Firm News
- Sauder Schelkopf is pleased to announce that Matthew Schelkopf was selected as the 2022-2023 President of the Class Action Trial Lawyers Association Top 25, an invitation-only professional organization composed of and limited to the Top 25 attorneys from each state or region who serve individuals and families who need attorneys to represent them in the American legal system regarding Class Action claims.
- Sauder Schelkopf is pleased to announce the promotion of Joseph Kenney to partner at the firm. Mr. Kenney devotes his practice to litigation and has experience litigating class actions involving automotive and consumer product defects, false and misleading advertising, sexual abuse, employee rights, and other consumer protection matters. Since 2017, Mr. Kenney has been selected by Pennsylvania Super Lawyers as a Rising Star (an honor reserved for 2.5% of lawyers in Pennsylvania), as chosen by his peers based on his professional achievements. Mr. Kenney has briefed and argued dispositive motions in federal courts across the country. Mr. Kenney has also been appointed class counsel in a variety of class action settlements, creating hundreds of millions of dollars in benefits available to consumers.
- We are proud to announce that the firm has been recognized by the Legal Intelligencer’s 2022 Professional Excellence Awards. The Legal Intelligencer’s Professional Excellence Awards honor Pennsylvania law firms and attorneys who have made a significant, positive impact on the legal profession. Our firm was named in the Litigation Departments of the Year (Specialty Area category; runner-up), an award that honors the best litigation practice in a small or mid-sized firm in Pennsylvania. This recognition was based on the firm’s 2021 litigation work and its important ongoing cases.
- We are pleased to announce Joe Sauder and Matt Schelkopf have been recognized by Lawdragon on its list of the “500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers” for 2022. The Lawdragon consumer law guide offers the publication’s take on the best of the U.S. plaintiff bar specializing in representing consumers.
- We are pleased to announce that Joe Sauder and Matt Schelkopf have been named as Super Lawyers in 2022, and Joe Kenney has been named a Rising Star in 2022. Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. These selections were made by a research-driven, peer-influenced rating service that included peer nominations, independent research by Super Lawyers, and evaluations by a highly credentialed panel of attorneys. For more information about Super Lawyers, please go to SuperLawyers.com
- The Legal Intelligencer has named its 2020 Pennsylvania Trailblazers, a list that includes Sauder Schelkopf partners Joe Sauder and Matt Schelkopf. The award recognizes 31 lawyers who “have taken extra measures to contribute to positive outcomes . . . and who are truly agents of change.”
- Joe Sauder and Matt Schelkopf have been selected among America’s Top 100 High Stakes Litigators® for 2020. Selection to America’s Top 100 High Stakes Litigators® is by invitation only and is reserved to identify the nation’s most exceptional trial attorneys in high value, high stakes legal matters.
- Sauder Schelkopf was named to Plaintiff’s Steering Committee in Allergan BIOCELL Textured Breast Implant Litigation by Judge Brian R. Martinotti of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey to serve on the Plaintiff Steering Committee in the matter of Allergan BIOCELL Textured Breast Implant Products Liability Litigation, No. 2:19-md-02921, MDL No. 2921 (D.N.J.).
- Sauder Schelkopf is pleased to announce a $43.5 million nationwide class action settlement related to plumbing products manufactured by NIBCO. Sauder Schelkopf served as court appointed co-lead counsel in the lawsuit, which was filed in December 2013 and involved NIBCO’s PEX tubing, fittings, and clamps.
- Sauder Schelkopf is pleased to announce that Judge William Campbell, of the Middle District of Tennessee, granted final approval to a $16.5 million nationwide class action settlement related to defective DuraPro plumbing supply lines.
- A federal court judge in Chicago granted final approval to a $295 million settlement with Stericycle for excessive and repeated price increases for medical waste disposal. Sauder Schelkopf represented dentists, physicians, and veterinarians as part of the nationwide class action settlement.
