Settlements

HP LaserJet Printers Litigation

The Firm served as Lead Counsel in this consumer product class action which resulted in a settlement valued at over $140 million in rebate certificates and repair kits for consumers that purchased approximately 4.3 million HP LaserJet Printers across the country. The Firm filed its case, Extensis Inc. v. Hewlett-Packard Company, Docket No. MID-L-6843-01, in Middlesex County, New Jersey.

This action has been brought on behalf of all persons or entities who purchased or otherwise acquired in the United States or District of Columbia a Hewlett-Packard ("HP") LaserJet printer of one of the following models: 5L, 6L, 1100 series, 3100, 3150.

Plaintiff alleges that certain HP LaserJet printers might have been affected by a problem in the paper feed mechanism. Plaintiff alleges that these performance problems result from defectively designed separation pads which oxidize, degrade, and harden during the expected useful life of the unit, and often cause the printer to multifeed paper. If you purchased or acquired by gift a HP LaserJet printer with the model numbers identified above, you may be a member of the class and your rights will be affected by the legal proceedings in this action.

A "Settlement Hearing" will be held in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Middlesex County, at the Courthouse in New Brunswick, New Jersey on June 27, 2002 at 9 a.m. to determine: (1) whether the proposed settlement of this action is fair, reasonable and adequate; (2) whether a final judgment should be entered dismissing the litigation on the merits as to HP, the manufacturer of the LaserJet printers, with prejudice to plaintiff and all members of the Settlement Class who do not timely request exclusion; and (3) whether applications to be made by Class Counsel for payment of fees and reimbursement of expenses should be approved by the Court.

Under the Settlement Agreement, HP will provide eligible Settlement Class Members who timely submit an adequate claim form with a Rebate Certificate and/or an HP Repair Kit to perform a self-repair on the unit depending upon the model of the printer and whether or not the owner needs the kit. Notice of the Proposed Class Settlement will be published on or about April 25, 2002.

To obtain more information, after April 25, 2002, you may call the HP Claims Administrator toll-free at (866) 852-8620.

RCA, GE and PROSCAN Litigation

The Firm served as Class Counsel in this consumer product class action which resulted in a settlement of $100 million in cash for consumers of approximately 6 million affected RCA, GE and PROSCAN televisions across the country.

Plaintiffs alleged that visual or audio problems in the televisions resulted from a "Tuner on Board" design that caused a difference in the coefficient of thermal expansion between the materials used in the tuner shield and the printed circuit board. The Firm filed its case, Fiocco v. Thomson Consumer Electronics, Inc., in Middlesex County, New Jersey. The Firm was only one of two firms across the country to independently file, we then worked with over 14 other law firms across the country to achieve the settlement of Scott Baird, et al v. Thompson Consumer Electronics, Inc., Case No. 00-L-00761 (Ill. Cir. Ct., Madison County) in Illinois.

The action was brought on behalf of United States citizens and residents who purchased or otherwise acquired by gift one or more RCA, GE, or PROSCAN television sets manufactured by Thomson Consumer Electronics, Inc. ("TCE") during the period between November 1, 1992, and January 31, 1996, that contained one of the following chassis: CTC 175; CTC 176; CTC 177; CTC 178; CTC 179; CTC 184; CTC 185; CTC 186; CTC 187; CTC 188; or CTC 189. Pursuant to a Settlement Agreement between plaintiffs and TCE, TCE provided eligible settlement class members with either cash reimbursement of previously unreimbursed repair costs up to an aggregate of $100 million, a $50 rebate certificate or a $25 rebate certificate, depending on adequate proof of purchase, repair costs and other factors. If you purchased your television from Sears or Heilig-Meyers (and therefore without a TCE warranty), then you may have been eligible for a $25 rebate certificate only.

To have participated in the settlement, Claim Forms with supporting documentation were to be submitted no later than May 20, 2001.

Asbestos Settlements

Attorneys Tortoreti, Tomes & Callahan, P.C. have been involved in settlements worth hundreds of millions of dollars for asbestos plaintiffs. They have worked on behalf of workers employed by John-Manville, Raybestos Manhattan, GAF and American Cyanamid, to name a few; as well as numerous trade unions (e.g. Heat, Frost and Asbestos Workers, I.B.E.W. and the like). They have also represented workers employed in Australia, Germany, Great Britain, France, Holland, Belgium, Japan, Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands.

I.U.D.s; Tetracycline; Breast Implants; Diet Drugs Fen-Phen; Intraoccular Devices (Lens Implants)

Attorneys for the Firm have been involved in millions of dollars in settlements for plaintiffs that have used pharmaceutical products or medical devices that have caused injury.