Feuding Plaintiffs Attorneys Will Be Co-Counsel

A class action filed by consumers who contend that Facebook (META) exploited user data to maintain its market power is being heard by U.S. District Judge James Donato in San Francisco. On February 20, Donato scolded the two law firms – Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro and Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan – that are contending to lead the litigation, and the prospective lead attorneys for each. Then he “reluctantly” appointed them co-counsel. At an earlier hearing, Shana Scarlett of Hagens Berman told the judge that she felt her voice wasn’t being heard because of her gender. Quinn Emanuel partner Kevin Teruya replied that his firm has “worked very hard to be cooperative with all counsel on the case, including female counsel.” In his 2-20 order, Donato concluded “with some reservations,” that the two attorneys be designated interim lead counsel, and said that further reports of dysfunctionality or breakdowns in the working relationship would result in the designation of new counsel.