EXHIBIT A 

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Firm Resume 

Partners

Daniel Girard p. 2

Dena Sharp p. 4

Adam Polk p. 5

Jordan Elias p. 6

Scott Grzenczyk p. 7

Associates

Makenna Coxp. 7

Simon Grille p. 8

Mani Goehringp. 8

Jimmy Richardsonp. 8

Trevor Tan p. 9

Peter Touschnerp. 9

Tom Watts p. 9

Erika Garcia p. 10

Sylvain Frayer p. 10

Deirdre Roney p. 10

Of Counsel

Michael Danko p. 11

Kristine Meredithp. 11

Privacy Violations p. 12

Deceptive Trade Practicesp. 14

Defective Productsp. 16

Other Consumer Mattersp. 17

Securities & Financial Fraudp. 20

Mass Tortp. 22

Antitrust p. 22

Government Reform p. 23

Girard Sharp is a national litigation firm representing plaintiffs in 

class and collective actions in federal and state courts, and in 

arbitration matters worldwide. The firm serves individuals, 

institutions and business clients in cases involving privacy, 

consumer protection, securities, antitrust and whistleblower laws. 

Our clients range from individual consumers and small businesses 

to Fortune 100 corporations and public pension funds. We have 

recovered over a billion dollars on behalf of our clients in class 

actions and non-class cases. In addition to litigation, our firm also 

provides consulting and strategic counseling services to 

institutional clients and professionals in securities litigation, 

corporate governance and international business matters. We are 

committed to achieving favorable results for all of our clients in 

the most expeditious and economical manner possible. 

Girard Sharp has been distinguished as a Tier 1 law firm for 

plaintiffs’ mass tort and class action litigation in the “Best Law 

Firms” list in the survey published in the U.S. News & World 

Report’s Money Issue. The National Law Journal (NLJ) has 

named Girard Sharp to its elite “Plaintiffs’ Hot List,” a selection 

of top U.S. plaintiffs’ firms recognized for wins in high-profile 

cases. Girard Sharp LLP was selected as the 2019 Elite Trial 

Lawyers winner in the category of Insurance Litigation and a 

finalist in Consumer Protection Litigation, Pharmaceutical 

Litigation, and Products Liability Litigation. 

Nine of the firm’s attorneys have been selected as Northern 

California Super Lawyers and Rising Stars. Two of the firm’s 

senior attorneys, Daniel Girard and Michael Danko, have been 

recognized among the “Top 100 Super Lawyers” in Northern 

California, and were selected by their peers for inclusion in The 

Best Lawyers in America. Best Lawyers also designated Mr. Girard as 

the 2013 “Lawyer of the Year” in San Francisco for class action 

litigation. Mr. Girard has earned an AV-Preeminent rating from 

Martindale-Hubbell, recognizing him in the highest class of 

attorneys for professional ethics and legal skills. 

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Partners 

Daniel Girard serves as the firm’s managing partner and coordinates 

the prosecution of the various consumer protection, securities, and antitrust 

legal matters handled by the firm. Under Daniel Girard’s leadership, Girard 

Sharp has become one of the most respected and experienced class action 

law firms in the United States. Dan believes that, too often, our legal system 

favors companies and financial institutions over ordinary people. He 

founded the firm to provide individuals who work hard and play by the rules 

the same focused, dedicated representation enjoyed by corporations, banks, 

and insurance companies. 

Dan is frequently appointed by courts to lead major complex cases. 

For example, he served as a lead lawyer for securities investors following the 

collapse of investment bank Lehman Brothers and oil and gas producer 

Provident Royalties. He served as lead counsel for commodities investors following the failure of the 

Peregrine Financial Group. Dan has successfully prosecuted numerous cases for violations of consumer 

fraud, predatory lending, and unfair competition laws. 

Dan’s current case work includes serving as sole lead counsel in the United States Office of Personnel 

Management Data Breach class action and in the Woodbridge Investments Litigation, as co-lead counsel in the 

Intuit Free File Litigation, and as a member of the leadership team in the USC Student Health Center 

Litigation. 

Dan’s past and present clients include the California Teachers Retirement System, the Kansas 

Public Employees Retirement System, the American Federation of Government Employees, Fireman’s 

Fund Insurance Company, Allianz Life Insurance Company, Nu Skin International Inc., and celebrity 

photographer Gunter Sachs. 

Dan has served on several United States Judicial Conference committees. He was appointed by 

Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist to the United States Judicial Conference Advisory Committee on 

Civil Rules and served from 2004 through 2010. Chief Justice John G. Roberts appointed Dan to the 

Standing Committee on Practice and Procedure in 2015 and reappointed him to a second term in 2018. 

Dan also serves as a member of the Council of the American Law Institute. In addition, he has 

served as a member of the faculty on several Federal Judicial Programs for federal judges. Dan served on 

the Advisory Board for the Duke Law School Center for Judicial Studies and the Institute for the 

Advancement of the American Legal System. He is a member of the Business Law Section of the 

American Bar Association. He is past Chair of the Business Law Section’s Subcommittee on Class 

Actions, Co-Chair of the Business and Corporate Litigation Committee’s Task Force on Litigation 

Reform and Rule Revision, and Vice-Chair of the Business and Corporate Litigation Committee. 

Dan’s article, Limiting Evasive Discovery: A Proposal for Three Cost-Saving Amendments to the Federal 

ATTORNEYS

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Rules, 87 Denver Univ. L. Rev. 473 (2010), proposed several rule amendments that were ultimately 

adopted in Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 34(b)(2). Other published articles include: Managez 

efficacement vos litiges d’affaires, Extrait du magazine, Décideurs N°121, November 2010, Stop Judicial 

Bailouts, The National Law Journal, December 1, 2008, and Billions to Answer For, Legal Times, 

September 15, 2008. His speaking engagements include the following: Panelist for Class Action Settlements 

and Discovery presentations, HB Litigation Conferences, May 3, 2016; Panelist for Data Breach & Privacy 

presentation, HB Litigation Conferences, February 11, 2016; Panelist for “Hello ‘Proportionality,’ Goodbye 

‘Reasonably Calculated,’” Joint Conference of ABA Section of Litigation and Duke Law Center for 

Judicial Studies, January 28, 2016; Invited Participant in Special MDL Conference, Duke Law Center for 

Judicial Studies, October 8, 2015; Co-panelist with Judge James P. O’Hara on Discovery Amendments to Federal 

Rules of Civil Procedure; Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, D. Kan., and W. D. of Mo., 

September 17, 2015; Panelist in Private Breakfast Seminar on Class Action Risk Mitigation Strategies, Lazareff 

LeBars, September 22, 2015; Invited Participant on Judicial Conference Advisory Committee on Civil Rules, 

Rule 23 Mini- Conference, September 11, 2015; Attorney Faculty in Managing Complex Litigation Workshop 

for US District Judges, Federal Judicial Center, August 25, 2015; Moderator and Panelist on panels addressing 

proposed Rule 23 amendments, Class Action Settlement Conference, Duke Law Center for Judicial Studies, 

July 2015; Panelist on Role of Consumer Class Actions in the Herbal Supplements Industry, HarrisMartin’s 

MDL Conference: Herbal Supplements Litigation, May 27, 2015; Panelist on Transferee Judge Case 

Management; Multidistrict Litigation Institute, Duke Law Center for Judicial Studies, April 9-10 2015; 

Roundtable Participant on Settlement Class Actions, George Washington University Law School, April 8, 

2015; Lessons from Recent Data Breach Litigation, Western Trial Lawyers, February 26, 2015; Speaker in 

Privacy & Cybersecurity Webinar, State Bar of California, February 24, 2015; Panelist on Preservation Issues, 

Proportionality Discovery Conference, Duke Law Center for Judicial Studies, November 13-14, 2014; 

Roundtable Participant on Public and Private Enforcement after Halliburton, ATP and Boilermakers, Duke Law 

Center for Judicial Studies, September 26, 2014; Co-panelist on Consolidation and Coordination in Generic 

Drug Cases, HarrisMartin’s Antitrust Pay for Delay Conference, September 22, 2014; Guest Lecturer on 

Civil Litigation Seminar, UC Berkeley, Hastings School of Law, September 18, 2014; Panel Moderator on 

Selection and Appointment of Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee, MDL Best Practices, Duke Law Center for 

Judicial Studies, September 11-12, 2014; Panel on Shareholder Class Action Lawsuits under the New 

Companies Act, Joint Conference of the Society of Indian Law Firms and the American Bar Association, 

Delhi, India, February 14-15, 2015; Panelist on Symposium on Class Actions, University of Michigan Law 

School Journal of Law Reform, March 2013; Co-taught Seminar on Class Actions and Complex Litigation, 

Duke University Law School, January 2013; Recent Developments in U.S. Arbitration Law, Conference on 

Business Law in Africa, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, October 2012; Bringing and Trying a Securities Class Action 

Case, American Association for Justice 2012 Annual Convention, July 2012; Panel on Class Actions, U.S. 

