James Azadian (JD '01) Featured in Daily Journal for Ninth Circuit Class Action Settlement Approval

Pepperdine Caruso Law alumnus and Board of Advisors member James S. Azadian (JD '01) is featured in the Daily Journal regarding the Ninth Circuit's class action settlement approval in the case of In re Hyundai and Kia Fuel Economy Litigation. Azadian, of Dykema Gossett PLLC, represented Kia Motors and argued against a prior panel ruling that threw out a $200 million nationwide class action case settlement. The en banc court voted to reverse the panel's opinion and affirm the settlement.

Excerpt via the Daily Journal:

"What ultimately persuaded the en banc panel was our argument about practicality," Azadian said. "In settlements there is no question of liability. It's out of the equation. No one is pointing the finger. Once the court understood that really fundamental fact about settlements, they could see it doesn't matter at all whether there is a distinction among the states' liability laws."

Additional information may be found here