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COMPLEX AND CLASS ACTIONS

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EXPERIENCE
INSIGHTS
NEWS & EVENTS
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RELATED INFORMATION

CONTACT

Stephen D'Aunoy: 314 552 6354 314 552 6354 direct | Email
Amanda Hettinger: 314 552 6415 314 552 6415 direct | Email
Sharon Rosenberg: 314 552 6173 314 552 6173 direct | Email

RELATED PRACTICES
RELATED INDUSTRIES
REPRESENTATIVE CLIENTS
- Bayer
- Charter Communications
- Enterprise Rent-A-Car
- ExxonMobil
- FCA US LLC
- Federal Signal Corporation
- Kawasaki Motors Corp., USA
- Mercy
- Peabody Energy
- UniGroup (United Van Lines)
- U.S. Bank National Association

We are not afraid of the courtroom.

When companies face the daunting task of having to defend themselves in class actions, multidistrict litigation (MDLs), mass tort filings, or other complex cases, they look for lawyers with the experience, creativity, and technical resources necessary to win the day. They want a law firm with a proven record of success in many jurisdictions. Many of the attorneys in our Complex and Class Actions practice group have tried lengthy, high stakes cases in courts around the country and regularly prosecute and defend key motions before those courts. We conduct complex litigation in a focused, methodical manner that is consistent with our clients’ business goals, and we refine our strategy as cases evolve. We also know how to negotiate these cases to a favorable disposition, recognizing the increasing pressure for resolution without the risk and expense of trial.

In our view, though, you can’t settle a case successfully unless you know how to try it.

Our practice takes a proactive approach to managing our clients’ cases. Our philosophy is to develop an early strategy based on a thorough review of the law and facts. We do not suggest or pursue strategies that do not advance the client's goals, and we discuss strategies with clients at the early stages of litigation to find out what will best meet their needs and business objectives. In our experience, this careful preparation and early case assessment result in a more efficient process and a better outcome.

While our class action practice serves clients in a number of industries, we are especially known for our specific work with agriculture & food, automotive, consumer products, financial services, and media & internet companies. We also have deep experience defending environmental class actions and multidistrict litigation. With a full-service firm that encompasses transactional, regulatory, and litigation practices, Thompson Coburn’s attorneys are familiar with the nuanced and complex issues affecting these companies that often factor into class actions. We take a collaborative approach when facing these matters with our clients, using our cross-practice resources and experience to look at all possible angles for a thoughtful and creative strategy.

In recent years, we have handled hundreds of class actions ranging from contract and consumer disputes to claims alleging product defect, consumer fraud, environmental damage, violations of banking and insurance regulations and laws, antitrust laws, and securities fraud. We currently serve as national class action counsel for Charter Communications, FCA US LLC, and Kawasaki and as regional class action counsel for a major telecommunications company.

Innovative Case Management

We have developed proprietary software designed specifically for aggregate litigation and processes and procedures that help us manage cases more effectively. This gives us a particular advantage if a case proliferates into many cases around the nation. We routinely handle multi-terabytes’ worth of information and organize it so that we can retrieve it instantaneously and present it in new and compelling ways to judges and juries. Our databases of current and past cases, our internal libraries and our communications all have one goal—to serve clients better and faster.

Given our competitive advantage on rates, our experience in serving clients as national counsel, and our firm’s depth of resources, we can—and do—act quickly and respond effectively to matters throughout the country.

Thompson Coburn has tried both the longest toxic tort case in American jurisprudence (the Kemner case for Monsanto) and, more recently, one of the largest cases in American jurisprudence (the case brought by the United States against the tobacco industry in which the claim was for $280 billion).

Woodruff v. Chrysler Motors

Successfully defended automobile manufacturer in putative nationwide class action alleging that manufacturer breached warranties by improperly calculating the duration of the engine warranty that accompanied certain trucks.

Carlson v. ALS Enterprises, Inc.
Dismissing product defect class action due to plaintiffs’ failure to satisfy the Rule 9(b) pleading standard on a defendant-by-defendant basis.

On appeal, granting motion for judgment on the pleadings against class action claim under the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act.

Granting motion for judgment on the pleadings against class action claim under the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act.

Phillips v. Bally Total Fitness Holding Corp.
Affirming dismissal of out-of-state class action plaintiffs for lack of standing under Illinois Consumer Fraud Act.

Smith v. Illinois Central R.R. Co.
Accepting for review and reversing intermediate appellate affirmance of class certification in railroad derailment case.

Owner-Operator Indep. Drivers Ass’n. v. United Van Lines
Precluding the prospect of class treatment by granting defendant’s motion to compel arbitration of federal truth-in-leasing claims.

