Beckham Verdicts and Settlements

CLASS ACTION ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF BLAKE BECKHAM

• Settlement of a nationwide class action against Sears Roebuck & Co. that represents a landmark and virtually unprecedented settlement of a consumer class action case. Under the settlement, Sears installed, free of charge for a class of almost four million customers, anti-tip brackets to prevent tipping accidents of its freestanding electric and gas ranges that frequently caused severe burns, crushing and death. Those customers who had already paid to have anti-tip brackets installed received reimbursement. Furthermore, Sears agrees to install anti-tip brackets on all sales of new ranges for at least three years, and Mr. Beckham believes this will become a permanent practice of Sears. By, in effect, obtaining a recall, this settlement actually obtained better relief than likely could have been obtained through trial and accomplished what the Consumer Product Safety Commission refused to do for over twenty years.

COMPLEX BUSINESS LITIGATION ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF BLAKE BECKHAM

• Settlement for Defendants and Counter-claimants in a suit for breach of contract, negligence, res ipsa loquitor, and trespass. Beckham had previously secured judgments against the Defendants in a prior suit, and the parties had reached a settlement agreement in yet another suit brought by Plaintiffs.
• In this case, Plaintiffs asserted that the Defendants breached a settlement agreement and Defendants answered with a request for declaratory judgment and a counterclaim for breach of contract and suit on sworn account. In a non-jury trial, the Court found against the Plaintiffs’ claims for breach of contract, negligence, and res ipsa loquitor. Further, the Court found in favor of the Defendants’ claims for breach of contract and suit on sworn account and ordered Plaintiffs to pay Defendants’ attorney’s fees.
• Judgment for Defendants and Counter-claimants in a breach of contract case where the Plaintiffs had brought a derivative suit against Defendants. Although the plaintiffs claimed that Defendants had committed a multitude of bad acts, after trial, not only did plaintiffs recover nothing, but the Court awarded over $100,000 in damages to Defendant.
• Settlement for Plaintiff against Defendant. Plaintiff and Defendant were the co-founders of an online gaming company, valued at over $220,000,000. The plaintiff had dedicated his entire life to the creation, development and success of the business and Goldman-Sachs had even invested $60,000,000 into the company as a result of the plaintiff’s tireless work for the company.The allegations in the pleadings stated that the defendant began taking advantage of the plaintiff by stealing shares of the company, which should have been given to the plaintiff, denying the plaintiff the right to sell his stock, and excluding him from participating in a $20,000,000 stock sale that only benefited the defendant.
• Blake Beckham successfully defended a national trophy manufacturer and its directors against derivative claims brought by minority shareholder.