Fredric M. Brooks and Deborah Greenspan
In recent years, we have seen an increasing use of a claims resolution (non-litigation) program offered as an efficient way to resolve large numbers of claims by companies faced with potentially vast and costly lawsuits. Examples include the voluntary program set up by General Motors to resolve injury and death claims related to alleged ignition switch defects in over two million cars; the $4.85 billion program set up to resolve certain Vioxx claims against Merck & Co. in the federal multidistrict litigation (“MDL”); the multi-billion dollar fund set up by BP to address claims arising from the 2010 Gulf oil spill; and the current proposal by Volkswagen to set up a claims program to resolve claims arising out of misleading emissions measures in half a million cars sold in the United States. Continue reading ““Private” Claims Resolution Programs – Some Keys to Success”