A Massachusetts jury found that a Boston hospital retaliated against a former employee – but a court ruling just capped the plaintiff’s attorney fee recovery at less than half of what she sought. Why? Because the employer...more
Most states have an offer of judgment provision, and many of them are patterned after Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 68. Unlike Fed. R. Civ. P. 68, some states allow either party—not just the defendant—to make an offer of...more
A U.S. District Court in the Southern District of California recently held that a Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 68 offer of judgment must clearly state that attorneys’ fees and costs are limited or waived, as Arvest Central...more
When is a win not a win? One ace in the hand of plaintiffs’ counsel in Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) litigation (as well as claims under Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act or the Age Discrimination in Employment...more
When a business is sued in a proposed class action and there is only a small amount at stake on the named plaintiff’s claim, often one of the first thoughts that comes to mind is: can’t we just pay the full value of the named...more
On December 6, 2019, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals held that judicial approval is not required for offers of judgment to settle Fair Labor and Standards Act (“FLSA”) claims made pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil...more
The cost of arbitration, including attorneys’ fees, can be substantial, commensurate with the matters in dispute. Your desire to settle a dispute that is going to arbitration is often as or more substantial. But sometimes...more
If there is any occasion in civil litigation that calls for caution by counsel, it is the drafting of a Rule 68 offer of judgment, so warns the Fourth Circuit. Consistent with the general rule of contract construction,...more
Unlike many states, Arizona has long provided for the recovery of attorney fees, albeit on a discretionary basis, in contested contract disputes. See A.R.S. § 12-341.01(A). The Arizona legislature made clear, however, that...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: As profiled in our recent publication of the 13th Annual Workplace Class Action Litigation Report, the U.S. Supreme Court’s rulings have a profound impact on employers and the tools they may utilize to...more
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 68 presents a valuable settlement tool for defense attorneys. Specifically, it allows the defendant to make a pre-trial offer of judgment on specified terms, and provides for the recovery of...more
2015 Witnesses Record Securities Class Actions: The National Economic Research Associates, Inc. (NERA) recently released its report, Recent Trends in Securities Class Action Litigation: 2015 Full-Year Review, detailing the...more
The defendant in a putative class action brought pursuant to the Electronic Funds Transfer Act (EFTA), 15 U.S.C. § 1693, et seq., tendered a Rule 68 offer of judgment to the named plaintiff before class certification briefing...more
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 68 permits a party defending against a claim to make a formal offer of judgment. If the plaintiff either rejects the offer or fails to respond within ten days and eventually obtains a trial...more
House Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) on May 23, 2013 released a discussion draft of legislation designed to curb abusive patent litigation....more