Class Action Lawsuits

A class action is a case brought against an entity whose actions have damaged a group of people in a similar way.  A class proponent who has been injured may bring a class action on behalf of everyone who was harmed, with class members joining later on.

Class action lawsuits help to achieve justice not just for the individuals who bring such claims, but also for those who have suffered similar losses caused by a defendant’s wrongdoing.  Class actions are an important and valuable part of the legal system, providing for the fair and efficient resolution of legitimate claims of numerous parties by allowing the claims to be brought together into a single case against the defendant that allegedly caused the harm

Seminars & Recent Developments

• Dozens of Katrina victims sue FEMA over fumes in trailers
• FEMA to curtail trailer use, offers buyback proposal
• FEMA to curtail trailer use, offers buyback proposal
• Lawsuit Filed Over FEMA Trailers
• Lawsuit targets makers of trailers

Representative Matters

• The Buzbee Law Firm succesfully had a class action certified against a major offshore services company, forcing it to immediately remove all asbestos from its vessels, and to obtain outside certification and verification that its vessels are safe for its workers
• In a first of its kind case, the Buzbee Law Firm brought a class action suit against virtually every offshore drilling company operating in the Gulf of Mexico, alleging that the drilling industry had violated antitrust provisions in setting wages for their workers.  After the case was heavily litigated, including the depositions of several high ranking executives with the drilling companies, the case was settled.  The trial court appoved the settlement and a fund was established to distribute settlement funds to workers covered under the settlement.
• The Buzbee Law Firm represented a group of eleven independent payphone providers in an action in Hidalgo County against Southwestern Bell Telephone for violations of the Texas Free Enterprise and Antitrust Act for monopolization, attempted monopolization, and restraint of trade.  The case settled to the clients' satisfaction after Southwestern Bell's motion to transfer venue was denied and that decision was affirmed by the appellate court.