Controversial Class Action Settlement Changed After Intervention from AGs, DOJ and CCAF
Legal Newsline profiles the Center for Class Action Fairness’ objection in Cannon v. Ashburn:
Representatives for the Department of Justice and a group of state attorneys general showed up to a New Jersey courtroom March 19 to voice concerns with a controversial class action settlement that initially paid plaintiffs attorneys $1.7 million while providing $2 per bottle-sold coupons to class members.
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Another opponent is the Competitive Enterprise Institute’s Center for Class Action Fairness, which represents a member of the class who objected to the first settlement in a brief.
A CCAF press release further states, “While class members receive nominal benefits under the settlement, class counsel is seeking $1.7 million in fees and expenses, unopposed by Wines ‘Til Sold Out, without regard to the actual recovery by class members. The result is a settlement that impermissibly allocates the bulk of the settlement benefit to the class attorneys rather than class members.”