Judicial Conference Standing Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure, Phoenix, January 2012; 

Panel on Paths to (Mass) Justice, Conference on Globalization of Class Actions and Mass Litigation, The 

Hague, December 2011; Contentieux et Arbitrage International: les bons réflexes à acquérir (Litigation and 

International Arbitration: acquiring the right reflexes), Paris, France, March 2011; Panel on Proposals for Rule 

Amendments and Preservation Obligations, U.S. Judicial Conference Advisory Committee on Rules of 

Practice and Procedure, January 2011. 

Dan has served as a guest lecturer on class actions and complex litigation at the UC Davis School 

of Law, UC Berkeley School of Law, UC Hastings College of the Law, Vanderbilt Law School and 

Stanford Law School. Dan has been consistently honored as a Northern California Super Lawyer (2007-

2018). He was educated in France as well as the United States and is fluent in French. 

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Dena Sharp is a problem solver who simplifies even the most 

complicated issues in class action litigation. Dena currently serves as co-lead 

counsel in the In re Juul Labs Inc. multidistrict litigation in the Northern 

District of California. She also represents prescription drug purchasers as colead counsel in the In re Restasis Antitrust Litigation and serves as a member of 

the End-Payer Steering Committee in the In re Generic Pharmaceuticals Pricing 

Antitrust Litigation. In addition, Dena represents clients of a fertility center 

whose eggs and embryos were affected by a freezer tank malfunction in San 

Francisco. 

As co-lead counsel in In re Lidoderm Antitrust Litigation, a “pay-for 

delay” antitrust case that settled for $104.75 million on the eve of trial, Dena 

worked with her team to win class certification, defeat summary judgment, and obtain the largest 

recovery for a class of end-payers in similar federal litigation 

in more than a decade. She has also played a key role in a variety of other high-profile cases, including 

representing investors in litigation arising from Lehman Brothers’ bankruptcy and in matters involving 

Ponzi schemes and accounting fraud. 

The National Law Journal has recognized Dena as an “Elite Woman of the Plaintiffs’ Bar” for two 

consecutive years, honoring her as one of only a handful of lawyers nationwide who has “consistently 

excelled in high-stakes matters on behalf of plaintiffs” over the course of her career. Dena was honored 

as a Northern California Rising Star from 2009 to 2016 and has been recognized as a Northern 

California Super Lawyer since 2017. 

Outside the courtroom, Dena is co-author of the widely cited Sedona Principles: Best Practices and 

Principles for Electronic Document Production (Third Edition). She serves on the board of directors of the 

Impact Fund, a public interest nonprofit, and as vice chair of the Advisory Council for the Duke Law 

School Center for Judicial Studies. An editor of the Duke Law Proportionality Guidelines and Best Practices, 

Dena is also co-author of a chapter in a forthcoming ABA book on class action practice and strategy. In 

2018, Dena was elected to the American Law Institute. Dena also routinely speaks on issues pertaining 

to civil procedure and electronic discovery. Most recently she served as co-chair and a faculty member of 

the Fourth Annual Judicial Training Symposium for Federal Judges, a conference co-hosted by the 

Federal Judicial Center and Electronic Discovery Institute. 

A first-generation American, Dena is fluent in Spanish and German. 

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Adam Polk is a partner at Girard Sharp who takes a client-focused 

approach to each matter he handles. A devoted advocate, Adam rolls up his 

sleeves and does whatever it takes to give each of his clients the high-quality 

representation they deserve. Concentrating his practice on complex 

consumer, securities, and antitrust class actions, Adam’s experience covers 

all aspects of civil litigation, from initial case investigation and complaint 

preparation through discovery and trial. 

Adam serves as co-lead counsel in an ongoing consumer protection 

action concerning defective batteries in Subaru vehicles, In re Subaru Battery 

Drain Litigation. Adam also is serving as lead counsel in Bentley v. LG 

Electronics U.S.A. Inc. and Sosenko v. LG Electronics U.S.A. Inc., class actions 

alleging that LG’s refrigerators are defective and prone to premature failure, 

and as an executive committee member in In re Allergan Biocell Textured Breast Implant Products Liability, a 

multidistrict litigation centering on allegedly defective breast implants pending in the District of New 

Jersey. In addition, Adam currently serves on the lead counsel team and is running day-to-day litigation 

in In re Pacific Fertility Center Litigation, a product defect class action related to the alleged failure of an 

IVF tank holding human eggs and embryos. Recently as well, Adam served on the lead counsel teams in 

In re Nexus 6P Products Liability Litigation and Weeks v. Google, LLC, two consumer class actions against 

Google relating to defective mobile phones, which resolved for a combined $17 million. Adam was also 

instrumental in several recent matters that have resolved favorably for his clients, including In re Sears 

Holdings Corporation Stockholder and Derivative Litigation ($40 million settlement) and Daccache v. Raymond 

James Financial, Inc. ($150 million partial settlement). 

Before joining the firm, Adam externed for the Honorable Sandra Brown Armstrong and the 

Honorable Claudia Wilken, of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. 

Adam is chair of the American Bar Association’s Class Action and Derivative Suits committee, 

for which he is a frequent contributor of content regarding emerging issues in class action litigation. His 

articles include: Ninth Circuit: Central District of California’s 90-Day Deadline to Move for Class Certification 

Incompatible with Rule 23, ABA Practice Points, October 2018, Fourth Circuit, No Presumption of Timeliness 

Where One Class Action Plaintiff Moves to Intervene in Another Class Action Prior to the Opt-Out Deadline, ABA 

Practice Points, July 2018, California Supreme Court: Unnamed Class Members Must Intervene or Move to 

Vacate to Gain Right to Appeal Class Settlements, ABA Practice Points, May 2018, Tilting at Windmills: 

Nationwide Class Settlements After In re Hyundai and Kia Fuel Economy Litigation, ABA Section of Litigation, 

Class Actions & Derivative Suits, February 2018 (co-author), “Ninth Circuit.” Survey of Federal Class Action 

Law, ABA 2018 (co-author), Ninth Circuit: No Formal Motion for Reconsideration Needed to Toll 23(f) 

Deadline, ABA Practice Points, September 2017, Eighth Circuit Clarifies CAFA’s Local-Controversy Exception 

Applies to Local Citizens, Not Mere Residents, ABA Practice Points, May 2017, Shrink-Wrap Arbitration 

Clauses Must Be Conspicuously Displayed: Ninth Circuit, ABA Practice Points, April 2017, Predispute 

Arbitration Clauses Targeting Public Injunctive Relief Are Unenforceable: CA Supreme Court, ABA Practice 

Points, April 2017, Ninth Circuit: Cy Pres Awards Must be Tailored to Plaintiffs’ Claims to Justify a Class Action 

Release, ABA Practice Points, February 2017, Rule 23 Does Not Include an ‘Administrative Feasibility 

Requirement: Ninth Circuit, ABA Practice Points, January 2017. 

Adam has been selected by his peers as a Northern California Super Lawyer, Rising Star, each 

year since 2013. 

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Jordan Elias, a partner in the firm, represents consumers and small 

businesses injured by corporate violations. He has pursued civil claims against 

monopolists, price-fixing cartels, oil and tobacco companies, and the nation’s 

largest banks. Over the past decade, Jordan has also taken on pharmaceutical 

companies for collusion leading to inflated prescription drug prices. 

Jordan served as head writer for the plaintiffs in the wrongful death 

cases arising from sudden unintended acceleration of Toyota vehicles. He was 

the primary author of the plaintiffs’ briefs in the California Supreme Court in 

the landmark Cipro “pay-for-delay” antitrust case, and gained a reversal for the 

plaintiff in Pavoni v. Chrysler Group, LLC, 789 F.3d 1095 (9th Cir. 2015). Jordan 

also spearheaded the appeal in In re U.S. Office of Personnel Management Data 

Security Breach Litigation, 928 F.3d 42 (D.C. Cir. 2019), where the court 

reversed the dismissal of a case brought on behalf of 21.5 million federal government workers whose 

sensitive private information was hacked. More recently, Jordan argued the successful appeal in 

Velasquez-Reyes v. Samsung Electronics America, Inc., No. 17-56556 (9th Cir. Sept. 17, 2019), where the 

Ninth Circuit held that Samsung could not compel individual arbitration of false advertising claims even 

though its smartphone packaging had an arbitration clause. 

