PRACTITIONER BLOG

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Ninth Circuit Nixes "100% Natural" Wesson Oil Class Action Settlement; Finds Collusion On Attorney Fees
Class Actions, Class Attorneys Fees Teddy Basham-Witherington Class Actions, Class Attorneys Fees Teddy Basham-Witherington

Ninth Circuit Nixes "100% Natural" Wesson Oil Class Action Settlement; Finds Collusion On Attorney Fees

The court held that the class settlement—one it characterized as “reek[ing] of collusion at the expense of class members”—featured three “red flags” identified in Bluetooth. First, Plaintiffs’ counsel received a disproportionate share of the settlement—almost $7 million—while the class received less than $1 million. Further, the settlement provided for no direct notice to class members, reducing the redemption rate. Second, the parties agreed to a “clear sailing arrangement” in which ConAgra agreed not to challenge the agreed-upon fees for class counsel. This created the possibility that Defendant agreed to pay class counsel excessive fees in exchange for counsel accepting a lower amount for class members. Third, the agreement included a “kicker” or “reverter” clause in which ConAgra, not the class members, would receive a reversion of excess fees if the court reduced the agreed-upon attorney’s fees.

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Class Actions, Class Action Cert Teddy Basham-Witherington Class Actions, Class Action Cert Teddy Basham-Witherington

Class Certification Does Not Require That Class Member Identification Be “Administratively Feasible."

Most people do not retain receipts for the myriad of food items and inexpensive consumer goods that they purchase each year.  But, should this entirely understandable fact of modern life provide a license to corporations to defraud consumers who buy these products?

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