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Stewart Haskins specializes in defending class actions and other complex commercial litigation, particularly cases involving consumers and data privacy issues. As a partner in our nationally recognized Class Action practice, Stewart has successfully defended leading companies in hundreds of consumer class action suits across the country. He also regularly provides clients with counseling on privacy and consumer-related issues.

Stewart has extensive experience in all aspects of class action litigation, whether he is litigating complex jurisdictional issues, developing a winning case strategy or defeating class certification.

The removal of a case from state to federal court is the first step toward a successful resolution, and Stewart has litigated a wide variety of jurisdictional issues that arise in class actions. Stewart's primary goal in defending clients faced with class actions is the efficient disposition of the case, often by winning the early dismissal of the named plaintiff's claim. If a putative class action proceeds to the class certification stage, Stewart has substantial experience arguing class certification motions and defeating them in cases ranging from product liability claims to insurance services. And, if the case must be tried, Stewart has served as lead counsel in numerous jury trials of consumer and data privacy cases.

Also a member of our Data Security and Privacy practice, which Law360 selected as Privacy Practice Group of the Year 2016, Stewart has represented clients in high-profile class action litigation arising out of some of the largest data breach events in the country.

For nearly 20 years, Stewart also has defended a wide variety of class actions under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, including claims arising from faxes, text messages, collection calls and mobile marketing efforts. He has litigated such claims in state and federal courts, and has won significant victories for his clients in numerous TCPA cases.

In addition to representing clients in class action litigation, Stewart regularly provides compliance and counseling advice to clients to help them try to avoid litigation under the TCPA, CAN-SPAM and other data privacy and consumer protection statutes.

Full Bio

Credentials

J.D., Mercer University, Magna Cum Laude

B.B.A., University of Georgia

Georgia

Georgia Court of Appeals

Georgia Superior Court

Supreme Court of the United States

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit

U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia

U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia

American Bar Association

Atlanta Bar Association

State Bar of Georgia

2016 Privacy Practice Group of the Year


Law360

Class Action Group of the Year


Law360, 2010 and 2012

Close

Recognition

2016 Privacy Practice Group of the Year


Law360

Class Action Group of the Year


Law360, 2010 and 2012

Matters

Represented Home Depot in dozens of putative consumer class actions filed against Home Depot arising out of its widely publicized payment card data breach in late 2014.

Successfully defended Home Depot against consumer fraud claims under California law arising out of a charge for an optional damage waiver. Berger v. Home Depot U.S.A., Inc., 741 F.3d 1061 (9th Cir. 2014) (affirming denial of class certification).

Won a motion to compel arbitration in a putative nationwide class action filed in California alleging claims under the TCPA. Missaghi v. The Coca-Cola Company, Central District of California (Los Angeles Division), Case No. 2:12-cv-07472-SJO.

See more

Close

Matters

Represented Home Depot in dozens of putative consumer class actions filed against Home Depot arising out of its widely publicized payment card data breach in late 2014.

Successfully defended Home Depot against consumer fraud claims under California law arising out of a charge for an optional damage waiver. Berger v. Home Depot U.S.A., Inc., 741 F.3d 1061 (9th Cir. 2014) (affirming denial of class certification).

Won a motion to compel arbitration in a putative nationwide class action filed in California alleging claims under the TCPA. Missaghi v. The Coca-Cola Company, Central District of California (Los Angeles Division), Case No. 2:12-cv-07472-SJO.

Won summary judgment for a defendant health insurer in a TCPA class action. Phillip Long Dang, D.C., P.C. v. XLHealth Corp., Case No. 1:09-cv-1076, 2011 WL 553826 (N.D. Ga. Feb. 7, 2011) (fax inviting doctors to a seminar was “informational” and not an “advertisement”).

Goldstein v. Home Depot U.S.A., Inc., 609 F.Supp.2d 1340 (N.D. Ga. 2009).

Won summary judgment and mooted plaintiff’s pending motion for class certification in a case challenging Home Depot’s collection of permit fees in connection with the installation of water heaters. See Willard v. Home Depot U.S.A., Inc., No. 5:09-cv-110/RS-MD, 2009 WL 4730644 (N.D. Fla. Dec. 7, 2009).

Won a motion to dismiss for NBC Universal in a purported class action that contended the defendant’s promotional game, which aired in connection with the popular game show Deal or No Deal, constituted illegal gambling under Georgia law. The Georgia Supreme Court rejected the plaintiff’s claim and the case was dismissed. See Hardin v. NBC Universal, 283 Ga. 477 (2008).

Obtained a landmark order from the Seventh Circuit in a putative class action reversing remand and adopting defendant's argument that injunctive relief should be considered to determine the amount in controversy under CAFA. The Home Depot, Inc. v. Rickher, 2006 WL 1727749, (7th Cir. May 22, 2006). Upon remand, the district court later granted defendant summary judgment and the Seventh Circuit affirmed. Rickher v. Home Depot, Inc., 535 F.3d 661 (7th Cir. 2008).