Jordan received a California Lawyer Attorney of the Year (CLAY) award in 2016. He has been 

recognized as a Northern California Super Lawyer, Appellate, since 2014. A former chief arbitrator for 

the San Francisco Bar Association’s attorney-client fee disputes program, Jordan now serves as the 

program’s vice-chair. 

In 2017, Jordan was elected to the American Law Institute. He authored the Supreme Court 

chapter, and co-authored the Ninth Circuit chapter, in the American Bar Association’s Survey of Federal 

Class Action Law. He also co-authored the chapter on antitrust standing, causation and remedies in 

California State Antitrust and Unfair Competition Law (Matthew Bender 2019), the chapter on jurisdiction 

and preemption in California Class Actions and Coordinated Proceedings (Matthew Bender 2015), and the 

chapter on CAFA exceptions in The Class Action Fairness Act: Law and Strategy (ABA 2013). Jordan wrote 

the law review articles Course Correction—Data Breach as Invasion of Privacy, 69 Baylor L. Rev. 574 (2018), 

Cooperative Federalism in Class Actions, 86 Tenn. L. Rev. 1 (2019), and The Ascertainability Landscape and the 

Modern Affidavit, 84 Tenn. L. Rev. 1 (2017). His bar journal articles include “Putting Cipro Meat on 

Actavis Bones,” 24 No. 2 Competition 1, State Bar of California (2015), “Does Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. v. 

Superior Court Apply to Class Actions?” ABA Section of Litigation, Class Actions & Derivative Suits (Feb. 25, 

2020) (co-author), and “Tilting at Windmills: Nationwide Class Settlements After In re Hyundai and Kia 

Fuel Economy Litigation,” ABA Section of Litigation, Class Actions & Derivative Suits (Feb. 28, 2018) (coauthor). 

Jordan was awarded the Field Prize in the humanities at Yale College, where he was an all-Ivy 

League sprinter. While attending Stanford Law School, he served on the law review and externed for the 

Honorable Charles R. Breyer of the Northern District of California. After law school, Jordan clerked for 

the late Judge Cynthia Holcomb Hall of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. He then defended 

technology companies in securities and intellectual property cases at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, 

which honored him with the John Wilson Award for winning asylum for refugees from Haiti and 

Indonesia. Before joining Girard Sharp in 2015, Jordan practiced for seven years at Lieff Cabraser 

Heimann & Bernstein. 

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Scott Grzenczyk dedicates his practice to representing plaintiffs in 

antitrust and consumer protection matters. He has wide-ranging experience in 

all aspects of complex litigation and has served as a member of leadership 

teams that have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for the firm’s clients. 

Scott brings a tireless work ethic and a practical, results-oriented approach to 

his cases. 

For several years, Scott has represented union health and welfare funds 

in cases alleging that large, multinational drug companies illegally inflated the 

price of prescription drugs. Scott has helped achieve precedent-setting 

recoveries, including a $104.75 million settlement shortly before trial in a case 

concerning the prescription drug Lidoderm. He also plays a key role in the 

firm’s work in the In re Restasis Antitrust Litigation and In re Generic Pharmaceuticals Antitrust Litigation

matters. 

Scott led the firm’s litigation efforts in a class action filed by native inhabitants of Guam bringing 

due process and equal protection claims against the government of Guam. He also has a track record of 

successfully representing consumers, including car and cell phone purchasers, in cases involving fraud 

and unfair business practices. During law school, Scott successfully argued a precedent-setting 

immigration case before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. He has been honored as a 

Rising Star by Northern California Super Lawyers every year since 2013. 

Associates 

Makenna Cox handles electronic discovery and other matters in 

complex class action litigation, including consumer protection cases against 

some of the nation’s largest corporations. 

Before joining Girard Sharp, Makenna advocated for musicians’ rights 

and co-authored comments filed with the Federal Communications 

Commission. She worked during law school at an appellate firm in Los 

Angeles. 

Makenna served as Senior Production Editor on the Loyola of Los 

Angeles Entertainment Law Review. She received her B.A. with honors from the 

University of San Francisco. 

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Simon Grille is committed to seeking justice for individuals harmed by 

corporate wrongdoing. He represents plaintiffs in class and complex litigation 

concerning consumers’ rights and financial fraud. He has taken a lead role in 

consumer class actions against some of the largest technology companies in the 

world. Simon has been named a Rising Star by Super Lawyers since 2017. 

Simon approaches each case with an unwavering commitment to 

obtaining the best possible outcome for his clients. A creative problem-solver, 

Simon welcomes the challenges of complex civil litigation. He has substantial 

experience in all aspects of civil litigation. 

Before joining Girard Sharp, Simon worked at a prominent Bay Area 

law firm, where he represented victims of toxic exposure in complex civil litigation. He also has 

experience working in-house at a multinational company and as an extern for the Honorable Arthur S. 

Weissbrodt of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of California.

Mani Goehring strives to provide clients with prompt attention, 

reliable guidance, and excellent outcomes. She represents consumers in class 

action and other complex litigation seeking to hold companies and institutions 

accountable when they engage in misconduct. From intake to resolution, 

Mani knows that responsiveness and tenacity are key to obtaining favorable 

results. 

Mani previously worked on criminal matters at the Antitrust Division 

of the U.S. Department of Justice. She also interned for the U.S. Attorney’s 

Office, the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office, and the American Civil 

Liberties Union of Northern California. 

James Richardson represents consumers, employees, investors, and 

others seeking to vindicate their rights and the public interest. Over nearly a 

decade of practice, he has pursued complex cases involving antitrust 

violations, investor fraud, corporate director self-dealing, and civil 

rights. Jimmy’s practice is animated by his longstanding commitment to 

using the law to protect the interests of everyday people against corporate 

misconduct. 

A graduate of Harvard Law School, Jimmy worked at a noted 

litigation firm in New York City before clerking for the Honorable Mary H. 

Murguia of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. He then 

worked for the World Bank Group Sanctions Board, where he adjudicated 

appeals of matters relating to corruption and fraud in international 

development. Jimmy then served as a managing attorney at a national civil 

rights firm, where he litigated landmark gender discrimination cases. Jimmy taught students about 

literature and American culture at Duke University before attending law school. 

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Trevor Tan focuses on consumer protection class actions and other 

complex civil litigation, specializing in legal research and writing. He was 

honored as a Rising Star by Super Lawyers beginning in 2019. 

Trevor has considerable experience working in judicial chambers. 

Before joining Girard Sharp, he clerked for the Honorable Fernando M. 

Olguin of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. Trevor 

also clerked for Judges of the Los Angeles County Superior Court and the 

court’s Appellate Division. 

Trevor received his J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School 

in 2011. During law school, he was an extern for the Honorable George H. 

Wu in the Central District of California and a law clerk with the Illinois 

Attorney General. In addition, he served as a child advocate with the school’s immigrant child advocacy 

clinic and worked on behalf of immigrant children from China. After law school, Trevor represented 

unaccompanied minors in removal proceedings as a fellow at the Young Center for Immigrant 

Children’s Rights. 

Trevor received his undergraduate degree with honors in political science from the University of 

California, Irvine in 2006. 

Peter Touschner handles complex class action e-discovery matters 

for the firm. Before joining Girard Sharp, Peter represented class members 

harmed by Volkswagen’s emissions-related fraud, as well as insureds who 

were charged inflated premiums due to the anticompetitive practices of a 

hospital conglomerate. 

Peter previously worked as a Research Attorney at the Center for 

Democracy and Technology, where he investigated deceptive online 

advertising practices and evaluated proposed cybersecurity legislation. 

During law school, Peter externed for U.S. District Judge Charles R. 

Breyer and served as Senior Articles Editor for the Hastings Science and 

Technology Law Journal. 

Tom Watts focuses his practice on complex antitrust litigation 

against monopolists and other wrongdoers. Before joining the firm, Tom 

clerked for the Honorable Jane Roth on the Third Circuit and the Honorable 

Robert McDonald of the Maryland Court of Appeals, assisting in a wide 

variety of appellate and state supreme court matters. 

Tom earned a J.D. and master’s in public policy magna cum laude

from Harvard Law School and Harvard Kennedy School. During law 

school, he gained experience in litigation, appeals, and policy advocacy by 

interning with the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Appellate Section, 

Santa Clara County’s Impact Litigation and Social Justice Section, and 

Public Advocates. 

