$65 Million Class Action Defense Verdict
Based in no small part on a recognized transportation industry expertise and favorable past litigation results, one of the nation's largest transportation providers selected Holland & Knight as lead defense counsel in a major "bet the company" class action. Pending since 2002, the case involved 26,000 class members; the damages sought by the class exceeded $65 million. A summary judgment ended the case in favor of the client on a few key claims but found liability as to one. On the first morning of the trial on damages, the judge decertified the class. Instead of a case for 26,000 class members claiming exceeding $65 million in damages, the case was reduced to four individuals seeking less than $30,000. After the plaintiffs rested their case, Holland & Knight's motion for a defense verdict as to damages was granted, and the four named plaintiffs received nothing. The case involved novel issues of first impression. While the case is currently on appeal, critical legal and evidentiary rulings won during the trial will be extremely beneficial to our client and the transportation industry in general.
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