Class Action Defense
Provides consulting and litigation services to corporations in complex commercial class action litigation.
Overview
Post & Schell, P.C.'s Class Action Defense Group provides consulting and litigation services to corporations in complex commercial class action litigation. Class actions can threaten entity survival with very large potential damages and they can be extremely costly to defend. Our professionals understand the defense strategies required to minimize both exposure and defense costs, including pre-certification dispositive motion practice, pre-certification expert evidentiary challenges, decertification efforts, intermediate appellate review of class certification rulings and exploration of favorable settlement before and after certification. We work closely with clients to develop appropriate defenses and litigation strategies. We also review existing corporate policies and assist our clients to implement new policies that are intended to avert disputes, including class action litigation.
Our Class Action Defense attorneys regularly provide advice, counsel and representation with respect to a wide array of issues, including:
- Proactive defense strategy determined early in consultation with the client to assert applicable defenses, challenges to certification, decertification strategies and dispositive motions.
- Detailed and carefully targeted investigation and discovery to support class action defenses.
- Removal of state court class actions to federal court if appropriate, incorporating the heightened standards of the Class Action Fairness Act of 2005 which expanded potential federal jurisdiction.
- Opposition to class certification in evidentiary hearings through presentation of fact and expert witness testimony and evidence, including effective briefing and oral arguments to defeat certification or, alternatively, to limit class claims and class size.
- Interlocutory appeals of federal and state court class certification determinations.
- Determination of and retention of experienced and appropriate trial and consulting experts to support defenses and provide persuasive opinion testimony at hearings or trial.
- E-discovery challenges; data privacy and security breaches, including violations of federal and state data protection laws.
- Recovery from third parties addressed through joinder practice or savings actions.
- “Follow-on” litigation to government enforcement actions.
- Defense strategies designed to maximize the potential for favorable settlements recognizing that many class action cases settle.
- ADR where appropriate to reduce litigation expense.
Attorneys
John W. Dornberger
Administrative Principal, Harrisburg Office
Co-Chair, Construction Government Contracts & Surety Practice Group
Harrisburg
Phone: 717-612-6037
Fax: 717-731-1985
John N. Joseph
Chair, Internal Investigations & White Collar Practice Group
Principal
Philadelphia
Phone: 215-587-1191
Fax: 215-320-4190
Andrea M. Kirshenbaum
Chair, Wage and Hour Practice Group
Principal
Philadelphia
Phone: 215-587-1126
Fax: 215-320-4711
Ronald H. Levine
Senior Counsel
Internal Investigations & White Collar Defense
Philadelphia
Phone: 215-587-1071
Fax: 215-320-4187
Richard L. McMonigle Jr.
Senior Counsel
Immediate Past Chair, Insurance Law Department
Philadelphia
Phone: 215-587-1019
Fax: 215-320-4198
Robin Locke Nagele
Co-Chair, Health Care Practice Group
Principal
Philadelphia
Phone: 215-587-1114
Fax: 215-320-4702
Abraham J. Rein
Co-Chair, Information Privacy & Security Practice
Principal
Philadelphia
Phone: 215-587-1057
Fax: 215-320-4194
Steven Schildt
Vice-Chair, Insurance Law Department
Principal
Philadelphia
Phone: 215-587-1089
Mobile: (267) 322-0388
Fax: 215-320-4762
News & Insights
John W. Dornberger
Administrative Principal, Harrisburg Office
Co-Chair, Construction Government Contracts & Surety Practice Group
Harrisburg
Phone: 717-612-6037
Fax: 717-731-1985
John N. Joseph
Chair, Internal Investigations & White Collar Practice Group
Principal
Philadelphia
Phone: 215-587-1191
Fax: 215-320-4190
Andrea M. Kirshenbaum
Chair, Wage and Hour Practice Group
Principal
Philadelphia
Phone: 215-587-1126
Fax: 215-320-4711
Ronald H. Levine
Senior Counsel
Internal Investigations & White Collar Defense
Philadelphia
Phone: 215-587-1071
Fax: 215-320-4187
Richard L. McMonigle Jr.
Senior Counsel
Immediate Past Chair, Insurance Law Department
Philadelphia
Phone: 215-587-1019
Fax: 215-320-4198
Robin Locke Nagele
Co-Chair, Health Care Practice Group
Principal
Philadelphia
Phone: 215-587-1114
Fax: 215-320-4702
Abraham J. Rein
Co-Chair, Information Privacy & Security Practice
Principal
Philadelphia
Phone: 215-587-1057
Fax: 215-320-4194
Steven Schildt
Vice-Chair, Insurance Law Department
Principal
Philadelphia
Phone: 215-587-1089
Mobile: (267) 322-0388
Fax: 215-320-4762