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Tom received his B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley, with High Distinction in 

General Scholarship. He double majored in Classical Languages, in which he received High Honors, 

and Astrophysics, for which he was the undergraduate commencement speaker. 

Erika Garcia handles complex e-discovery matters for the firm. She 

is admitted to practice in California and New York. 

Before joining Girard Sharp, Erika worked at a large international 

law firm with a focus on class action and commercial litigation as well as 

regulatory investigations. She has negotiated and drafted numerous 

confidentiality agreements in the mergers and acquisitions setting. 

Erika is fluent in Spanish and previously served as a volunteer 

advocate in Ecuador for refugees from other Latin American countries. 

Sylvain Frayer, originally from France, obtained an LL.M., magna 

cum laude, from Fordham University School of Law.

Before joining Girard Sharp, Sylvain advised companies on privacy 

compliance and transactional matters. He also led a government relations 

team at a technology startup where he improved access to public records 

data and advised on corporate and compliance issues. 

Sylvain specializes in analyzing corporate records in complex civil 

litigation. 

Deirdre Roney earned her B.A. with honors from Mills College and 

her J.D. with high honors from the George Washington Law School. 

Deirdre handles electronic discovery in consumer protection, 

investment fraud, and other complex class actions. She previously focused 

on securities and investment matters, contributing work to both litigation 

and transactional projects. 

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Of Counsel 

Michael S. Danko is a renowned trial lawyer with more than 25 

years of legal experience. Mike represents individuals who have suffered 

catastrophic personal injuries, as well as families of wrongful death victims 

in cases involving product defects, defective medications and medical 

devices, airplane and helicopter accidents, and dangerous structures. He 

has tried cases in state and federal courts throughout the country and has 

won numerous eight-figure verdicts on behalf of his clients. 

Mike represents dozens of victims of a Pacific Gas & Electric gas line 

explosion and serves on the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee in a California state 

coordinated proceeding San Bruno Fire Cases, JCCP No. 4648. He also serves on the Science Committee 

for Plaintiffs in In re Yasmin and Yaz (Drospirenone) Marketing, Sales Practices and Products Liability 

Litigation, MDL No. 2100. 

In 2009, Mike won a $15 million jury verdict for a client injured by a defective aircraft part, 

which earned him a nomination for 2009 California Trial Lawyer of the Year by the Consumer 

Attorneys of California. 

Mike’s trial advocacy has helped bring about significant reforms and changes to corporate 

policies. As lead counsel in In re Deep Vein Thrombosis Litigation, MDL No. 1606 (N.D. Cal.), he 

represented more than one hundred air travelers who suffered strokes, pulmonary emboli, or heart 

attacks as a result of airline-induced blood clots. He developed theories of liability and proof 

regarding the cause of his clients’ injuries that led to virtually every major air carrier advising air 

travelers of the risks of deep vein thrombosis and measures to mitigate those risks. Mike also 

represented parents of children who were injured or killed by a popular candy made by a foreign 

manufacturer. His work in proving that the candy’s unusual ingredients and consistency made it a 

choking hazard resulted in the candy being removed from Costco and Albertson’s stores nationwide, 

and helped persuade the FDA to ban the candy from further import into the United States. 

Mike has been named a Northern California Super Lawyer each year since the award’s 

inception in 2004. He is a Lawdragon 500 finalist. In 2010, Mike was named one of the Best Lawyers 

in America. He is a member of the American Association for Justice, the Lawyer Pilots Bar 

Association and the Consumer Attorneys of California, where he serves on the board of governors. 

Mike received his A.B. degree from Dartmouth College, magna cum laude, in 1980, and earned his 

J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1983. 

Kristine Keala Meredith is a trial attorney specializing in product liability litigation. Kristine 

served as co-lead counsel with Michael Danko representing more than one hundred air travelers who 

suffered strokes, pulmonary emboli, or heart attacks as a result of airline-induced blood clots in In re 

Deep Vein Thrombosis Litigation, MDL No. 1606. 

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Kristine served on the Law and Motion committee in In re Yasmin and 

Yaz (Drospirenone) Marketing, Sales Practices and Products Liability Litigation, 

MDL No. 2100, where she assisted in the successful opposition to 15 Daubert 

motions in fewer than three weeks. Before she began representing plaintiffs, 

Kristine worked on the national defense counsel teams for medical device 

manufacturers in multi-district litigation including In re Silicone Gel Breast 

Implants Product Liability Litigation, MDL No. 926, and In re Orthopedic Bone 

Screw Product Liability Litigation, MDL No. 1014. She also represented doctors 

and hospitals in defense of medical malpractice actions, where she worked 

with some of the world's leading medical experts. 

In 2010, Kristine was named a Northern California Super Lawyer. 

She is currently an officer of the American Association for Justice and the San Mateo County Trial 

Lawyers Association. She is also a member of the San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association and the 

Consumer Attorneys of California. She is a former chair of the Minority Issues Committee of the San 

Francisco Bar Association Barrister Club. 

Kristine obtained her B.S. with honors from the University of California at Davis and was 

awarded a scholarship to attend Brigham Young University’s J. Reuben Clark Law School. While in 

law school, she was awarded the Distinguished Student Service Award and spent a semester at Howard 

University Law School in Washington, D.C., as a member of the faculty/student diversity exchange. 

 

Privacy Violations 

In re Yahoo Mail Litigation, No. 5:13-cv-04980-LHK (N.D. Cal.). Girard Sharp represented 

non-Yahoo email subscribers whose emails with Yahoo email subscribers were illegally intercepted 

and scanned by Yahoo. The court certified a nationwide class for injunctive-relief purposes, issuing 

an opinion that has been widely cited. 308 F.R.D. 577 (N.D. Cal. 2015). With cross-motions for 

summary judgment fully briefed, the parties settled. Yahoo agreed to restructure its email delivery 

architecture to ensure that incoming and outgoing email would no longer be intercepted while in 

transit—bringing its email scanning practices into compliance with applicable law—and to disclose 

its email scanning practices on its website. The court, in approving the settlement, noted that 

“Class Counsel achieved these benefits only after several years of litigation,” which the court found 

was conducted “in an effective and cost-efficient manner.” 2016 WL 4474612, at *10 (N.D. Cal. 

Aug. 25, 2016). 

In re Lenovo Adware Litigation, MDL No. 2624 (N.D. Cal.). Girard Sharp is co-lead counsel 

for a class of computer purchasers whose online activities were surreptitiously monitored by preinstalled software. The undisclosed spyware degraded the computers’ performance, operating 

continuously in the background as it analyzed browsing activity and injected ads into visited 

webpages. The Honorable Ronald M. Whyte certified a nationwide indirect purchaser class for 

trial. 2016 WL 6277245 (N.D. Cal. Oct. 27, 2016). After the defendants agreed to a nonFAVORABLE RESULTS AND SIGNIFICANT RECOVERIES

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reversionary cash settlement, Girard Sharp helped design a claims process that allowed each 

participating class member to choose between (1) completing a short online claim form to receive 

an estimated $40 cash payment for every purchased computer, or (2) submitting receipts or other 

documentation to recover sums actually expended as a result of the spyware being on the 

computer, up to $750. The Honorable Haywood S. Gilliam granted final approval of the 

settlement, see 2019 WL 1791420 (N.D. Cal. Apr. 24, 2019), and Girard Sharp continues to 

supervise distribution of the fund. 

Corona v. Sony Pictures Entertainment, No. 2:14-cv-09600-RGK-SH (C.D. Cal.). Girard 

Sharp served as co-lead counsel in a class action brought on behalf of 15,000 current and former 

employees of Sony Pictures Entertainment following a cyberattack attributed to North Korean 

intelligence as retaliation for release of the film The Interview. In April 2016, the court approved a 

class settlement that reimbursed actual losses in full and provided extended credit monitoring—a 

structure adopted in subsequent data breach settlements. 

In re The Home Depot, Inc. Customer Data Security Breach Litigation, MDL No. 2583 (N.D. 

Ga.). The Honorable Thomas W. Thrash, Jr. appointed Girard Sharp to the Plaintiffs’ Executive 

Committee in this MDL arising from a breach of Home Depot customers’ credit and debit card 

information. Under the court-approved settlement, class members with documented claims could 

receive up to $10,000, and the defendant paid an additional $6.5 million to provide 18 months of 

identity monitoring services for the benefit of class members. 2016 WL 6902351, at *4 (N.D. Ga. 