Automotive Defects
- Afzal v. BMW of North America, LLC, et al., (class action on behalf of purchasers and lessees of BMW M3 vehicles with S65 engines containing an alleged rotating assembly defect resulting in engine failure);
- Bang v. BMW of North America, LLC, et al., (class action on behalf of hundreds of thousands of purchasers and lessees of certain BMW vehicles with N63 engines containing alleged oil consumption defect);
- Baranco v. Ford Motor Company (class action on behalf of hundreds of thousands of purchasers and lessees of certain Ford vehicles containing defective door latch assemblies that can cause unwarranted “door ajar” warnings leading to the doors not locking and the batteries depleting);
- Davitt v. Honda North America, Inc., (class action on behalf of hundreds of thousands of purchasers and lessees of Honda CR-V vehicles with alleged defective door lock actuators);
- Henderson v. Volvo Cars of North America LLC, et al., (class action on behalf of 90,000 purchasers and lessees of Volvo vehicles with defective GM4T65 automatic transmissions);
- In re: General Motors Corp. Air Conditioning Marketing and Sales Practices Litigation – (class action on behalf of owners and lessees of 2015-17 Cadillac Escalade models, 2014-17 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 models, 2015-17 Chevrolet Suburban models, 2015-17 Chevrolet Tahoe models, 2014-17 GMC Sierra 1500 models, and 2015-17 GMC Yukon models for defective air conditioning systems);
- In re: Kia Engine Litigation (class action settlement on behalf of approximately 10 million purchasers and lessees of certain Kia Optima, Sorento and Sportage vehicles with alleged connecting rod bearing defect resulting in engine failure);
- In re: Subaru Battery Drain Products Liability Litigation (class action settlement on behalf of over 3.5 million class members alleging that the Subaru Settlement Class Vehicles suffer from a design defect that results in parasitic battery drain and failure);
- Kinnick v. Hyundai Motor America, Inc., (class action on behalf of hundreds of thousands of purchasers and lessees of certain Hyundai Sonata, Tucson and Santa Fe vehicles with alleged connecting rod bearing defect resulting in engine failure);
- Lax v. Toyota Motor Corporation (class action on behalf of hundreds of thousands of purchasers and lessees of certain Toyota vehicles with alleged oil consumption defect);
- Mendoza v. Hyundai Motor America, Inc., (class action on behalf of hundreds of thousands of purchasers and lessees of certain Hyundai Sonata vehicles with alleged connecting rod bearing defect resulting in engine failure);
- McKee v. General Motors (class action on behalf of hundreds of thousands of purchasers and lessees of GMC Canyon and Chevrolet Colorado trucks with defective 6L50 transmissions);
- Neale v. Volvo Cars of North America LLC, et al., (certified class action on behalf of hundreds of thousands of purchasers and lessees of certain Volvo vehicles with alleged defective sunroof water drainage systems);
- Rivera v. Ford Motor Company, (class action on behalf of hundreds of thousands of purchasers and lessees of certain Ford Focus vehicles with alleged defective Evaporative Emission Control (EVAP) systems causing sudden and unexpected engine stalling);
- Salcedo v. Subaru of America, Inc., (D.N.J.) (class action on behalf of owners and lessees of MY 2012-2017 Subaru WRX and WRX STi vehicles with alleged connecting rod bearing defect resulting in engine failure);
- Squires et al. v. Toyota Motor Corp., et al; (class action on behalf of hundreds of thousands of purchasers and lessees of Toyota Prius vehicles with alleged defective windshields prone to sudden cracking);
- Tolmasoff v. General Motors, LLC, (E.D. Mich.) (as co-lead counsel Sauder Schelkopf achieved a $6 million nationwide settlement in class action involving a claim of overstated miles-per-gallon in GM vehicles);
- Wallis v. Kia Motors America, Inc., (class action on behalf of hundreds of thousands of purchasers and lessees of certain Kia vehicles with alleged connecting rod bearing defect resulting in engine failure);
- Whalen v. Ford Motor Co., (class action on behalf of hundreds of thousands of purchasers and lessees of certain Ford and Lincoln vehicles with alleged defective MyFord Touch infotainment systems);
- Yaeger v. Subaru of America, Inc., (class action on behalf of hundreds of thousands of purchasers and lessees of certain Subaru vehicles with alleged oil consumption defect);
- Zhao, et al. v. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., et al., (class action settlement on behalf of over 4 million class members that alleged the primary engine water pumps in certain 2014 through 2021 Volkswagen and Audi vehicles equipped with 1.8 or 2.0 liter engines are defective and may prematurely fail);
Consumer Protection
- Sherwin Williams Deck Stain (N.D. Ohio) (class action on behalf of homeowners who purchased Sherwin-Williams’ Duckback and/or SuperDeck deck stains that premature peel on outdoor decks)
- Samsung Cracked Dryer Drum (S.D. Ohio) (class action on behalf of homeowners who purchased a Samsung clothes dryer and experienced a cracked dryer drum).
