Drew Hansen, Seth Goldstein Noted for C.R. England Representation

Drew Hansen and Seth Goldstein were highlighted for their representation of C.R. England, Inc. in the Law360 article “CRST Drivers Lose Bid To Certify Narrower Antitrust Class” (subscription required). The article provides an overview of how U.S. District Judge Stanley Blumenfeld recently rejected a bid by CRST International, Inc.’s truck drivers to modify his previous order and certify a smaller antitrust class than proposed initially. The proposed new class would still impact C.R. England due to plaintiffs’ allegations of a purported antitrust conspiracy, which all defendants have vigorously denied and maintain is a figment of plaintiffs’ imagination. Judge Blumenfeld ruled that the request to certify a narrower class of 23,000 CRST-only drivers was an unjustified, belated attempt to revisit a tactical decision that failed.

Judge Blumenfeld also found that the plaintiffs’ request mischaracterized his prior decision to deny class certification and that plaintiffs did not present any new evidence that would merit a change in his original decision denying class certification for a much larger group of CRST, C.R. England, and Stevens Transport drivers. In February 2022, he denied the plaintiffs' original motion for class certification that sought to certify an antitrust class as to the three aforementioned defendants.

Drew and Seth successfully opposed plaintiffs’ motion to modify on behalf of C.R. England, arguing plaintiffs should not be given another certification chance so late in litigation and that numerous reasons exist as to why class certification is improper.