Aug. 23, 2016). Judge Thrash described the settlement as “an outstanding result for the Class in a 

case with a high level of risk,” id. at *5, and further noted that “Class Counsel obtained an 

exceptional result . . . .” 2017 WL 9605208, at *1 (N.D. Ga. Aug. 1, 2017). 

In re Target Corp. Customer Data Security Breach Litigation, MDL No. 2522 (D. Minn.). 

Girard Sharp served on the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee representing consumers whose personal 

and financial information was compromised in a breach of Target’s point-of-sale systems. After 

plaintiffs defeated Target’s motion to dismiss, see 66 F. Supp. 3d 1154 (D. Minn. 2014), the parties 

agreed to a class settlement that was approved by the MDL court and upheld on appeal, see 892 

F.3d 968 (8th Cir. 2018). The settlement requires changes to Target’s information security practices 

and delivered cash recoveries to class members under a simplified claim procedure. 

In re Experian Data Breach Litigation, No. 15-01592 (C.D. Cal.). Girard Sharp serves on the 

Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee in this litigation arising out of a breach of Experian’s electronic 

systems than compromised names, addresses, and social security numbers of T-Mobile subscribers. 

The Honorable Andrew J. Guilford in 2019 granted final approval of a settlement that established 

a $22 million fund and provided identity theft protection services for the benefit of class members. 

In re Adobe Systems, Inc. Privacy Litigation, No. 5:13-cv-05226-LHK (N.D. Cal.). Girard 

Sharp was appointed as lead counsel in this consolidated litigation on behalf of consumers asserting 

privacy and consumer fraud claims arising from a 2013 data breach. Girard Sharp obtained a 

pivotal ruling when the court denied Adobe’s motion to dismiss for lack of standing, ruling that the 

Supreme Court’s decision in Clapper v. Amnesty International USA, 133 S. Ct. 1138 (2013), did not 

change existing standing jurisprudence. 66 F. Supp. 3d 1197 (N.D. Cal. 2014). Before this ruling, 

many data breach defendants had obtained dismissals for lack of standing based on Clapper. The 

Adobe ruling has been followed by a number of courts, including the Seventh Circuit Court of 

Appeals in Remijas v. Neiman Marcus Group, LLC. 794 F.3d 688, 693–94 (7th Cir. 2015). 

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Prather v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., No. 17-cv-00481 (N.D. Ill.). Girard Sharp served as colead counsel in an action alleging that Wells Fargo used an automatic telephone dialing system to 

repeatedly call the cellular phone numbers of persons with no prior affiliation with Wells Fargo. 

On December 10, 2019, the Honorable Manish S. Shah of the Northern District of Illinois granted 

final approval of a settlement that established a fund of $17,850,000 for class members. 

Whitaker v. Health Net of California, Inc., No. 2:11-cv-00910-KJM-DAD (E.D. Cal.); Shurtleff 

v. Health Net of California, Inc., No. 34-2012-00121600-CU-CL (Cal. Super Ct. Sacramento Cty.). 

Girard Sharp served as co-lead counsel in this patient privacy action. On June 24, 2014, the court 

granted final approval of a settlement that provided class members with credit monitoring, 

established a $2 million fund to reimburse consumers for related identity theft incidents, and required 

material upgrades to and monitoring of Health Net’s information security protocols. 

In re Sony BMG CD Technologies Litigation, No.1:05-cv-09575-NRB (S.D.N.Y.). Girard 

Sharp served as co-lead counsel for a class of consumers who alleged that Sony BMG incorporated 

“Digital Rights Management” software into its music CDs, violating the Computer Fraud and 

Abuse Act, 18 U.S.C. § 1030 et seq., and rendering the consumers’ computers vulnerable to viruses 

and spyware. The firm negotiated a settlement that required Sony BMG to promptly recall all 

affected CDs and provide “clean” CDs and cash to class members. 

In re Countrywide Financial Corp. Customer Data Security Breach Litigation, MDL No. 1988 

(W.D. Ky.). Girard Sharp served on the Plaintiffs’ Executive Committee representing a class of 

millions of actual and potential customers of Countrywide whose personal information was stolen 

by a former Countrywide employee and then sold to other mortgage lenders. The class settlement 

approved by the court provided for free credit monitoring, reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses 

incurred as a result of the theft, and reimbursement of up to $50,000 per class member for identity 

theft losses. 

Smith v. Regents of the University of California, San Francisco, No. RG-08-410004 (Cal. 

Super Ct. Alameda Cty.). Girard Sharp represented a patient who alleged that UCSF’s disclosure 

of its patients’ medical data to outside vendors violated California’s medical privacy law. The firm 

succeeded in negotiating improvements to UCSF’s privacy procedures on behalf of a certified class 

of patients of UCSF Medical Center. In approving the stipulated permanent injunction, the 

Honorable Stephen Brick found that “Smith has achieved a substantial benefit to the entire class 

and the public at large.” 

Deceptive Trade Practices 

In re Hyundai and Kia Horsepower Litigation, No. 02CC00287 (Cal. Super. Ct. Orange Cty.). 

Girard Sharp served as lead counsel in this coordinated nationwide class action against Hyundai for 

falsely advertising the horsepower ratings of more than 1 million vehicles over a ten-year period. The 

case was aggressively litigated on both sides over several years. In all, over 850,000 Hyundai vehicle 

owners received notice of the settlement, which was valued at $125 million and which provided cash 

and other benefits to class members. 

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In re Chase Bank USA, N.A. “Check Loan” Contract Litigation, No. 09-2032 (N.D. Cal.). 

Girard Sharp and several other firms led this nationwide class action alleging deceptive marketing 

and loan practices by Chase Bank USA, N.A. After certifying a nationwide class, the Honorable 

Maxine M. Chesney granted final approval of a $100 million settlement benefiting Chase 

cardholders. 

In re Hyundai and Kia Fuel Economy Litigation, No. 2:13-ml-2424 (C.D. Cal.). In a lawsuit 

alleging false advertising in connection with the fuel efficiency of various Hyundai and Kia models, 

the firm served as liaison counsel and in that capacity regularly reported to the court and 

coordinated a wide-ranging discovery process. The case resulted in a nationwide class action 

settlement with an estimated value of up to $120 million. 

In re Providian Credit Card Cases, J.C.C.P. No. 4085 (Cal. Super. Ct. San Francisco Cty.). 

Girard Sharp served as court-appointed co-lead counsel in this nationwide class action brought on 

behalf of Providian credit-card holders. The suit alleged that Providian engaged in unlawful, unfair 

and fraudulent business practices in connection with marketing and assessing fees for its credit cards. 

The Honorable Stuart Pollack approved a $105 million settlement, plus injunctive relief—one of the 

largest class action recoveries in consumer credit-card litigation. 

In re MCI Non-Subscriber Telephone Rates Litigation, MDL No. 1275 (S.D. Ill.). Girard Sharp 

served as co-lead counsel and recovered an $88 million settlement for MCI telephone subscribers 

who were charged rates and surcharges applicable to non-subscribers instead of the lower advertised 

rates. In approving the settlement, the Honorable David Herndon highlighted “the complexity of the 

issues involved; the vigorous opposition Plaintiffs’ counsel faced from sophisticated and well-funded 

Defendants represented by skilled counsel; the achievement of a very large cash settlement fund 

under these conditions”; and the “design and implementation of a computerized claims process, 

which appears to have been highly successful.” Daniel Girard argued the key motions in the case 

and designed the claim procedure. 

Skold v. Intel Corp., No. 1-05-CV-039231 (Cal. Super. Ct., Santa Clara Cty.). Girard 

Sharp represented Intel consumers through a decade of hard-fought litigation, ultimately 

certifying a nationwide class under an innovative “price inflation” theory and negotiating a 

settlement that provided refunds and $4 million in cy pres donations. In approving the settlement, 

Judge Peter Kirwan wrote: “It is abundantly clear that Class Counsel invested an incredible amount 

of time and costs in a case which lasted approximately 10 years with no guarantee that they would 

prevail. . . . Simply put, Class Counsel earned their fees in this case.” 

Steff v. United Online, Inc., No. BC265953, (Los Angeles Super. Ct.). This nationwide class 

action was brought against NetZero, Inc. and its parent, United Online, Inc. by former NetZero 

customers. Plaintiffs alleged that defendants falsely advertised their internet service as unlimited 

and guaranteed for a specific period of time. The Honorable Victoria G. Chaney of Los Angeles 

Superior Court granted final approval of a settlement that provided full refunds to customers whose 

services were cancelled, and which also placed restrictions on Defendants’ advertising. 

