The Shane Group, Inc. v. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan
The Shane Group, Inc. v. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (E.D. Mich.): Cohen Milstein served as Co-Lead Counsel, representing a class of purchasers of hospital services against Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan for agreeing to MFN provisions in its contracts with hospitals throughout Michigan that required those hospitals to charge other insurers as much or considerably more for services provided to class members. The Court approved a settlement with BCBSM for nearly $30 million.
Carlin et al. v. DairyAmerica Inc. et al.
Carlin et al. v. DairyAmerica Inc. et al. (E.D. Cal.): Cohen Milstein represented tens of thousands of dairy farmers who alleged that cooperative DairyAmerica Inc. and affiliate California Dairies conspired to boost profits by artificially depressing the price of milk products paid to farmers. On May 9, 2019, the Court granted final approval to a $40 million settlement – a remarkable recovery. It is 80% of the $50 million in damages estimated by the USDA Inspector General and approximately 50% of the total damages calculated by plaintiffs’ experts.
In re Domestic Drywall Antitrust Litigation
In re Domestic Drywall Antitrust Litigation (E.D. Pa.): Cohen Milstein was co-lead counsel for the direct purchasers in this certified antitrust class action. Purchasers alleged that seven major U.S. drywall manufacturers conspired to raise prices. In 2018, the court granted final approval of more than $190 million in settlements. The court commended plaintiffs’ counsel, specifically naming Cohen Milstein, for “imaginative” and “outstanding work.” Judge Baylson also stated, “There was no government case or investigation, on which Plaintiffs could build their own case. Few cases with no government action, or investigation, result in class settlements as large as this one.”
In re Electronic Books Antitrust Litigation
In re Electronic Books Antitrust Litigation (S.D.N.Y.): Cohen Milstein was co-lead counsel in a certified price-fixing class action against Apple and five leading U.S. publishers for conspiring to raise the retail prices of e-books. In addition to achieving class certification, the Cohen Milstein team defeated motions to exclude the class expert and successfully moved to exclude most of Apple’s expert testimony. The five publishing defendants settled for $166 million and Apple settled for $450 million, shortly before trial, bringing total settlements to $616 million. The settlement resolves damages claims brought by not only ebook purchasers, but also the U.S. Department of of Justice and attorneys general from 33 U.S. states and territories.
Beacon/Madoff ERISA Litigation
In re Beacon Association Litigation (S.D.N.Y.): Cohen Milstein represented the trustees and participants of ERISA-covered employee benefit plans whose assets were invested by Beacon Associates LLC I and Beacon Associates LLC II (the “Feeder Funds”) in and lost money by investment the investment schemes of Bernard L. Madoff, Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities, LLC. On March 15, 2013, the court granted final approval of a $219 million settlement to reimburse defrauded investors.
In re Google LLC Street View Electronic Communications Litigation
In re Google LLC Street View Electronic Communications Litigation (N.D. Cal.): Cohen Milstein was co-lead counsel in a nationwide class action alleging that Google violated the Wiretap Act when its Street View vehicles secretly collected payload data from unencrypted Wi-Fi networks. Plaintiffs defeated a motion to dismiss raising novel Wiretap Act issues, and the ruling was affirmed on interlocutory appeal to the Ninth Circuit. The court approved a $13 million settlement in March 2020.
In re Lipitor Antitrust Litigation
In re Lipitor Antitrust Litigation (D.N.J.): Plaintiffs allege that Pfizer, the manufacturer of the cholesterol drug Lipitor, the best-selling drug in pharmaceutical history, conspired with Ranbaxy, the generic manufacturer, to delay its introduction of a generic Lipitor product. On October 1, 2024, the Court granted final approval of a $35 million settlement against Pfizer for its role in the alleged anticompetitive scheme. Litigation against Ranbaxy is ongoing. Cohen Milstein is Co-Lead Counsel to the End-Payor Plaintiffs class.
UFC MMA Fighters Antitrust Litigation
Cung Le, et al v. Zuffa, LLC, d/b/a Ultimate Fighting Championship (D. Nev.): Cohen Milstein is co-lead counsel in this certified wage suppression class action, representing mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters who allege that UFC unlawfully monopolized the MMA market by, among other things, locking up fighters in exclusive contracts and acquiring MMA rivals. On February 6, 2025, the court granted final approval of a historic $375 million settlement against UFC – exclusively for the MMA fighters in the Le class action. The Johnson class action continues.
Allen et al v. Dairy Farmers of America
Allen et al v. Dairy Farmers of America, Inc. et al (D. Vt.): Cohen Milstein served as Lead Counsel for one of two subclasses of dairy farmers challenging anticompetitive conduct in the Northeast which resulted in lower prices paid to farmers. In April 2017 the Second Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a $50 million settlement between plaintiffs and the remaining defendants, bringing the total settlement to more than $80 million, in addition to industry-changing equitable relief.