Aetna Gender-Affirming Facial Surgery Litigation
Gordon, et al. v. Aetna Life Insurance (D. Conn.): Cohen Milstein is partnering with Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund (TLDEF), now known as Advocates for Trans Equality (A4TE), and Wardenski P.C. in a putative civil rights class action against Aetna Life Insurance Company on behalf of three transgender women, who were denied coverage for medically necessary gender-affirming facial reconstruction procedures.
TikTok Child Privacy Litigation
In Re: Tiktok, Inc., Minor Privacy Litigation (C.D. Cal.): Cohen Milstein, as Interim Lead Counsel, is representing parents of children, who are minors, in a putative consumer protection class action who claim that TikTok collects and uses their young children’s personal information without providing direct notice to parents or gaining parents’ verifiable consent in violation of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 and the COPPA Rule.
In re Visa Debit Card Antitrust Litigation
In re Visa Debit Card Antitrust Litigation (S.D.N.Y.): Cohen Milstein is co-lead counsel for a class of merchants accepting Visa debit cards. The class alleges that that Visa has leveraged its dominant position in the debit transaction network market through requiring volume commitments with merchants’ acquiring banks and high-volume merchants. Visa has also agreed with potential competitors not to develop or support competing payment products. All of these schemes stifle innovation, thwart competition and allow Visa to charge merchants supracompetitive fees for debit purchases in violation of the federal and state antitrust laws.
NAMIC v. U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development
NAMIC v. U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (D.C. Circ.): On July 10, 2024, Cohen Milstein, the National Fair Housing Alliance, and the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, on behalf of other interested parties, submitted an amicus brief to the District of Columbia Circuit Court of Appeal in support of the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). This appeal concerns HUD’s Rule regarding disparate impact liability under the Fair Housing Act.
California Housing Voucher (“Section 8”) Mass Action
California Housing Voucher (Sec. 8) Mass Action (Cal. Civil Rights Dept.): Cohen Milstein represents Housing Rights Initiative, a housing watchdog group, in what appears to be the largest housing discrimination action in California’s history against 203 real estate agents, brokerage firms and landlords for illegally discriminating against families with Housing Choice Vouchers (“Section 8 vouchers”). On October 8, 2024, more than 112 induvial complaints were filed en masse with the California Civil Rights Department.
Lite Star ESOP Litigation
Chea v. Lite Star ESOP Committee, et al. (E.D. Cal.): Cohen Milstein is representing participants in the Lite Star employee stock option plan in a putative ERISA class action. Plaintiff alleges that Prudent Fiduciary Services and Miguel Paredes, on behalf of the Lite Star ESOP, improperly negotiated and purchased 100% of B-K Lighting stock from Douglas W. Hagen, the chairman of B-K Lighting, for over $25 million, an overly inflated price, in violation of ERISA. Plaintiff also claims that the company’s board of directors and members of the ESOP Committee breached their fiduciary duties to the ESOP and that Prudent Fiduciary Services and Miguel Parades have permitted the Hagen Family defendants to continue to operate B-K Lighting as their personal piggy bank.
Camp Lejeune Water Contamination
Camp Lejeune Water Contamination (E.D.N.C.): Cohen Milstein is litigating personal injury claims on behalf of Camp Lejeune Military service members, their families, and civilian workers who were stationed at Camp Lejeune between 1953 and 1987, who may have consumed or bathed in the affected water.
Nvidia Corp., et al. v. E. Ohman J:or Fonder AB, et al.
Nvidia Corp., et al. v. E. Ohman J:or Fonder AB, et al. (U.S.): On October 2, 2024, Cohen Milstein’s Laura Posner and Carol V. Gilden; and counsel from Schnapper-Cateras PLLC, Levi & Korsinsky, LLP, and Wolf Haldenstein Adler Freeman & Herz LLP submitted a brief for amici curiae, distinguished scholars on economics, accounting, statistics, data science, and forensic analysis in support of the respondent before the Supreme Court.
Johnson & Johnson Prescription Drug Litigation
Lewandowski v. Johnson and Johnson (D.N.J.): Cohen Milstein represents participants in Johnson & Johnson’s Group Health Benefits Plan in a putative ERISA class action, accusing the pharmaceutical giant of mismanaging its own health plans’ prescription drug program, costing employees millions of dollars in the form of higher payments for prescription drugs, higher out-of-pocket costs and co-pays, and, ultimately, lower wages in violation of ERISA.