SEATTLE – Hagens Berman co-founder and managing partner, Steve W. Berman, has been named to Law360’s 2020 Titans of the Plaintiffs Bar award, spotlighting his significant achievements fighting for the rights of plaintiffs in matters pertaining to consumer rights, prescription drug costs, product defects, college-athletes and others.

The award is in its third year, and Berman has received the recognition as many times as possible, with the publication barring prior year’s winners from entering the running. In 2018, Berman was selected for his work in groundbreaking litigation against the National Collegiate Athletic Association, Volkswagen, BMW, General Motors, Fiat Chrysler, Ford and Big Oil.

“Our firm has been dogged in its pursuit of justice for our clients since our founding 26 years ago, and that mission rings true louder now than ever before,” Berman said. “It is my honor to receive this award and to have built a firm that is so steadfastly dedicated to protecting the goodness in our world.”

The 2020 award profiles “influential members of the plaintiffs bar who have had significant achievements over the past year,” and is based on significant cases filed and wins scored over the past year, as well as distinguishing characteristics of the attorney’s work and influences.

Law360 recognized Berman’s monumental caseload in the past year, which included noteworthy victories and settlements:

• In September 2019, Steve led a bench trial in the class-action lawsuit against the NCAA on behalf of college-athletes fighting for fairness in athletic scholarships. The successful ruling he earned clears the way for individual Division I athletic conferences to independently set rules for education-related compensation or benefits member institutions may provide to college-athletes, free from NCAA rules that the court found violate antitrust laws.
• In July 2019, Steve – serving as co-lead counsel – led the firm to a $234.6 million settlement for approximately 1,600 investors in a proposed class action against various third parties alleged to have participated in or materially aided sales of securities by now-defunct Aequitas companies. It is believed to be the largest securities settlement in Oregon history, and recovery by the class exceeds, on a gross basis, total out-of-pocket losses.
• In May 2019, Judge Edward M. Chen approved a $307 million settlement in a class-action lawsuit alleging Fiat Chrysler and Bosch sold hundreds of thousands of Dodge RAM 1500 EcoDiesel trucks that release illegally high levels of NOx emissions, despite explicitly selling these "Eco" diesels to consumers who wanted a more environmentally friendly vehicle. The settlement provides a software update that brings vehicles into emissions compliance. The class includes roughly 100,000 members.
• In June 2019, a full Ninth Circuit panel reinstated a $210 million settlement in multidistrict litigation over the fuel efficiency of Hyundai and Kia vehicles, rejecting objectors' challenges and overriding a split appellate panel's controversial 2018 decision nullifying the deal based on potential variations in state consumer protection laws.
• In February 2019, USC students and alumna filed a class-action settlement resolving claims related to gynecologist George Tyndall, M.D. that will require the university to adopt and implement procedures for identification, prevention and reporting of sexual and racial misconduct, as well as to recognize all of Tyndall’s patients through a $215 million fund that gives every survivor a choice in how to participate.

Read more about Steve W. Berman’s recent awards and successes.

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About Hagens Berman
Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP is a consumer-rights class-action law firm with nine offices across the country. The firm’s tenacious drive for plaintiffs’ rights has earned it numerous national accolades, awards and titles of “Most Feared Plaintiff’s Firm,” and MVPs and Trailblazers of class-action law. More about the law firm and its successes can be found at hbsslaw.com. Follow the firm for updates and news at @ClassActionLaw.

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