Consumer Class Action: Demystifying Trends, Developments, and Legal Challenges

Kristine serves as the National Chair of Seyfarth’s Consumer Class Action Defense Group. She has extensive experience with class action defense with respect to consumer issues, including, the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, consumer fraud, unfair trade practices, breach of warranty, breach of contract, unfair competition, and false labeling and advertising. In her practice, Kristine represents clients in a wide range of industries including clothing retailers, personal care companies, auto manufacturers and retailers, grocery chains, food manufacturers, and commercial and consumer product manufacturers.

Kristine also serves on the Board of the Chicago Federal Bar Association and the Uptown People’s Law Center. In her spare time, Kristine teaches legal writing to first years at Loyola University College of Law in Chicago.

Jeffrey Yeatman is a litigator who concentrates on class action defense and products liability litigation, particularly in the context of claims against automotive and pharmaceutical manufacturers. His practice focuses on the preparation, trial, and appeal of complex civil litigation cases, many of which involve complicated technological and procedural issues.  He is the co-chair of the Automotive Practice at DLA Piper, and has represented numerous domestic and international manufacturers in individual cases, consolidated claims, and multidistrict litigations.  He has defeated class certification motions in numerous jurisdictions, both in state and federal court.

Christopher Young is an experienced trial lawyer and litigator who concentrates his practice in the defense of consumer class action litigation, product liability and mass tort litigation, and pharmaceutical and medical device litigation. He represents clients on a local, national and global basis, notably including life sciences companies, product manufacturers, food and beverage companies, educational institutions, transportation companies and others.

Christopher has been repeatedly recognized by a number of respected legal industry publications. During 2020, Chambers USA listed him among the top-ranked litigation attorneys in San Diego, commenting that he regularly takes on significant class actions and is noted for his proficiency in product liability matters. Christopher was also recently named 2020 “Lawyer of the Year” by The Best Lawyers in America in the category of Class Actions and Mass Tort Defense Litigation for San Diego.

Joseph “Joe” Apatov is a Member in McGlinchey’s Consumer Financial Services Litigation practice group. Based in Fort Lauderdale, Joe litigates on behalf of financial services clients in both state and federal courts, with an emphasis on defending banks, mortgage lenders and servicers, automobile finance companies, and private-label card issuers. He has worked extensively with several major consumer protection statutes, including the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), and the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA), as well as related state laws. A substantial portion of Joe’s practice involves consumer class action litigation.