In re Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (“MTBE”) Products Liability Litig.
Denying motion to certify proposed multistate class of well owners because of various manageability concerns.

Hasek v. DaimlerChrysler Corp.
Affirming judgment against owner on class action claims alleging excessive engine noise.

In re Medical Monitoring Litigation, Civil Action No. 00-C-6000
Product Liability class action of 270,000 West Virginia cigarette smokers tried to a jury verdict. First trial (January 4-22, 2001) ended in a mistrial. Second trial lasted 26 trial days (September 5-November 14, 2001). Defense verdict on all counts, including product defect, negligence and breach of voluntary undertaking.

In re Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (“MTBE”) Products Liability Litig.
Dismissing class action claims of well owners who could not allege credible fear that MTBE threatened their drinking water wells (Southern District of New York).

Kienle v. Hunter Engineering Co.
Dismissing class action ERISA claims as time-barred.

Chandler v. Norwest Bank Minnesota, N.A.
Affirming Rule 11 sanctions against class action plaintiff’s attorney for filing frivolous RESPA claims.

Chin v. Chrysler Corp.
Refusing to certify nationwide class of minivan owners because of irreconcilable differences in state warranty and tort laws.

Hanlon v. Chrysler Corp.
Overruling objections to class action settlement that involved alleged defect in the rear liftgate latches of certain minivans.

Saey v. CompUSA, Inc.
Refusing to certify class of personal computer purchasers due to lack of numerosity.

Fitzgerald v. Chrysler Corp.
Dismissing class action RICO claims for lack of cognizable “enterprise” under the statute.

Weaver v. Chrysler Corp.
Dismissing class action fraud claims because plaintiff did not allege that the defect manifested itself in the product he purchased.