- Davidson v Apple (N.D. CA) (consumer class action pertaining to the Apple iPhone 6 and 6 Plus touchscreens to become unresponsive to users’ touch inputs);
- Fritz v. North American Power (class action on behalf of individuals for the alleged deceptive pricing and sales tactics of electric and gas utilities);
- Hartley v. Sig Sauer (class action on behalf of purchasers of Sig Sauer P320 handguns that are without the inclusion of an important safety item known as a disconnector safety, which can result in unintentional firing);
- In re Checking Account Overdraft Litig., (S.D. FLA.) (class action resulting in a $55 million settlement with US Bank and $14.5 million settlement with Comerica);
- In re Stericycle Inc., Sterisafe Contract Litigation (N.D. IL.)(commercial litigation brought on behalf of medical waste disposal customers of Stericycle regarding alleged automated price increases in violation of contractual terms);
- McLaughlin v. IDT, et al., (class action on behalf of individuals for the alleged deceptive pricing and sales tactics of electric and gas utilities);
- Sasso v. Hiko (settled class action on behalf of individuals for the alleged deceptive pricing and sales tactics of electric and gas utilities);
- Smith v. Gaiam (D.CO.) ($10 million consumer class action settlement, which provided full relief to the class).
Home Products and Construction Defects
- Traxler v. PPG Industries, Inc., (N.D. Ohio) ($6.5 million settlement on behalf of homeowners who purchased and used defective deck stain);
- Klug v. Watts Regulator Co., (D. Neb.) and Ponzo v. Watts Regulator Co., No. 8:16-200 (D. Neb.) (as co-lead counsel achieved a $14 million joint settlement on behalf of homeowners with defective toilet connectors and water heater connectors manufactured by Watts);
- Ajose, et al. v. Interline Brands, Inc., Case (M.D. TN) ($16.5 million nationwide class action settlement related to defective DuraPro plumbing supply lines.);
- Cole v. NIBCO, Inc., (D.N.J.) ($43.5 million nationwide class action settlement related to NIBCO’s alleged defective plumbing products, including PEX tubing, fittings and clamps, or otherwise had those plumbing products installed in their homes or other structures);
Employee Rights
- Rangel v. Cardell Cabinetry, LLC, (W.D. TX) ($800,000 settlement on behalf of hundreds of former employees of a Texas cabinetry maker for Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) violations when they were fired without notice);
- McCoy v. North State Aviation, LLC and NSA Holdings, Inc. ($1.5 million settlement on behalf of hundreds of employees in North Carolina whose WARN Act rights were violated when they were abruptly fired without notice.)
- Guill v Alliance Resource Partners (S.D. Illinois) (class action lawsuit on behalf of over 200 coal miners whose WARN Act rights were violated when they were abruptly fired without notice.)
Healthcare Litigation
- In re: Arizona Theranos Inc. Litigation (D. AZ) (filed the first class action against Theranos on behalf of patients whose blood results were subsequently voided by lab);
- Porras et al. v. Hospital Corporation of American (HCA) et al., (Denver) (filed a class action on behalf of over 3000 surgical patients who were notified by the hospital that a surgical tech swapped fentanyl needles possibly exposing them to infectious diseases);
- Bhatia v. 3M Company (D. Minn) (class action on behalf of dentists to recoup out of pockets expenses related to failed crowns);
- Physicians of Winter Haven v Steris Corp (N.D. Ohio) ($20 million nationwide class action settlement on behalf of surgical centers to recoup out of pocket expenses related to a recalled medical device);