California – Resolved Cases
In re Apple iPhone/iPod Warranty Litig.
Jurisdiction: N.D. Cal.
City: San Francisco
Case Status: Resolved
Plaintiffs alleged that Apple improperly denied warranty coverage for iPhone and iPod Touch devices. Apple agreed to pay $53 million to settle the case. The average payment to Settlement Class Members represented approximately 117% of the replacement costs for those devices.
In re Chiron Shareholder Deal Litig., Consol.
Jurisdiction: Cal.
City: Oakland
Case Status: Resolved
In these actions, stockholders challenged the proposed acquisition of Chiron Corporation by its 42% stockholder, Novartis AG. A settlement was negotiated which included, among other things, a further increase in the merger price to $48 per share, or an additional $330 million for the public stockholders of Chiron.
Consolidated Capital Institutional Properties, L.P.
Jurisdiction: American Arbitration Association
City: Oakland
Case Status: Resolved
The Arbitrator approved a $4.58 million case settlement which provided an additional payment of approximately $74 per Unit for the unaffiliated investors of Consolidated Capital Institutional Properties, L.P. against Apartment Investment and Management Company and its affiliates, who were alleged to have breached fiduciary duties in proposing and implementing the merger.
In re Phoenix Leasing Incorporated Limited Partnership Litig.
Jurisdiction: Superior Court of the State of California
City: San Rafael
Case Status: Resolved
Action filed against five public partnerships sponsored by Phoenix Leasing Incorporated and its affiliates alleging fraud, misrepresentation and breach of fiduciary which resulted in entry of a judgment in favor of the class in the amount of $21 million.
California Tax Refund Actions
Jurisdiction: Superior Court of the State of California
City: Los Angeles
Case Status: Resolved
Class action alleging that the city of Los Angeles unlawfully charged city residents and business owners a telephone user tax. A settlement was reached with the city of Los Angeles worth up to $92.5 million.
In re Real Estate Associates Limited Partnerships Litig.
Jurisdiction: C.D. Cal
City: Los Angeles
Case Status: Resolved
Class action asserting federal securities fraud and breach of fiduciary duty claims on behalf of investors. The jury returned a $185 million verdict (including $92.5 million in punitive damages) in favor of the investors. The verdict was among the “Top 10” Verdicts of 2002. The case settled for $83 million.
Chambers v. Whirlpool Corp., et al.
Jurisdiction: C.D. Cal
City: Los Angeles
Case Status: Resolved
Consumer class action involving alleged design defects in Whirlpool, Kenmore, and Kitchenaid dishwashers that can cause the control board to overheat or catch fire. The settlement relief includes, among other things, up to 100% of repair costs, or up to $300 towards the purchase of a new dishwasher.
Lockabey et al. v. American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
Jurisdiction: San Diego Superior Court
City: San Diego
Case Status: Resolved
Settlement valued by court at $170 million for a class of 460,000 purchasers and lessees of Honda Civic Hybrids to resolve claims that the vehicle was advertised with fuel economy representations it could not achieve under real-world driving conditions, and that a software update to the IMA system further decreased fuel economy and performance.