:17-cv-03063 (D.S.C. November 10, 2017) (previously reported similar action brought by customers of SCANA: this putative class action is brought under federal securities laws by holders of securities of SCANA who allege defendant released false and misleading documents and statements regarding a nuclear construction project in Fairfield County thereby causing them financial harm) Ridgeway ...

According to the Company website, “Piggly Wiggly has been bringing home the bacon for millions of American families for over 100 years.” But a putative class of former employees of Piggly Wiggly filed a class action complaint in the District of South Carolina, asserting various claims under ERISA pertaining to the Company’s employee stock ownership plan. The claims include allegations pertaining to excessive compensation, “gross mismanagement,” concealing of financial losses from participants, and various “insider dealings.” Spires v. Schools, No. 2:16-616 ...

Not every class action court filing in North and South Carolina becomes a full-length post on our blog. Here is a recap of October's filings:

Laverty, et al. v. Niagara Bottling, LLC; No. 5:17-cv-00196 (W.D.N.C. October 31, 2017) (collective action brought under FLSA against Niagara Bottling LLC, a national water and/or beverage bottling company, by “preventative maintenance technicians” who allege they were not paid overtime compensation for required tasks performed, and also under FMLA by the lead plaintiff for alleged violation of his rights regarding the death of a ...

Not every class action court filing in North and South Carolina becomes a full-length post on our blog. Here is a recap of September's filings:

Carlin, et al. v. Hudson Seafood Corp., d/b/a Hudson’s Seafood House on the Docks, et al., No. 9:17-cv-02638 (D.S.C. September 29, 2017) (putative collective and class action brought under federal and state wage and hour employment laws by alleged nonexempt employees of defendants in Beaufort County who were allegedly paid less than minimum wage and also had a portion of their earned tips placed in a “tip pool”)

Delmater, et al. v. SCANA ...

Not every class action court filing in North and South Carolina becomes a full-length post on our blog. Here is a recap of August's filings:

Clark, et al. v. Harrah’s NC Casino Company, LLC, et al.; No. 1:17-cv-00240 (W.D.N.C. August 31, 2017) (purported collective and class action brought under federal and state wage and hour laws by “gaming floor employees” alleging defendants violated these laws by failing to pay regular wage and overtime compensation by requiring them to perform work during their meal breaks)

Dibble, et al. v. Williams & Fudge, Inc., et al.; No ...