When a class action settlement is proposed for approval, the class members have three options, (1) they can remain in the settlement class, (2) opt-out of the settlement to preserve their individual claims, or (3) they can object to the settlement if they believe it to be in some way unfair or inequitable. The latter
Mass Texts: How the Cannabis Industry Must Deal with the Surge of TCPA Class Actions During COVID-19
THC, CBD, CBN … the cannabis industry is quite familiar with acronyms. But it’s another nasty little four
letters, TCPA, that are—or should be—on the top of mind for every dispensary, delivery service, CRM platform, and private equity holding company. This as the US Supreme Court decides what the byzantine 30-year-old law will look
The Growing Number of Biometric Privacy Laws and the Post-COVID Consumer Class Action Risks for Businesses
Biometric privacy continues to be a hot-button topic in the United States, and internationally, with states 
continuing to join the wave of strict consumer biometric data protection laws. In an effort to avoid costly class action litigation as the country begins to reopen following the COVID-19 pandemic, businesses should be mindful of the potential risks
Post COVID-19 Considerations as Universities Open in the Fall
Major operational changes and disruptions occasioned by COVID-19 have created a swell of contract 
disputes and new litigation in various industries. The area of higher education is no different. Faced with safety concerns and government stay-at-home orders, universities across the nation have had to adjust, often by ceasing in-person instruction, transitioning to remote learning, and
Webinar Recap! COVID-19-Related Consumer Class Action Developments and Trends in California
In this webinar, Seyfarth attorneys Robert Milligan, Jonathan Braunstein, Daniel Joshua Salinas, and Darren Dummit covered the recent developments in consumer class actions related to COVID-19 in California, explaining the claims and expected defenses, and proactive attempts that companies can employ now to attempt to avoid these suits.
As a conclusion to this webinar, we
Membership Fee Refund Class Actions Hitting the Office, the Gym, the Club, and the Park
One of the immediate legal trends arising from the shut down of all non-essential activities has been
disputes concerning consumer refunds, with many class action suits against professional sports leagues, ticket brokers, festivals, and schools dominating the headlines.[1] But there are other businesses and activities which involve membership or subscription fees that are also
No Rest For The Plaintiffs’ Bar: Companies Using Automatic Renewal Business Model With California Consumers Face Increased Risk of Class Actions During The Pandemic
Companies responding to the pandemic are faced with the challenges of not only complying with 
federal, state, and local emergency orders and guidelines for each location in which they operate, but also ensuring that any measures taken to address the foregoing do not affect compliance with other laws. In the wake of business closures and
Price Gouging in California (and Elsewhere) During COVID-19 … And the Claims That Are Likely to Follow
On March 4, 2020, California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in response to the COVID-19 public health emergency. Price gouging is illegal in all California communities during the declared state of emergency.
Executive Order N-44-20 makes it unlawful to increase the price of food items, consumer goods, or medical and emergency supplies
Avoiding California’s Consumer Law Pitfalls Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented disruption and challenges for businesses navigating California’s consumer protection laws. California was already an attractive forum for expensive consumer class action lawsuits, where it can be easier to obtain class certification, conduct onerous discovery, obtain lucrative class action settlement approval, and recover higher attorneys’ fee awards compared to other
From Brick & Mortar to the Web: An Overview of Federal Laws and Regulations to Consider When Operating an E-Commerce Business
Long before COVID-19 affected retail companies had already started shifting to e-commerce platforms,
marked by retail giants exclusively in the e-commerce space. Even banks acknowledged this trend, by no longer offering cash-back credit rewards for just gas and grocery purchases, but for online purchases too. Now, as COVID-19 affects a growing number of retail stores,