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Class Actions

Zelle attorneys have represented classes of consumers, investors, and businesses and have also defended corporations in class actions in many areas of the law, including antitrust, securities fraud, financial services, consumer rights, unfair competition, unfair business practices, product liability, mass tort, property rights, and ERISA claims.

Our practice is unusual because we have a significant practice on both sides of the aisle. This experience gives us a unique perspective and insights on approaching cases. While a significant portion of our class action cases are part of multi-district litigation proceedings, we are also commonly involved in state court class actions across the country.

Representative Matters

COVID-19 Insurance Coverage Class Actions (multiple U.S. federal courts).
Zelle currently represents several insurance companies in federal class actions filed by policyholders seeking business interruption insurance coverage for losses they claim have resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic and governmental orders taken in response.
Rozo v. Principal Life Insurance Co. (S.D. Iowa).
Zelle is Co-Lead Counsel for a certified class of retirement plan investors in the Principal Fixed Income Option. Plaintiffs allege that Principal violated ERISA by retaining excessive compensation that, as a fiduciary, it was not entitled to retain. See Rozo v. Principal Life Ins. Co., 949 F.3d 1071 (8th Cir. 2020) (reversing grant of summary judgment and holding Principal is a fiduciary).
In re Vitamin C Antitrust Litigation (E.D.N.Y.).
Zelle represented multinational manufacturers and related entities in defense of direct and indirect purchaser class actions. The plaintiffs’ allegations concerned price-fixing in the context of conduct implicating foreign sovereign compulsion and state action defenses. Zelle’s representation and advocacy through trial resulted in successful pre-verdict resolution for our clients.
Fiber Optic Right-of-Way Cases (multiple state and U.S. federal courts).
In dozens of actions across the U.S., plaintiff class members alleged that defendant telecommunications companies installed fiber-optic cable along railroad rights-of-way running through the class members’ property without their consent, which constituted a trespass that unjustly enriched defendants. Zelle attorneys obtained certification of several plaintiff classes and achieved settlements for the benefit of class members totaling in the hundreds of millions of dollars.

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Related Practice Lines

Class Actions

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