Sep. 12, 2013
Elizabeth J. Cabraser
See more on Elizabeth J. CabraserLieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein LLP | San Francisco | Practice type: Litigation
Cabraser continues to handle two high-stakes and closely watched cases.
She serves on the plaintiffs' steering committees for both the BP Gulf oil spill and Toyota sudden acceleration litigation.
In the latter case, the first of the federal bellwether cases is scheduled for trial in early November. In Re Toyota Motor Corp. Unintended Acceleration Marketing, Sales Practices, and Products Liability Litigation, MDL-2151 (C.D. Cal. filed Feb. 4, 2010).
"The idea of a bellwether is to give the parties information on the merits of the case and the range and value in order to inform a comprehensive settlement," Cabraser said. "At this point, Toyota is interested in trying the cases and is not interested in settling the cases. We will have some trials."
At this point, Cabraser's role is strategic.
"I'm working with the trial teams to get ready for trial, and I want to make sure that the plaintiffs have the information and evidence to try their cases," she said. "We want to use the trial verdicts and experiences as a basis for a comprehensive resolution for the cases."
In the Deepwater Horizon case, phase two of the trial is scheduled to start on Sept. 30. In Re Oil Spill by the Oil Rig "Deepwater Horizon" in the Gulf of Mexico, MDL 2179 (E.D. La., filed May 6, 2010).
"The purpose of that phase is to determine how much oil was spilled and where it went," Cabraser said. "Those facts are necessary for the court to set appropriate federal fines against BP."
Cabraser is one of the class counsel assigned to the medical and economic settlements tied to the case.
So far, BP has pleaded guilty to 11 felony counts of manslaughter and paid $4 billion in criminal penalties.
- PAT BRODERICK
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