Cases

Historic Settlements& Landmark Victories

Tenacious advocacy in and out of the courtroom has recovered billions for our clients and shaped modern antitrust law.

Civil Rights & Employment

Facebook Content Moderator Class Action Settlement

Million

$ 1

In cash and workplace changes for content moderators

Steven Williams’ groundbreaking advocacy for Facebook content moderators exposed to violent depictions of animal, human, and other abuses secured over $50 million for medical expenses to treat post-traumatic stress and other conditions, and nearly $30 million in changes to make a more safe work environment. The Daily Journal awarded Steven Williams the California Lawyer Attorney of the Year Award in 2022 in connection with his work on this case.

Antitrust

Capacitors Price-Fixing Antitrust Litigation

Million

$ 1

Awarded to customers of electronic component manufacturers

Steven Williams served as Lead Counsel for indirect purchasers of aluminum, tantalum, and film capacitors-ubiquitous electronic circuit components-who alleged that capacitor manufacturers conspired to raise, fix, and stabilize their prices. He then was part of the team that conducted two class action trials in the Direct Purchaser case, which resulted in over $600 million in settlements.

Antitrust

Auto Parts Antitrust Litigation

Billion

$ 1

Recovered for indirect purchasers

Steven Williams served as Co-Lead Counsel for consumers and businesses who purchased or leased new vehicles containing parts that they alleged were unlawfully priced.

Civil Rights & Employment

YouTube Content Moderator Class Action Settlement

Million

$ 1

In cash and additional employee services for content moderators

In a similar result to the Facebook case, Steven Williams successfully advocated for the right of YouTube employees and contractors to a safe workplace. In addition to compensation, the settlement required YouTube to establish on-site and virtual counseling services and peer support groups for content moderators suffering from anxiety and post-traumatic stress.

Antitrust

Static Random Access Memory Antitrust Litigation

Million

$ 1

Recovered for purchasers of SRAM

Steven Williams served as Lead Counsel for direct purchasers of Static Random Access Memory, who alleged that manufacturers including Toshiba, Samsung, and others conspired to fix, raise, and maintain prices of SRAM, a type of chip used in consumer electronics like smartphones and servers.

Antitrust

Freight Forwarding Antitrust Litigation

Million

$ 1

For purchasers or freight forwarding services

Steven Williams served as Lead Counsel for purchasers of freight forwarding services, who alleged the companies handling logistics for air and ocean shipments conspired on prices for these services worldwide.

Antitrust

Transpacific Passenger Air Traffic Antitrust Litigation

Expanded plaintiffs’ rights to sue in regulated industries

Steven Williams served as Co-Lead Counsel in a case representing travelers on 26 transpacific airlines who alleged the airlines engaged in a 10-year conspiracy to fix prices. Williams successfully argued motions to dismiss, summary judgment, and the Ninth Circuit appeal which ultimately expanded the right of civil plaintiffs to sue in regulated industries.

First Amendment Defense

Consumers Union Cases

Protecting a nonprofit publisher from manufacturers’ efforts to chill free speech

In a series of three federal cases dating back to 1996, Steven Williams successfully defended Consumers Union of the United States, Inc., the publisher of Consumer Reports, from accusations of libel and product disparagement brought by Suzuki, Isuzu, and Sharper Image concerning their reviews of cars and consumer products.