Class Actions

The number of class action lawsuits filed each year has continued to increase in South Carolina and elsewhere. The attorneys at Robinson McFadden have extensive experience in addressing the complex litigation issues that arise in this unique mode of trial. Though the majority of the firm's class action work involves the defense of corporate clients, we have in limited circumstances represented class plaintiffs. Representative class action cases in recent years have included unfair trade practices allegations in the automotive glass industry, antitrust allegations in the timber industry, improper garnishment of tax refunds, and a wide variety of insurance class actions ranging from sales practices to allegations of race discrimination.

Our approach to class action litigation is to work with our clients to assess the case at its inception in order to develop a discovery and litigation strategy that will maximize the client's position at the certification stage and at trial. While a defense strategy will frequently involve working to defeat certification, we also have successfully used certification of a settlement class to control client exposure where appropriate under the particular facts of the case. As with our individual litigation, our goal is to inform and guide the client to a satisfactory resolution of the class action lawsuit however that may best be achieved.