Elizabeth J. Cabraser

Cabraser has taken a lead role in some of the biggest automotive class actions in history over the last few years, the Volkswagen AG "clean diesel" multidistrict litigation, the General Motors LLC ignition switch case, and the Takata Corp. airbag products liability litigation.

As lead counsel and chair of the plaintiffs' steering committee of the Volkswagen case, Cabraser organized the plaintiffs' efforts as more than 500 cases were consolidated in U.S. District Judge Charles R. Breyer's courtroom in San Francisco.

The cases occurred concurrently with criminal litigation and regulatory actions brought by federal agencies, who Cabraser coordinated with regularly. The series of cases are still winding up but more than $14.7 billion in settlements have already been approved, including the largest known consumer class settlement.

A class settlement involving vehicles with 3.0-litre engines received final approval this month. Depending on how many consumers and dealership owners decide to have their cars repaired rather than bought back by Volkswagen, the settlement value will range between $1.2 and $4.04 billion.

Cabraser said it was a pleasure to work with former FBI Director Robert S. Mueller III, who was appointed settlement master for the litigations.

"He had the authority and gravitas necessary for this task," she said. "We're making sure the benefits of these settlements are actually delivered to the consumers."

Cabraser theorized that lax regulatory schemes under President George W. Bush played a role in the rash of massive auto cases she has been handling recently.

"From 2000 to 2008 there was essentially no effective regulation of the auto industry," she said. "The agencies charged with that were underfunded. They didn't have the resources and technical expertise to keep up with developments in automobiles."

Cabraser said this coincided with a technological shift where automobiles became increasingly computerized, making the government's regulatory tactics woefully outdated.

- Joshua Sebold