Stoddard v. Advanta Corp., No. 97C-08-206-VAB (Del. Super. Ct.). This nationwide class 

action was brought on behalf of cardholders who were promised a fixed APR for life in connection 

with balance transfers, but whose APR was then raised pursuant to a notice of change in terms. The 

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Honorable Vincent A. Bifferato appointed the firm as co-lead counsel and approved a $7.25 million 

settlement. 

Khaliki v. Helzberg’s Diamond Shops, Inc., No. 11-0010-CV-W-NKL (W.D. Mo.). Girard 

Sharp and co-counsel represented consumers who alleged deceptive marketing in connection with 

the sale of princess-cut diamonds. The court approved a favorable settlement, recognizing “that Class 

Counsel provided excellent representation” and obtained “a favorable result relatively early in the 

case, which benefits the Class while preserving judicial resources.” The court further recognized that 

“Class Counsel faced considerable risk in pursuing this litigation on a contingent basis, and obtained 

a favorable result for the class given the legal and factual complexities and challenges presented.” 

In re Tyson Foods Inc., Chicken Raised Without Antibiotics Consumer Litigation, No. RDB- 08-

1982 (D. Md.). Girard Sharp served as Class Counsel on behalf of consumers who purchased 

chicken products misleadingly labeled as having been “raised without antibiotics.” After discovery, 

counsel negotiated a cash settlement that required Tyson Foods to pay class members and make 

substantial cy pres contributions to food banks. 

Defective Products 

Weeks v. Google LLC, No. 18-cv-00801-NC (N.D. Cal.). Girard Sharp served as co-lead 

counsel representing owners of Google Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones. The lawsuit alleged that a 

defect in the Google phones caused the microphones to fail; as a result, users were unable to make 

calls, dictate texts, record audio, search the web with voice command, or use the advertised Google 

Assistant feature. On December 6, 2019, the court approved a $7.25 million settlement for the class 

that it deemed “excellent.” 

In re Nexus 6P Products Liability Litigation, No. 5:17-cv-02185-BLF (N.D. Cal). Girard Sharp 

was appointed as co-lead counsel in a class action alleging that Nexus 6P smartphones suffer from a 

defect that renders the phones inoperable through an endless boot-loop cycle and an accelerated 

battery drain that causes the phones to shut off prematurely. On November 11, 2019, the Honorable 

Beth L. Freeman approved a $9.75 million class settlement, stating in part that “Class counsel has 

extensive experience representing plaintiffs and classes in complex litigation and consumer class 

actions. . . . [T]he quality of their work is reflected in the results achieved for the class.” 2019 WL 

6622842, at *10, *12 (N.D. Cal. Nov. 12, 2019). 

In re iPod Cases, JCCP No. 4355 (Cal. Super. Ct. San Mateo Cty.). Girard Sharp, as courtappointed co-lead counsel, negotiated a settlement that provided warranty extensions, battery 

replacements, cash payments, and store credits for class members who experienced battery failure. In 

approving the settlement, the Honorable Beth L. Freeman wrote that Girard Sharp attorneys are 

“extremely well qualified” and negotiated a “significant and substantial benefit” for the class. 

Sugarman v. Ducati North America, Inc., No. 5:10-cv-05246-JF (N.D. Cal.). The firm served as 

class counsel on behalf of owners of Ducati motorcycles whose fuel tanks degraded and deformed 

due to incompatibility with the motorcycles’ fuel. In January 2012, the Honorable Jeremy D. Fogel 

approved a settlement that provided an extended warranty and repairs, commenting: “The Court 

recognizes that class counsel assumed substantial risks and burdens in this litigation. Representation 

was professional and competent; in the Court’s opinion, counsel obtained an excellent result for the 

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class.” 2012 WL 113361, at *6 (N.D. Cal. Jan. 12, 2012).

Parkinson v. Hyundai Motor America, No. CV 8:06-0345 (C.D. Cal.). Girard Sharp served as 

class counsel in this class action involving allegations that the flywheel and clutch system in certain 

Hyundai vehicles was defective. After achieving nationwide class certification, Girard Sharp 

negotiated a settlement that provided from 50% to 100% in reimbursement to class members for their 

repairs, depending on their vehicle’s mileage at the time of repair. The settlement also provided full 

reimbursement for rental car expenses for class members who rented a vehicle while flywheel or 

clutch repairs were being performed. After approving the settlement, the court wrote, “Perhaps the 

best barometer of . . . the benefit obtained for the class . . . is the perception of class members 

themselves. Counsel submitted dozens of letters from class members sharing their joy, appreciation, 

and relief that someone finally did something to help them.” 796 F. Supp. 2d 1160, 1175 (C.D. Cal. 

2010). 

In re Medtronic, Inc. Implantable Defibrillators Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 1726 (D. 

Minn.). Girard Sharp served on the discovery and law committees and performed briefing, 

discovery, and investigative work in this lawsuit that followed a February 2005 recall of certain 

models of Medtronic implantable cardioverter defibrillator devices. The controversy was resolved for 

$75 million. 

Browne v. American Honda Motor Co., Inc., No. CV 09-06750 (C.D. Cal.). Girard Sharp 

served as co-lead counsel representing plaintiffs who alleged that about 750,000 Honda Accord and 

Acura TSX vehicles had brake pads that wore out prematurely. Girard Sharp negotiated, and the 

court approved, a settlement valued at $25 million that provided reimbursements to class members 

and made improved brake pads available. 

In re General Motors Dex-Cool Cases, No. HG03093843 (Cal. Super Ct. Alameda Cty.). These 

class actions alleged that General Motors’ Dex-Cool engine coolant damaged certain vehicles’ 

engines and formed a rusty sludge that caused vehicles to overheat. After consumer classes were 

certified in both Missouri and California, General Motors agreed to pay cash to class members 

nationwide. On October 27, 2008, the California court granted final approval of the settlement. 

Roy v. Hyundai Motor America, No. SACV 05-483-AHS (C.D. Cal.). Girard Sharp served as 

court-appointed co-lead counsel in this nationwide class action alleging a defect in the air-bag 

system in Hyundai Elantra vehicles. Girard Sharp helped negotiate a settlement under which 

Hyundai agreed to repair the air-bag systems in the vehicles it sold and leased to class members. 

Hyundai also agreed to reimburse class members for transportation expenses and administer an 

alternative dispute resolution program for trade-ins and buy-backs. In approving the settlement, the 

Honorable Alicemarie H. Stotler described the settlement as “pragmatic” and a “win-win” for all 

concerned. 

Other Consumer Protection Matters 

Larson v. John Hancock Life Insurance Company (U.S.A.), No. RG16813803 (Cal. Super. Ct. 

Alameda Cty.). Girard Sharp served as liaison counsel in this certified class action on behalf of 

universal life insurance policyholders alleging John Hancock overcharged more than 100,000 of its 

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insureds, depriving them of the full value of the premiums they paid over time. On May 8, 2018, 

the Honorable Brad Seligman granted final approval of a $59 million settlement. 

In re America Online Spin-Off Accounts Litigation, MDL No. 1581 (C.D. Cal.). Girard Sharp 

served as court-appointed co-lead counsel in this nationwide class action on behalf of America 

Online subscribers who were billed for a second account without their knowledge or consent. The 

litigation settled for $25 million and changes in AOL’s billing and account practices. 

Mitchell v. American Fair Credit Association, No. 785811-2 (Cal. Super. Ct. Alameda Cty.); 

Mitchell v. Bankfirst, N.A., No. C-97-1421-MMC (N.D. Cal.). This class action was brought on 

behalf of California members of the American Fair Credit Association (AFCA). Plaintiffs alleged 

that AFCA operated an illegal credit repair scheme. The Honorable James Richman certified the 

class and appointed the firm as class counsel. In February 2003, the Honorable Ronald Sabraw of 

Alameda County Superior Court and the Honorable Maxine Chesney of the Northern District of 

California granted final approval of settlements valued at over $40 million. 

In re Mercedes-Benz Tele Aid Contract Litigation, MDL No. 1914, CV No. 07-2720-DRD 

(D.N.J.). Girard Sharp served as co-lead class counsel on behalf of consumers whose vehicles’ 

navigation systems were on the verge of becoming obsolete. Counsel obtained nationwide class 

certification before negotiating a settlement valued at up to $50 million. In approving the 

settlement, the court acknowledged that the case “involved years of difficult and hard-fought 

litigation by able counsel on both sides” and that “the attorneys who handled the case were 

particularly skilled by virtue of their ability and experience.” 2011 WL 4020862, at *4, *8 (D.N.J. 