Won an appeal that clarified the defendant's burden in removing cases under CAFA. Frederico v. The Home Depot U.S.A., Inc., 507 F.3d 188 (3rd Cir. 2007) (affirming grant of motion to dismiss).

In a case of first impression in the Eighth Circuit, won an appeal which rejected the plaintiff's argument for expansion of a CAFA provision permitting interlocutory appeals from remand orders. Saab v. Home Depot U.S.A., Inc., 469 F.3d 758 (8th Cir. 2006).

Defeated class certification in a case against an insurance company alleging class action claims involving use of non-OEM parts.Schwendeman v. USAA Insurance Co., 65 P.3d 1 (Wash. 2003) (affirming denial of class certification and clarifying the standard regarding the admissibility of expert opinions in class actions within Washington).

National consumer class action counsel for a Fortune 50 company.

Matters

Represented Home Depot in dozens of putative consumer class actions filed against Home Depot arising out of its widely publicized payment card data breach in late 2014.

Successfully defended Home Depot against consumer fraud claims under California law arising out of a charge for an optional damage waiver. Berger v. Home Depot U.S.A., Inc., 741 F.3d 1061 (9th Cir. 2014) (affirming denial of class certification).

Won a motion to compel arbitration in a putative nationwide class action filed in California alleging claims under the TCPA. Missaghi v. The Coca-Cola Company, Central District of California (Los Angeles Division), Case No. 2:12-cv-07472-SJO.

See more

Close

Matters

Represented Home Depot in dozens of putative consumer class actions filed against Home Depot arising out of its widely publicized payment card data breach in late 2014.

Successfully defended Home Depot against consumer fraud claims under California law arising out of a charge for an optional damage waiver. Berger v. Home Depot U.S.A., Inc., 741 F.3d 1061 (9th Cir. 2014) (affirming denial of class certification).

Won a motion to compel arbitration in a putative nationwide class action filed in California alleging claims under the TCPA. Missaghi v. The Coca-Cola Company, Central District of California (Los Angeles Division), Case No. 2:12-cv-07472-SJO.

Won summary judgment for a defendant health insurer in a TCPA class action. Phillip Long Dang, D.C., P.C. v. XLHealth Corp., Case No. 1:09-cv-1076, 2011 WL 553826 (N.D. Ga. Feb. 7, 2011) (fax inviting doctors to a seminar was “informational” and not an “advertisement”).

Goldstein v. Home Depot U.S.A., Inc., 609 F.Supp.2d 1340 (N.D. Ga. 2009).

Won summary judgment and mooted plaintiff’s pending motion for class certification in a case challenging Home Depot’s collection of permit fees in connection with the installation of water heaters. See Willard v. Home Depot U.S.A., Inc., No. 5:09-cv-110/RS-MD, 2009 WL 4730644 (N.D. Fla. Dec. 7, 2009).

Won a motion to dismiss for NBC Universal in a purported class action that contended the defendant’s promotional game, which aired in connection with the popular game show Deal or No Deal, constituted illegal gambling under Georgia law. The Georgia Supreme Court rejected the plaintiff’s claim and the case was dismissed. See Hardin v. NBC Universal, 283 Ga. 477 (2008).

Obtained a landmark order from the Seventh Circuit in a putative class action reversing remand and adopting defendant's argument that injunctive relief should be considered to determine the amount in controversy under CAFA. The Home Depot, Inc. v. Rickher, 2006 WL 1727749, (7th Cir. May 22, 2006). Upon remand, the district court later granted defendant summary judgment and the Seventh Circuit affirmed. Rickher v. Home Depot, Inc., 535 F.3d 661 (7th Cir. 2008).

Won an appeal that clarified the defendant's burden in removing cases under CAFA. Frederico v. The Home Depot U.S.A., Inc., 507 F.3d 188 (3rd Cir. 2007) (affirming grant of motion to dismiss).

In a case of first impression in the Eighth Circuit, won an appeal which rejected the plaintiff's argument for expansion of a CAFA provision permitting interlocutory appeals from remand orders. Saab v. Home Depot U.S.A., Inc., 469 F.3d 758 (8th Cir. 2006).

Defeated class certification in a case against an insurance company alleging class action claims involving use of non-OEM parts.Schwendeman v. USAA Insurance Co., 65 P.3d 1 (Wash. 2003) (affirming denial of class certification and clarifying the standard regarding the admissibility of expert opinions in class actions within Washington).

National consumer class action counsel for a Fortune 50 company.

Credentials

J.D., Mercer University, Magna Cum Laude

B.B.A., University of Georgia

Georgia

Georgia Court of Appeals

Georgia Superior Court

Supreme Court of the United States

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit

U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia

U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia

American Bar Association

Atlanta Bar Association

State Bar of Georgia

2016 Privacy Practice Group of the Year


Law360

Class Action Group of the Year


Law360, 2010 and 2012

Close

Recognition

2016 Privacy Practice Group of the Year


Law360

Class Action Group of the Year


Law360, 2010 and 2012