Welcome to the latest edition of Class Action Roundup, covering the fourth quarter of 2016. As has been the case throughout the year, class actions continue to play a key role in courtrooms across the country. The Spokeo decision again impacts cases involving consumer protection and data breaches as judges weigh in on how certification is applied in different circumstances. Employment cases this quarter run the gamut, from exotic dancers and college athletes to Uber drivers and flight attendants.

Consumer class actions involving gaming, cooking oils and even mattresses are highlighted in this issue along with a handful of environmental cases examining water contamination issues in both Flint, MI, and Goshen, IN. While this quarter witnessed approval of a historic settlement of $1.575 billion in a case involving HSBC, we also feature smaller settlement agreements and some that were denied for being “overbroad.”