Steven L. Bloch concentrates on class action matters involving
insurance and related financial products and services -- including
annuities, securities and other investment vehicles -- as well as
consumer fraud, ERISA and employee benefits and antitrust.
Mr. Bloch also has wide-ranging complex litigation experience, and
has handled matters involving commercial and corporate disputes,
civil RICO, business torts, real estate, securities, banking and
credit card transactions and labor and employment.
Prominent Judgments & Settlements
Representative class action matters as co-lead counsel:
- Settlement on behalf of a certified
nationwide
class involving claims of
civil RICO and fraud against The Hartford Financial Services Group,
Inc. and affiliates concerning the Hartford's structured
settlements practices (Spencer
v. The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. et al.,
U.S. Dist. Ct., D. Conn., Case No. 05-cv-1681)
(
$72.5
million
)
- Settlement on behalf of a
certi
fied
class of automobile insurance policyholders in West Virginia
against Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company for personal injuries
and property damage arising out of Nationwide's failure to offer
policyholders the ability to purchase statutorily-required optional
levels of underinsured ("UIM") and uninsured ("UM") motorist
coverage (Nationwide
Mutual Insurance Company v. O'Dell, Case No. 00-C-37, West
Virginia Circuit Court, Roane County) ($75 million)
- Settlement on behalf of a class of policyholders in multiple
states against AFLAC, Inc. concerning the improper adjustment of
supplemental disability income policies (Becker v. American
Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus and AFLAC, Inc.,
U.S. Dist. Court, D.S.C., Case No. 05-2101) ($7 million)
- Certified pending multi-state class action against United
American Ins. Co. and certain agents and business affiliates
concerning the sale of limited benefit health insurance and related
products (Smith v. Collinsworth et
al., Circuit Court of Saline County, Arkansas, Case No.
CV2004-72-2)
Representative complex commercial and civil litigation
matters:
- Prosecution of an action involving the sale of a health-care
industry software program, resulting in a seven-figure
settlement
- Prosecution of an action involving the sale of a hair care
business and proprietary information, resulting in a seven-figure
verdict and permanent injunction
- Successful defense and settlement (for a nominal sum) of an
action by a major credit card brand against a card issuing bank,
avoiding enforcement of a long-term contract predicated on price
fixing and anticompetitive conduct
- Prosecution of an action by a card issuing bank against an
internet service provider and its merchant bank for improper credit
card transactions, resulting in a seven-figure settlement
- Successful defense and settlement (for a nominal sum) of an
action for preliminary and permanent injunctive relief against a
food equipment manufacturer alleging misappropriation of
proprietary information and trade secrets as well as unfair
competition
- Established basis for liability against a clearing bank under
UCC Article 8 predicated on collusion in the illicit conduct of a
securities broker-dealer in a case of first impression in the State
of New York
- Successful defense and dismissal of an action against a
broker-dealer by a pension fund for alleged fraud and regulatory
violations in connection with a so-called "mini" tender offer
- Secured writ of mandate - upheld on appeal - on behalf of the
Philadelphia City Council against the Mayor of Philadelphia to
enforce legislation
- Successful defense of an action for a TRO and preliminary
injunction seeking to enjoin construction of a multi-million dollar
parking garage facility based on claims of interference with
easement, real property and contractual rights
- Successful prosecution of multiple actions by the Pennsylvania
Insurance Commissioner on behalf of insurers in insolvency and
liquidation proceedings