Sept. 9, 2011). 

In re LookSmart Litigation, No. 02-407778 (Cal. Super. Ct. San Francisco Cty.). This 

nationwide class action was brought against LookSmart, Ltd. on behalf of consumers who paid an 

advertised “one time payment” to have their websites listed in LookSmart’s directory, only to be 

charged additional fees to continue service. The court granted final approval of a class settlement 

valued at approximately $20 million that provided cash and other benefits. 

In re America Online, Inc. Version 5.0 Software Litigation, MDL No. 1341 (S.D. Fla.). Girard 

Sharp served as co-lead counsel in this MDL involving 45 centralized actions. The case alleged 

violations of state consumer protection statutes, the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, and federal 

antitrust laws arising from AOL’s distribution of its Version 5.0 software upgrade. The Honorable 

Alan S. Gold granted final approval of a $15.5 million settlement. 

In re PayPal Litigation, No. C-02-1227-JF (PVT) (N.D. Cal.). Girard Sharp served as co-lead 

counsel in this nationwide class action alleging violations of California consumer protection statutes 

and the Electronic Funds Transfer Act (EFTA). Plaintiffs alleged that PayPal unlawfully restricted 

access to consumers’ PayPal accounts. On September 24, 2004, Judge Fogel granted final approval 

of a settlement valued at $14.35 million in cash and returned funds, plus injunctive relief to ensure 

compliance with the EFTA. 

Powers Law Offices, P.C. v. Cable & Wireless USA, Inc., No. 99-CV-12007-EFH (D. Mass). 

Girard Sharp prosecuted this class action on behalf of cable and wireless subscribers who were 

overcharged for recurring fees. The court granted final approval of an $8 million settlement, and the 

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bankruptcy court approved a 30% distribution from the unsecured creditors’ fund of bankruptcy 

liquidation proceeds.

Lehman v. Blue Shield of California, No. CGC-03-419349 (Cal. Super. Ct. San Francisco 

Cty.). In this class action charging Blue Shield with having illegally modified the risk-tier structure 

of its individual and family health care plans, Girard Sharp negotiated a $6.5 million settlement on 

behalf of current and former Blue Shield subscribers in California. The Honorable James L. 

Warren granted final approval of the settlement in March 2006. 

Telestar v. MCI, Inc., No. C-05-Civ-10672-JGK (S.D.N.Y). This class action was brought on 

behalf of MCI commercial subscribers who were charged both interstate and intrastate fees for the 

same frame relay on prorate line service during the same billing period. On April 17, 2008, the 

Honorable John G. Koeltl approved a favorable cash settlement. 

Wixon v. Wyndham Resort Development Corp., No. C-07-02361 JSW (BZ) (N.D. Cal.). 

Girard Sharp served as class and derivative counsel in this litigation against a timeshare developer 

and the directors of a timeshare corporation for violations of California law. Plaintiffs alleged that 

the defendants violated their fiduciary duties by taking actions for the financial benefit of the 

timeshare developer to the detriment of the owners of timeshare interests. On September 14, 2010, 

the district court approved a settlement of the derivative claims. 

Berrien v. New Raintree Resorts, LLC, No. CV-10-03125 CW (N.D. Cal.); Benedict v. 

Diamond Resorts Corporation, No. CV 12-00183-DAE (D. Hawaii). Girard Sharp pursued these 

actions on behalf of timeshare owners, challenging the imposition of unauthorized “special 

assessment” fees. The court in each case approved a favorable settlement of the claims asserted on 

behalf of class members who were charged the fee. 

Allen Lund Co., Inc. v. AT&T Corporation, No. C 98-1500-DDP (C.D. Cal.). This class action 

was brought on behalf of small businesses whose long-distance service was switched to Business 

Discount Plan, Inc. The Honorable Dean D. Pregerson appointed Girard Sharp as class counsel, and 

thereafter approved a settlement providing full cash refunds and free long-distance telephone service. 

Mackouse v. The Good Guys – California, Inc., No. 2002-049656 (Cal. Super Ct. Alameda Cty.). 

This nationwide class action against The Good Guys and its affiliates alleged violations of the SongBeverly Consumer Warranty Act and other California consumer protection laws. Plaintiff alleged 

that The Good Guys failed to honor contracts that it offered for sale to customers in exchange for 

protection of a purchase after the manufacturer’s warranty expired. On May 9, 2003, the Honorable 

Ronald M. Sabraw granted final approval of a settlement providing cash refunds or services at a 

class member’s election.

In re H&R Block Express IRA Litigation, MDL No. 1786 (W.D. Mo.). Girard Sharp served as 

co-lead counsel in this MDL involving H&R Block’s marketing and sale of its “Express IRA” 

investment products. The firms negotiated a settlement in coordination with the New York 

Attorney General that delivered more than $19 million in cash to class members—resulting in a full 

recovery for consumers—as well as non-cash benefits entitling Express IRA holders to convert their 

investments to alternative IRAs with lower fees. 

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Securities and Financial Fraud 

Daccache v. Raymond James Financial, Inc., No. 1:16-cb-21575-FAM (S.D. Fla.). Girard 

Sharp served as a member of the leadership team representing investors in various Jay Peak EB-5 

Immigrant Investor Program project offerings. The investors’ funds were diverted and 

misappropriated instead of being applied to the intended project to develop the area surrounding the 

Jay Peak Ski Resort. In June 2017, the court approved a settlement of $150 million for the investors. 

In re Oppenheimer Rochester Funds Group Securities Litigation, No. 09-md-02063-JLK (D. 

Colo). Girard Sharp represented investors who were misled by the Oppenheimer California 

Municipal Bond Fund about the investment risks associated with the fund’s holdings. On 

November 6, 2017, the Honorable John L. Kane approved a $50.75 million settlement for the 

investors. 

In re Sears Holdings Corporation Stockholder and Derivative Litigation, Consolidated C.A. No. 

11081-VCL (Del. Ch.). Girard Sharp served as co-lead counsel on behalf of the company in this 

derivative suit charging CEO and majority owner Edward S. Lampert and other directors with 

depriving stockholders of the full value of 266 of Sears Holdings’ most valuable properties. Girard 

Sharp obtained a $40 million settlement for Sears Holdings Corporation in the Court of Chancery. 

In re Digex, Inc. Shareholder Litigation, Consol. No. 18336 (Del. Ch.). Girard Sharp 

represented the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System, one of two institutional lead plaintiffs 

in this lawsuit; minority stockholders of Digex, Inc. sued to enjoin MCI WorldCom’s planned 

acquisition of a controlling interest in Digex via a merger with Intermedia Communications, Inc. 

A settlement approved by the Delaware Chancery Court secured $165 million in MCI WorldCom 

stock and $15 million in cash for Digex shareholders, as well as non-cash benefits valued at $450 

million. 

Billitteri v. Securities America, Inc., No. 3:09-cv-01568-F (N.D. Tex.). Girard 

Sharp served as lead counsel in an action against broker-dealer Securities America, Inc. and its 

corporate parent, Ameriprise, Inc. in connection with sales of investments in the Provident 

Royalties and Medical Capital investment schemes. Daniel Girard coordinated negotiations 

resulting in a $150 million settlement, with $80 million allocated to class plaintiffs represented by 

Girard Sharp and $70 million allocated to individual investors who had initiated arbitration 

proceedings. The settlements returned over 40% of investment losses. 

In re Lehman Brothers Equity/Debt Securities Litigation, No. 08-Civ-5523 (S.D.N.Y.). Girard 

Sharp was appointed class counsel for a certified class of retail investors in structured products sold 

by UBS Financial Services, Inc., following the collapse of Lehman Brothers Holdings, Inc. in the 

largest bankruptcy in American history. The plaintiffs alleged that UBS misrepresented Lehman’s 

financial condition and failed to disclose that the “principal protection” feature of many of the 

notes depended upon Lehman’s solvency. Girard Sharp negotiated a settlement that established a 

$120 million fund to resolve these claims. 

In re Prison Realty Securities Litigation, No. 3:99-0452 (M.D. Tenn.). Girard Sharp served as 

co- lead counsel in this securities class action brought against a real estate investment trust and its 

officers and directors relating to a merger between Corrections Corporation of America and CCA 

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Prison Realty Trust. The court approved a settlement for over $120 million in cash and stock. 

