A new blog sponsored by Thompson Reuters called On The Case has an interesting post on the ramifications of the Ninth Circuit's CAFA decision handed down last week, Washington v. Chimei Innolux Corp., ___ F.3d ___ (Oct. 3, 2011).
Here's an excerpt:
What's important about the ruling isn't just that the Washington and California LCD [antitrust] cases will remain in state court. The Ninth Circuit panel's decision endorses the power of state AGs to bring their own cases even when private class actions cover the exact same conduct. AGs, in other words, can pre-empt private cases--which is just what plaintiffs lawyers in the municipal bond derivatives class action before Manhattan federal judge Victor Marrero assert has happened in their case. Many of the muni bond derivative defendants have reached settlements with state AGs, rather than settling in the class action. The plaintiffs lawyers assert that it's an easy out for defendants, whose regulatory settlements aren't subject to a federal judge's oversight, as real class actions are.
My post mentioned the ramifications for PAGA actions, but these further ramifications are worth considering as well if you are handling a case in which the state enforcement agencies have expressed interest.
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