Steven L. Bloch

Representative matters in a leading role:

• AllianzGI Structured Alpha Mutual Fund Litigation. Settlement on behalf of a certified class of investors in a series of mutual funds managed by Allianz Global Investors U.S. LLC alleging violations of the Securities Act based on AllianzGI’s failure to follow its stated investment strategy and risk management protocols. (Jackson v. Allianz Global Investors U.S. LLC, Sup. Ct., N.Y. County, Index No. 651233/2021) ($145 million)
• AllianzGI Structured Alpha Hedge Fund Litigation. Confidential settlements on behalf of investors in hedge funds managed by Allianz Global Investors U.S. LLC alleging that AllianzGI failed to failure to follow its stated investment strategy and risk management protocols in breach of its duties and obligations to investors. (Retirement Program for Employees of the Town of Fairfield, et al v. Allianz Global Investors U.S. LLC, S.D.N.Y., Case No. 20-cv-5817; In re AllianzGI Structured Alpha Class Action Litigation, S.D.N.Y., Case No. 20-cv-07154)   
• Dodona I, LLC v. Goldman, Sachs & Co. et al. Settlement on behalf of a certified class of investors alleging violations of the Exchange Act and state laws against Goldman Sachs in structuring and marketing collateralized debt obligations. (Dodona I, LLC v. Goldman, Sachs & Co. et al., S.D.N.Y., Case No. 10-cv-07497) ($27.5 million) *
• Spencer v. The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. et al. Settlement on behalf of a certified class involving claims of civil RICO and fraud against The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. and affiliates concerning The Hartford’s structured settlement practices. (Spencer v. The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. et al., D. Conn., Case No. 05-cv-1681) ($72.5 million) *
• Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company v. O’Dell. Settlement on behalf of a certified class of policyholders against Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company arising out of Nationwide’s practices in connection with statutorily-required optional levels of underinsured (UIM) and uninsured (UM) motorist coverage under automobile insurance policies. (Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company v. O’Dell, West Virginia Circuit Court, Roane County, Case No. 00-C-37) ($75 million) *
• Smith v. Collinsworth et al. Settlement on behalf of a certified class of policyholders against United American Ins. Co. and its affiliates and agents concerning the sale of limited benefit health insurance. (Smith v. Collinsworth et al., Circuit Court of Saline County, Arkansas, Case No. CV2004-72-2) ($30 million) *
• Becker v. American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus and AFLAC, Inc. Settlement on behalf of a certified class of policyholders against AFLAC, Inc. concerning AFLAC’s adjustment practices and limited benefits under supplemental disability income policies. (Becker v. American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus and AFLAC, Inc., D.S.C., Case No. 05-2101) ($7 million) *

Current matters, in a leading role:

• Hubbard et al. v. Google et al. Action against Google LLC (“Google”) and YouTube LLC (“YouTube”), as well as children’s entertainment companies operating YouTube channels including Hasbro, Mattel, and Cartoon Network, alleging that children’s personal information was illegally collected, stored, analyzed, and used for targeted advertising purposes to influence and manipulate children’s behavior. (Hubbard et al. v. Google et al., N.D. Cal., Case No. 5:19-cv-07016)
• In re EpiPen Direct Purchaser Litigation. Litigating as part of a committee of firms with interim co-lead counsel representing a putative class of direct purchasers against a brand manufacturer and the nation’s three largest pharmacy benefit managers, alleging violations of RICO and the antitrust laws predicated on inflation of EpiPen prices. (In re EpiPen Direct Purchaser Litigation, D. Minn., Case No. 20-cv-00827)
• Zaluda et al. v. Apple Inc. Action against Apple alleging Apple’s Siri voice assistant creates, collects, stores, and uses the voiceprints of Apple device users without consent in violation of the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act, 740 ILCS 14/, et seq. (Zaluda et al. v. Apple Inc., Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, Chancery Division, Case No. 2019-CH-11771)
• Underwood et al. v. Coinbase Global, Inc. et al. Interim co-lead counsel on behalf of putative classes of users of Coinbase Global, Inc.’s digital asset trading platform, alleging violations of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, and state laws for operating as an unlicensed securities exchange and an unlicensed broker-dealer. (Underwood et al. v. Coinbase Global, Inc. et al., S.D.N.Y., No. 21-cv-08353)
• Little et al. v. Unilever United States, Inc. et al. Interim co-lead counsel in action against Unilever United States, Inc. and its manufacturers and suppliers on behalf of putative classes of purchasers of consumer products alleging that the products were contaminated with the carcinogen benzene. (Little et al. v. Unilever United States, Inc. et al., D. Conn., Case No 3:22-cv-01189)

* Results achieved at a prior firm.