John Amato	Partner	New York	212 478 7380 212 478 7380 Email Download Vcard	John draws on his more than 30 years of litigation experience to represent a wide variety of clients in federal and state trial and appellate courts. John draws on his more than 30 years of litigation experience to represent ...
Tom Azar, Jr.	Partner	St. Louis	314 552 6409 314 552 6409 Email Download Vcard	Tom is a litigator who represents clients in complex commercial litigation, including consumer class actions, securities litigation, derivative-shareholder actions, busin... Tom is a litigator who represents clients in complex commercial litigation,...
Kim Bousquet	Partner	St. Louis	314 552 6099 314 552 6099 Email Download Vcard	Kim is a litigator and counselor based in Saint Louis, Missouri. Kim is a litigator and counselor based in Saint Louis, Missouri.
David Coffman	Partner	St. Louis	314 552 6250 314 552 6250 Email Download Vcard	With over 30 years of experience, David has tried dozens of high stakes cases. With over 30 years of experience, David has tried dozens of high stakes cas...
Stephen D'Aunoy	Partner	St. Louis	314 552 6354 314 552 6354 Email Download Vcard	Stephen aggressively defends companies against consumer class action lawsuits in state and federal courts throughout the country as a member of Thompson Coburn's Business... Stephen aggressively defends companies against consumer class action lawsui...
Jeff Fink	Partner	St. Louis	314 552 6145 314 552 6145 Email Download Vcard	Jeff helps all types of businesses navigate complex litigation, arbitration, class action, regulatory, and transactional matters in venues across the country. Jeff helps all types of businesses navigate complex litigation, arbitration...
John Galvin	Partner	St. Louis	314 552 6341 314 552 6341 Email Download Vcard	John represents domestic and international clients in complex litigation and multi-district litigation in some of the most challenging state and federal venues in the cou... John represents domestic and international clients in complex litigation an...
Suzanne Galvin	Partner	St. Louis	314 552 6338 314 552 6338 Email Download Vcard	Suzanne is a versatile litigator who has spent her career finding solutions for matters involving healthcare providers and manufactures of medical products. Suzanne is a versatile litigator who has spent her career finding solutions...
Ed Harvey	Partner	St. Louis	314 552 6049 314 552 6049 Email Download Vcard	Ed is a veteran litigator and head of the Firm's Antitrust Practice Group. Ed is a veteran litigator and head of the Firm's Antitrust Practice Group.
Amanda Hettinger	Partner	St. Louis	314 552 6415 314 552 6415 Email Download Vcard	Amanda is a litigator and a highly experienced litigation trial team leader for Fortune 500 companies facing class actions and complex business disputes. Amanda is a litigator and a highly experienced litigation trial team leader...
Chris Hohn	Partner	St. Louis	314 552 6159 314 552 6159 Email Download Vcard	Chris leads complex litigation and class action defense for a host of major corporations in the financial services and agriculture industries. Chris leads complex litigation and class action defense for a host of major...
John Kingston	Partner	St. Louis	314 552 6464 314 552 6464 Email Download Vcard	John handles a wide variety of commercial litigation in state and federal courts across the nation. John handles a wide variety of commercial litigation in state and federal c...
Nick Lamb	Partner	St. Louis	314 552 6066 314 552 6066 Email Download Vcard	Nick is a highly experienced trial lawyer in all types of civil litigation, including management of class action and commercial litigation. Nick is a highly experienced trial lawyer in all types of civil litigation,...
Steven Mandelsberg	Partner	New York	212 478 7360 212 478 7360 Email Download Vcard	Steve represents financial institutions, businesses and constituencies in federal and state courts throughout the United States in a wide variety of major commercial disp... Steve represents financial institutions, businesses and constituencies in f...
Jan Paul Miller	Partner	St. Louis	314 552 6365 314 552 6365 Email Download Vcard	Jan is a former United States Attorney with extensive trial experience who represents companies and individuals in major litigation and regulatory actions. Jan is a former United States Attorney with extensive trial experience who ...
Scott Morgan	Partner	St. Louis	314 552 6283 314 552 6283 Email Download Vcard	Scott defends companies facing consumer class action lawsuits and commercial litigation in federal and state courts across the country. Scott defends companies facing consumer class action lawsuits and commercia...
Mike Morris	Partner	St. Louis	314 552 6082 314 552 6082 Email Download Vcard	Mike litigates on behalf of banking and health care clients, and has significant class action experience. Mike litigates on behalf of banking and health care clients, and has signif...
Elizabeth Myers	Partner	Dallas	972 629 7111 972 629 7111 Email Download Vcard	Elizabeth represents clients in high-stakes litigation across the country, including commercial disputes, product defects claims, and consumer fraud and securities fraud ... Elizabeth represents clients in high-stakes litigation across the country, ...
Emily Peel	Partner	Chicago	312 580 2323 312 580 2323 Email Download Vcard	Emily is a litigation partner who represents companies, their executives and officers in a variety of business disputes. Emily is a litigation partner who represents companies, their executives an...
Kurt Reitz	Partner	Southern Illinois	618 236 3415 618 236 3415 Email Download Vcard	Kurt is experienced in the defense of personal injury and property damage litigation including FELA, trucking, product liability, class action and mass tort litigation. Kurt is experienced in the defense of personal injury and property damage l...
Sharon Rosenberg	Partner	St. Louis	314 552 6173 314 552 6173 Email Download Vcard	Sharon develops and executes highly effective class action defense strategies for major companies across a variety of sectors, including transportation, telecommunication... Sharon develops and executes highly effective class action defense strategi...
Kristen Sanocki	Associate	St. Louis	314 552 6172 314 552 6172 Email Download Vcard	Kristen litigates complex commercial disputes, class actions and state and local tax cases for companies in Missouri and across the country. Kristen litigates complex commercial disputes, class actions and state and ...
Booker Shaw	Partner	St. Louis	314 552 6087 314 552 6087 Email Download Vcard	Retired Judge Booker Shaw is a skilled litigator and appellate advocate who brings valuable insight and perspective gained from his more than 25 years on the bench. Retired Judge Booker Shaw is a skilled litigator and appellate advocate who...
John Viola	Partner	Los Angeles	310 282 9407 310 282 9407 Email Download Vcard	John serves as a one-stop resource for employment counseling and litigation for companies in California and across the country. John serves as a one-stop resource for employment counseling and litigation...
Bob Wagner	Partner	St. Louis	314 552 6206 314 552 6206 Email Download Vcard	Bob has more than 20 years of experience defending class actions in state and federal courts across the country. Bob has more than 20 years of experience defending class actions in state a...
Nicole Williams	Partner	Dallas	972 629 7113 972 629 7113 Email Download Vcard	Nicole is a highly experienced trial lawyer who represents clients in matters involving antitrust, advertising, fraud investigations and litigation, RICO and class action... Nicole is a highly experienced trial lawyer who represents clients in matte...
R. Nelson Williams	Partner	St. Louis	314 552 6505 314 552 6505 Email Download Vcard	Nelson represents employers in various aspects of employment law and litigation. Nelson represents employers in various aspects of employment law and litiga...
Kathy Wisniewski	Senior Counsel	St. Louis	314 552 6337 314 552 6337 Email Download Vcard	Kathy is a highly experienced litigator who has spent the majority of her career defending large corporations, including major auto manufacturers, in class actions across... Kathy is a highly experienced litigator who has spent the majority of her c...
Roman Wuller	Chair	St. Louis	314 552 6121 314 552 6121 Email Download Vcard	Roman serves as Chair of Thompson Coburn. Roman serves as Chair of Thompson Coburn.