Current Appointments as Class Counsel

 

Lucero v. Tommie Copper, Inc., No. 15-CV-06055 AT (S.D. NY)

On January 4th, 2016, SDNY District Judge Analisa Torres stated that the Marron and Faruqi firms “have substantial experience litigating complex consumer class actions, are familiar with the applicable law, and have the resources necessary to represent the class. Accordingly, the motion to appoint Faruqi and Marron as interim class counsel is GRANTED, and the motion to appoint Cuneo and Lockridge is DENIED.”


 

Allen v. Hyland’s, Inc., No. 12-CV-1150 DMG (MANx)

Nationwide class of consumers certified for false and deceptive advertising against largest U.S.-based manufacturer of homeopathic drugs, involving ten over-the-counter homeopathic drug products.  A nationwide class was certified after two years of vigorous litigation, including Marron firm counsel surviving against two motions to dismiss, a motion for judgment on the pleadings, and a motion to strike punitive damages.  See — F.R.D. —, 2014 WL 3819713 (C.D. Cal. Aug. 1, 2014).r3r


 

Ortega v. Natural Balance, Inc., No. CV 13-5952 ABC (Ex) (C.D. Cal.)

California class action alleging unlawful, false, and deceptive advertising of male sexual enhancement product.  The Marron firm was appointed class counsel and a class certified on June 19, 2014.  See — F.R.D. —, 2014 WL 2782329 (C.D. Cal. June 19, 2014).


 

Tabares v. Equitrust Life Ins. Co., No. BC390195 (L.A. Co. Super. Ct.).

This case involves allegations of elder financial fraud.  Mr. Marron obtained a class certification order and was appointed class counsel on July 6, 2011, and has successfully opposed numerous attempts to decertify the class, including a petition to the California Supreme Court.


 

A sample of our successful lawsuits on behalf of consumers includes:

pdf17Peterman v. North American Company for Life and Health Ins., et al., No. BC357194, (L.A. Co. Sup. Ct.):

The Law Offices of Ronald A. Marron, APLC represented as class counsel California senior citizens who purchased deferred annuities from North American Company for Life and Health Insurance and its sister company, Midland National Life Insurance Company.  After over 4 years of litigation, the firm achieved a settlement of approximately $60 million.  In granting preliminary approval of the settlement, the Hon. Carolyn B. Kuhl noted:“[T]he excellent work that the plaintiffs’ side has done in this case has absolutely followed through to the settlement…The thought and detail that went into the preparation of every aspect was very impressive to me.”


pdf17Clark v. National Western Life Insurance Company, No. BC321681 (L.A. Co. Sup. Ct.):

The Law Offices of Ronald A. Marron, APLC represented senior consumers in an annuities class action that, after litigating the case for well over 6 years, resulted in a settlement of approximately $25 million for consumers.


pdf17Iorio v. Asset Marketing, No. 05cv00633-IEG (CAB) (S.D. Cal.):

The Law Offices of Ronald A. Marron, APLC was appointed class counsel in this case concerning the systematic, unethical and unlawful sales practices and false advertising in connection with defendants’ solicitation, marketing, offering and sale of deferred annuity products to California senior citizens.  After nearly 6 years of intensive litigation, a settlement valued at $110 million was reached.   Judge Sammartino noted:“[T]he complexity and subject matter of this litigation, and the skill and diligence with which it has been prosecuted and defended, and the quality of the result obtained for the Class.”


pdf17Gallucci v. Boiron, Inc., Case No. 3:11-CV-2039 JAH NLS (S.D. Cal.):

The Law Offices of Ronald A. Marron, APLC firm’s well-drafted briefing, knowledge and experience resulted in the February 27, 2012 settlement of Gallucciagainst French homeopathic giant Boiron, Inc.  On March 6, 2012, the Plaintiffs filed a Motion for Preliminary Approval of Settlement, unopposed by Defendants.   On April 25, 2012, the Honorable John A. Houston granted the preliminary approval, noting that:“During the pendency of the Litigation, Class Counsel conducted an extensive examination and evaluation of the relevant facts and law to assess the merits of the named plaintiffs’ and class claims to determine how best to serve the interests of Plaintiffs and the Class. . . . Class Counsel conducted thorough review of the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, its numerous changes over the years, and the Act’s implementing regulations. Class Counsel have carefully considered the merits of Plaintiffs’ claims, and the defenses raised by Defendants.”

Accordingly, Judge Houston appointed my firm as Class Counsel, finding that they “will fairly and adequately protect the interests of the Class . . . [and] are experienced and competent to prosecute this matter on behalf of the Class.”  The Fairness Hearing was held on October 1, 2012 and on October 31, 2012, the court granted final approval.


pdf17Burton v. Ganeden Biotech, Inc., Case No. 3:11-cv-01471 W NLS:

On March 13, 2012, the Law Offices of Ronald A. Marron, APLC settled a case against manufacturers of OTC probiotic supplement products.  Burton alleged that Defendants falsely advertised their products as containing “clinically proven” proprietary bacteria that improved and benefitted the digestive and immune health of individuals when, in fact, no clinical proof existed.  Under the terms of the proposed settlement, Defendants will deposit $900,000 into a settlement fund that will be used to provide payments of up to $20.00 to class members who submit valid claims.Defendants will also implement injunctive relief in the form of packaging, advertising and marketing changes about the products at issue.  Specifically, Defendants will not make statements that the Products or any of their ingredients “boost the immune system,” “restore healthy bacteria following the use of antibiotics,” or are “clinically proven” to have any certain effects or health benefits.  Additionally, Defendants agreed to make the changes to their advertisements for the Products.

