Court Grants Preliminary Approval, Lead Counsel in $15.5 Million Comcast Antitrust Case

On Wednesday, September 5, 2018, U.S. District Court Judge Anita B. Brody of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania granted preliminary settlement approval and preliminary class certification in a deal to resolve an antitrust class action against Comcast.

In her opinion, Judge Brody stated that the settlement appears to be the product of good faith negotiations made at arm’s length, and that the class has the size, commonality, and typicality of claims to justify certification. Judge Brody’s preliminary approval will allow the $15.5 million settlement to move forward once members of the proposed class have been notified.

Judge Brody also granted the Plaintiff’s appointment of lead counsel, consisting of Kenneth A. Wexler of Wexler Wallace LLP, Dianne M. Nast of NastLaw LLC, and Stephen A. Corr of Begley Carlin & Mandio LLP.

“Ms. Nast, Mr. Wexler, and Mr. Corr have been involved in this litigation since its inception and were among the first counsel to file individual complaints before the creation of this MDL. Each has played an integral role in organizing and pursuing this MDL on behalf of Plaintiffs and the putative Settlement Class. Ms. Nast, Mr. Wexler, and Mr. Corr. have extensive knowledge of antitrust law, complex litigation and class action practice, and have substantial experience handling class actions and multidistrict litigations.”

The case, In Re: Comcast Corp. Set-top Cable Television Box Antitrust Litigation (Case No.:2:09-md-02034) alleges that Comcast violated the state antitrust laws of California, Washington, and West Virginia, as well as federal antitrust law, by tying the sale of premium cable services to the rental of a set-top box from the company.