In re American Express Financial Advisors Securities Litigation, No. 04-cv-01773-DAB 

(S.D.N.Y.). Girard Sharp served as co-lead counsel in this class action on behalf of individuals 

who bought financial plans and invested in mutual funds from American Express Financial 

Advisors. The case alleged that American Express steered its clients into underperforming “shelf 

space funds” to reap kickbacks and other financial benefits. The court granted final approval of a 

settlement providing $100 million in cash and other relief. 

Scheiner v. i2 Technologies, Inc., No. 3:01-CV-418-H (N.D. Tex.). Girard Sharp represented 

the lead plaintiff—the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System—and served as co-lead counsel 

on behalf of investors in i2 Technologies. The Honorable Barefoot Sanders approved cash 

settlements for $88 million from the company, its officers, and its former auditor Arthur Andersen. 

As part of the settlement, i2 agreed to significant corporate governance reforms. 

In re Peregrine Financial Group Customer Litigation, No. 415546 (Cal. Super. Ct. S.F. Cty.). 

Girard Sharp served as co-lead counsel for futures and commodities investors who lost millions of 

dollars in the collapse of Peregrine Financial Group, Inc. The case produced settlements with 

JPMorgan Chase & Co. and U.S. Bank totaling approximately $60 million. 

CalSTRS v. Qwest Communications, No. 415546 (Cal. Super. Ct. S.F. Cty.). Girard Sharp 

represented the California State Teachers Retirement System in this opt-out securities fraud case 

against Qwest Communications, Inc. and certain of its officers and directors, as well as its outside 

auditor Arthur Andersen. The case resulted in a precedent-setting $45 million settlement for 

California schoolteachers. 

In re SLM Corp. Securities Litigation, No. 08-Civ-1029-WHP (S.D.N.Y). Girard Sharp 

served as lead counsel representing investors of SLM Corporation who alleged Sallie Mae, the 

leading provider of student loans in the United States, misled the public about its financial 

performance in order to inflate the company’s stock price. After achieving nationwide class 

certification, Girard Sharp negotiated a settlement that established a $35 million fund to resolve the 

investors’ claims. 

In re Winstar Communications Securities Litigation, No. 01 Civ. 11522 (S.D.N.Y.). Girard 

Sharp represented Allianz of America, Inc., Fireman’s Fund and other large private institutional 

investors against Grant Thornton and other defendants on claims arising out of plaintiffs’ 

investments in Winstar Communications, Inc. The firm achieved a settlement on the eve of trial that 

provided a recovery rate over 30 times higher than what class members received in a related class 

action. After deduction of attorneys’ fees, the fund returned 78.5% of potentially recoverable losses. 

In re Oxford Tax Exempt Fund Securities Litigation, No. WMN-95-3643 (D. Md.). Girard 

Sharp served as co-lead counsel in class and derivative litigation brought on behalf of a real estate 

limited partnership with assets of over $200 million. The parties reached a settlement providing for 

exempt issuance of securities under section 3(a)(10) of the Securities Act of 1933, public listing of 

units, and additional benefits valued at over $10 million. 

Calliott v. HFS, Inc., No. 3:97-CV-0924-L (N.D. Tex.). Girard Sharp intervened on behalf of 

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an institutional client in this securities class action arising out of the bankruptcy of Amre, Inc., a 

seller of home remodeling and repair services. After being designated lead counsel under the Private 

Securities Litigation Reform Act, Girard Sharp negotiated and obtained court approval of 

settlements totaling $7.3 million. 

In re Towers Financial Corporation Noteholders Litigation, MDL No. 994 (S.D.N.Y.). This class 

action was brought against promoters and professionals linked to a failed investment scheme that the 

SEC described at the time as being the “largest Ponzi scheme in U.S. history.” The case resulted in 

$6 million in partial settlements and a $250 million judgment entered against four senior Towers 

executives. Girard Sharp served as liaison counsel and as a Plaintiffs’ Executive Committee member. 

The court stated that “class counsel—particularly plaintiffs’ liaison counsel, Daniel Girard—has 

represented the plaintiffs diligently and ably in the several years that this litigation has been before 

me.” 177 F.R.D. 167, 171 (S.D.N.Y. 1997). 

Mass Tort 

In re USC Student Health Center Litigation, No. 2:18-cv-04258-SVW-GJS (C.D. Cal.). 

Girard Sharp served as co-lead counsel for a class of women who alleged they were sexually 

assaulted or molested by a USC gynecologist. The court in February 2020 approved a settlement 

for $215 million that also secured comprehensive injunctive relief at the university. 

In re Actos (Pioglitazone-Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2299 (W.D. La.). Girard 

Sharp lawyers were appointed to the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee and served on the Daubert

and Legal Briefing Committees in this MDL. A $2.37 billion global settlement was achieved. 

In re Yasmin and Yaz (Drospirenone) Marketing, Sales, Practices and Products Liability 

Litigation, MDL No. 2385 (S.D. Ill.). Girard Sharp lawyers were appointed to the Plaintiffs’ 

Steering Committee and served as Co-Chair of the Plaintiffs’ Law and Briefing Committee in this 

MDL that produced settlements worth approximately $1.6 billion. 

In re Pradaxa (Dabigatran Etexilate) Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2385 (S.D. Ill.). 

Girard Sharp lawyers were appointed to the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee in mass tort litigation 

that culminated in settlements worth approximately $650 million. 

Antitrust 

In re TFT-LCD (Flat Panel) Antitrust Litigation, MDL No. 1827 (N.D. Cal.). The firm served 

as liaison counsel for the direct purchaser plaintiffs and certified direct purchaser class in this 

multidistrict antitrust litigation against makers of LCD screens alleging a far-reaching conspiracy to 

raise, fix and maintain prices. The direct purchasers achieved settlements of more than $400 million. 

In re Lidoderm Antitrust Litigation, No. 14-md-02521 (N.D. Cal.). Girard Sharp lawyers were 

appointed co-lead counsel in a class action on behalf of end-purchasers of the prescription drug 

Lidoderm who alleged that two drug companies, Endo Pharmaceuticals and Teikoku Pharma, 

unlawfully paid a third, Watson Pharmaceuticals, to delay the launch of more affordable generic 

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Lidocaine patches. The firm secured a $104.75 million settlement on the eve of trial. 

In re Aggrenox Antitrust Litigation, No. 14-md-2516 (D. Conn.). Girard Sharp served on the 

Plaintiffs’ Executive Committee in this “pay-for-delay” litigation accusing Teva Pharmaceuticals 

USA, Inc. and Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. of illegally agreeing to keep generic 

Aggrenox off the market. The case settled for $54 million. 

In re Solodyn Antitrust Litigation, No. 14-md-2503 (D. Mass.). The firm served on the 

Plaintiffs’ Executive Committee in this action alleging that Medicis Pharmaceuticals and several 

generic drug manufacturers conspired to monopolize the market for the acne drug Solodyn. The 

case settled for over $40 million in cash.

In re Natural Gas Antitrust Cases I, II, III and IV, J.C.C.P. No. 4221 (Cal. Super. Ct. San 

Diego Cty.). Girard Sharp served on the leadership team in coordinated antitrust litigation against 

numerous natural gas companies for manipulating the California natural gas market. The firm 

helped achieve settlements of nearly $160 million. 

Government Reform 

Paeste v. Government of Guam, No. 11-cv-0008 (D. Guam) (Marshall, J.). Girard Sharp 

and co-counsel served as class counsel in litigation against the Government of Guam on behalf 

of Guam taxpayers for chronic late payment of income tax refunds. After obtaining certification 

of a litigation class, the plaintiffs prevailed at summary judgment and obtained a permanent 

injunction reforming Guam’s administration of tax refunds. The Ninth Circuit affirmed the 

injunction, and the Supreme Court denied certiorari. 798 F.3d 1228 (9th Cir. 2015), cert. denied, 

136 S. Ct. 2508 (2016). 

Ho v. San Francisco Unified School District, No. C-94-2418-WHO (N.D. Cal.). This civil rights 

action was brought on behalf of a certified class of San Francisco public school students of Chinese 

descent to terminate racial and ethnic quotas imposed under a 1983 desegregation consent decree. 

See Ho v. San Francisco Unified Sch. Dist., 965 F. Supp. 1316 (N.D. Cal. 1997), aff’d, 147 F.3d 854 (9th 

Cir. 1998); see also 143 Cong. Rec. S6097, 6099 (1997) (statement of Senator Hatch noting testimony 

of a class representative before the Senate Judiciary Committee). 

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