Melanie M. Blunschi

Melanie has extensive experience in class action and other complex litigation, including claims of securities fraud. Her representative clients in these types of matters have included Apple, Meta, AMD, Oracle, Deutsche Bank, and others.

Selected results include:

• Obtaining an outstanding result for the world’s largest social media company in a class action arising out of a criminal attack on its web platform affecting approximately 29 million users globally; as a result of Latham’s aggressive early discovery into plaintiffs’ claims and multi-pronged motion to dismiss, the court dismissed all but one of the 10 claims, dramatically narrowing the case; Latham then defeated class certification on a US$6 billion damages claim; the Court approved a no-damages settlement earlier this year (N.D. Cal.)
• Successfully defending AMD, a global semiconductor company, in a securities class action based on alleged false statements regarding demand for certain types of processors; the case settled for pennies per share – and less than plaintiffs spent litigating (N.D. Cal.)
• Securing a complete victory for Revel Systems, a point-of-sale technology company, after a former consultant tried to seize a portion of the company based on an alleged early-stage stock grant; after a contentious evidentiary hearing, the arbitrator found in Revel’s favor on all claims (AAA)
• Convincing plaintiffs in a securities class action against Live Nation to abandon their claims instead of filing an amended complaint (C.D. Cal.)
• Winning dismissal for a major technology company of a putative class action regarding alleged security vulnerabilities in smartphone and other mobile device processors (N.D. Cal.)
• Winning summary judgment in favor of Oracle Corporation in a US$3 billion securities fraud class action arising from a missed earnings forecast and alleged false statements regarding functionality of integrated ERP and CRM software (N.D. Cal. & 9th Cir.)
• Successfully defending an online advertising technology provider in putative consumer class actions alleging it had used “super cookies” in violation of privacy and consumer protection laws; this involved achieving walk-away settlements in both actions after filing motions to dismiss and pursuing aggressive discovery from plaintiffs (N.D. Cal. & Los Angeles Superior)
• Winning dismissal of fraud claims against Balform Ltd. related to failed technology trials (N.D. Cal.)
• Winning dismissal on behalf of Noah Education in a securities class action lawsuit based on Section 11 claims against a developer of interactive multimedia learning materials, its senior officers, and directors (S.D.N.Y.)
• Successfully defending Deutsche Bank in securities actions related to its residential mortgage-backed securities business (S.F. Sup.)
• Representing Stroz Friedberg, a cybersecurity and risk management firm, in proceedings arising out of Uber’s purchase of self-driving car technology (N.D. Cal., Del. Ch., & JAMS)
• Winning dismissal for Ernst & Young of a securities class action based on a major bank failures (C.D. Cal. & 9th Cir.)