Class Actions Attorney in Oklahoma CIty, Oklahoma
What is your experience in handling class actions?
What is your experience in handling class actions?
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The first class action case involved a company called Biomed, centered around the early use of titanium in hip implants. At that time, titanium was a new material in the medical field. Initially working on the defense side, the case was tried and won. Later, when transitioning to plaintiff work, an idea was developed with Judge Burridge to bring a bad faith case in a class action setting. This approach was successful, even resulting in a published opinion from the Oklahoma Supreme Court. Currently, Judge Burridge handles numerous cases representing oil and gas royalty owners who have been underpaid or overcharged in their royalty fees.
The team has engaged in several class actions, addressing the common misconception that these cases primarily benefit lawyers while offering little to clients. Contrary to this belief, there has never been a “coupon settlement” in these cases. When clients win or settle, they receive actual monetary compensation. Class actions are inherently complex and lengthy, but they serve an essential purpose.
In the current landscape, some companies exploit the system by cheating many individuals out of relatively small amounts of money, assuming that no one will challenge them because the sums are minor. This kind of systemic cheating, however, affects tens of thousands of people and can result in overall theft amounting to tens or even hundreds of millions of dollars. A class action is the most effective remedy for such situations because it allows one person’s case to resolve the claims of all others who are similarly affected. This legal device has been incorporated into federal and state statutes for a long time, and when used appropriately, it is an invaluable tool. It is often the only way for individuals who have been cheated out of small amounts to recover their losses.
Oklahoma City, OK commercial litigation attorney Reggie Whitten discusses his experience in handling class actions. He recalls his first class action case, which involved a company called Biomed and centered on the early use of titanium in hip implants. At that time, titanium was a novel material in the medical field. Initially working on the defense side, the case was tried and won. Later, upon transitioning to plaintiff work, he collaborated with Judge Burridge to bring a bad faith case in a class action setting. This approach proved successful and ultimately resulted in a published opinion from the Oklahoma Supreme Court. Today, Judge Burridge continues to handle numerous cases representing oil and gas royalty owners who have been underpaid or overcharged in their royalty fees.
The team has since engaged in multiple class actions, addressing the misconception that these cases primarily benefit lawyers while providing little to clients. In reality, there has never been a “coupon settlement” in these matters. When clients prevail or reach a settlement, they receive actual monetary compensation. Class actions are inherently complex and time-consuming, but they fulfill a critical purpose.
In today’s landscape, some companies attempt to exploit the system by cheating many individuals out of relatively small amounts of money, assuming that no one will challenge them because the sums appear minor. In aggregate, however, these actions can result in losses totaling tens or even hundreds of millions of dollars. A class action is the most effective remedy in such cases, allowing one person’s lawsuit to resolve the claims of all similarly affected individuals. This legal mechanism, long embedded in federal and state statutes, is invaluable when used properly. It often represents the only practical way for individuals to recover losses from widespread, systematic wrongdoing.
