Samsung MDL Leadership Plan to Have 11-Member Executive Committee

James Cecchi of Carella Byrne, newly appointed as plaintiffs’ lead interim counsel in the multidistrict litigation stemming from Samsung’s data breach, proposes a “coherent” leadership structure “that will prosecute this MDL efficiently and effectively,” he wrote U.S. District Judge Christine O’Hearn for New Jersey in Camden in a letter Friday (docket 1:23-md-03055). The proposed structure includes an 11-member executive committee composed of lawyers with “extensive experience in complex class action matters, including data breach and privacy cases, and each proposed candidate is prepared to devote their personal time and resources necessary to prosecute this action,” said Cecchi. The proposed structure “harnesses the talents of lawyers from all across the country including California, New York, Washington and, of course, New Jersey,” he said. “Every lawyer that has filed a case included in this MDL has consented to our proposal,” he said. The leadership team has already begun “the substantive work of moving the case forward,” including drafting a consolidated complaint and “beginning the process of negotiating necessary pre-trial orders,” he said. “As in all MDL cases, not every lawyer who has filed a case or entered an appearance” is proposed to be appointed to the executive committee, said Cecchi. “This is only natural. A structure that is too large often becomes unworkable, resulting in duplication and waste. That said, every committee chair is prepared to work with all lawyers in this MDL who wish to be included and who have the necessary skill sets to add value to plaintiffs’ teams.” An initial case management conference is planned for April 6 at 10 a.m. EDT.