Before this settlement was finalized, the firm rejected Defendants’ coupon settlement offer, because we did not believe it constituted the best relief for the class members.  Instead, we continued extensive and lengthy rounds of negotiations with the Defendants to obtain the best result for the class.


pdf17Hohenberg v. Ferrero U.S.A., Inc., 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 38471 (S.D. Cal. Mar. 22, 2011):

The Law Offices of Ronald A. Marron, APLC was appointed interim class counsel.  The Honorable Marilyn Huff recognized class counsel  “appears to be well qualified to represent the interest of the purported class and to manage this litigation.”  Subsequently, when the firm obtained certification of the proposed class, the court reaffirmed its finding that the Law Offices of Ronald A. Marron, APLC is adequate class counsel.


pdf17Bruno v. Quten Research Inst., LLC, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 132323 (C.D. Cal. Nov. 14, 2011):

The Law Offices of Ronald A. Marron, APLC obtained the certification of a nationwide class of consumers who purchased Qunol CoQ10, a dietary supplement making misleading efficacy claims.  The firm then successfully defeated the defendants’ motion to decertify the class following the Ninth Circuit’s decision in Mazza v. Am. Honda Motor Co., 666 F.3d 581 (9th Cir. 2012).  The case recently settled, on the eve of trial (originally scheduled for October 2, 2012).


pdf17Chacanaca v. Quaker Oats Co., 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 65023 (N.D. Cal. June 14, 2011):

On June 14, 2011, the Honorable Richard Seeborg appointed the Law Offices of Ronald A. Marron, APLC Interim Class Counsel, over a competing application from a former partner at the New York law firm Milberg Weiss regarding a deceptive food labeling case.  The Honorable Richard Seeborg noted:“There is no question here that both the Weston/Marron counsel…have ample experience handling class actions and complex litigation.  It is also clear that both have particular familiarity with suits involving issues of mislabeling in the food industry.”


pdf17Tabares v. Equitrust Life Insurance Company, No. BC390195 (L.A. Co. Sup. Ct.): 

The Law Offices of Ronald A. Marron, APLC obtained a class certification order and was appointed class counsel.  The action is still pending.


pdf17Margolis et al. v. The Dial Corporation Case No. 3:12-cv-00288-JLS-WVG:

On March 1, 2012, the Honorable Janis L. Sammartino appointed the Law Offices of Ronald A. Marron, APLC as Interim Class Counsel in this action, currently pending in the United States District Court Southern District of California.  This case involves an OTC pheromone soap product that its manufacturer alleges enhances a man’s sexual attraction to women.


In re Quaker Oats Labeling Litigation, No. 5:10-cv-00502-RS (N.D. Cal.)

False and deceptive advertising case concerning Instant Oats, Chewy Granola Bars and Oatmeal To Go products, including use of partially hydrogenated vegetable oil in the products while also representing the products as healthy snacks.  An injunctive relief class action settlement was granted preliminary approval on February 2, 2014, with my firm being appointed Class Counsel.  On July 29, 2014, the court granted the settlement final approval.


In re Qunol CoQ10 Liquid Labeling Litigation, No. 8:11-cv-173-DOC (C.D. Cal.)

This case involved false and deceptive consumer advertising of a dietary supplement.  My firm was appointed class counsel and successfully defeated defendants’ motion to decertify the class following the Ninth Circuit’s decision in Mazza v. Am. Honda Motor Co., 666 F.3d 581 (9th Cir. 2012).  See Bruno v. Eckhart Corp., 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 30873 (C.D. Cal. Mar. 6, 2012); see also Bruno v. Quten Research Inst., LLC, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 132323 (C.D. Cal. Nov. 14, 2011).  The case settled on the eve of trial (originally scheduled for October 2, 2012) for cash payments to the class and injunctive relief.


Martinez v. Toll Brothers, No. 09-cv-00937-CDJ (E.D. Penn.)

Shareholder derivative case alleging breach of fiduciary duty, corporate waste, unjust enrichment and insider trading, filed derivatively on behalf of Toll Brothers and against individual corporate officers.  Under a joint prosecution agreement, this action was litigated along with other consolidated and related actions against Toll Brothers in a case styled Pfeiffer v. Toll Brothers, No. 4140-VCL in the Delaware Chancery Court.  After extensive litigation, the case settled in September 2012 for $16.25 million in reimbursement to the corporation.


Nigh v. Humphreys Pharmacal, Inc., No. 3:12-cv-02714-MMA-DHB (S.D. Cal.)

Case involving allegations of false and deceptive advertising of homeopathic over-the-counter drugs.  On October 23, 2013, a global settlement was granted final approved by the Hon. Michael M. Anello, involving a common fund of $1.4 million plus five significant forms of injunctive relief for consumers.


 

Henderson v. The J.M. Smucker Company, No. 2:10-cv-4524-GHK (C.D. Cal.)

This action was the catalyst forcing the defendant to reformulate a children’s frozen food production to remove trans fat.  On June 19, 2013, the Honorable George H. King held the firm’s client was a prevailing Private Attorney General and entitled to her costs and attorneys’ fees.


Red v. Kraft Foods Global, Inc., No. 2:10-1028-GW (C.D. Cal)

The firm represents consumers in their action against one of the world’s largest food companies and was appointed lead counsel in a consolidated putative class action. Though not fully settled, the action has resulted in a permanent injunction barring the use of deceptive health claims on Nabisco packaged foods containing artificial trans fat, and the Court has also granted an interim award of attorney fees.