CORAL GABLES, Fla. (Sept. 5, 2015) – Attorney Julie Braman Kane, a partner at the Coral Gables-based trial law firm Colson Hicks Eidson, was recently appointed by U.S. District Judge Darrin P. Gayles in Miami as the lead and liaison counsel in multidistrict litigation against Miami-based Monat Global Corp. and its parent company, Alcora Corporation for deceptive trade practices and strict liability in connection with the sale of Monat Hair Care Products.
Multiple class actions have been filed around the country against the defendants and consolidated in Miami Federal court (MDL No. 2841). Plaintiffs assert Monat misled consumers with representations that its products encourage hair growth and produce longer, healthier hair; however, an inherent design and/or manufacturing defect in Monat Products has caused significant and embarrassing hair loss and painful scalp irritation to consumers around the country, and despite knowledge of the defect, Monat failed to disclose or warn consumers. Plaintiffs also allege Monat engaged in aggressive marketing tactics to lure consumers into purchasing Monat Products, including numerous assertions about the “natural-based” and “safe” nature of its products, which are alleged to be patently false.
As lead and liaison counsel, Kane is responsible for coordinating the Plaintiffs’ activities during pretrial proceedings. Judge Gayles also assigned a three-member Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee, which includes Janet Varnell of Varnell & Warwick, P.A.; Jessica Sleater of Anderson Sleater Sianni LLC; and John Yanchunis of Morgan & Morgan.
“I am honored to have been selected by Judge Gayles for this leadership position,” said Kane. “This is an important case not just to the consumers who have suffered embarrassing hair loss and painful scalp irritation, impacting their self-esteem and quality of life, but also to corporations engaging in deceptive business practices. I look forward to leading the plaintiffs’ claims and working with the extraordinarily talented Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee to ensure justice is served.”
An experienced trial attorney, Kane concentrates her practice on catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death litigation, medical malpractice and product liability, as well as in commercial, class and mass actions. She has been representing individuals in all forms of civil litigation for more than 25 years. Throughout her career, she has secured multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements for victims of negligence, including a $38 million verdict in a medical malpractice case. She also currently serves on the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee for multi-district litigation surrounding the 21st Century Oncology Customer Data Security Breach Litigation.
Kane is a past president of the American Association for Justice (AAJ), the world’s largest trial bar and leading defender of civil justice, and served on the board of directors for the Florida Justice Association. She previously served as a commissioner on the Florida Elections Commission and as president of the Miami-Dade Chapter of the Florida Association for Women Lawyers. She has also served as a trustee on the Justice PAC Board and as co-chair of the National College of Advocates.
Colson Hicks Eidson is nationally recognized for its work on some of the largest class actions and automotive recalls in U.S. history. The firm is currently serving as served as lead counsel in the Takata airbag product liability multidistrict litigation, and served as the national co-lead counsel in the Ford-Firestone multidistrict litigation and on the plaintiffs’ leadership committee in the multidistrict litigation against Toyota Motor Corp over sudden unintended acceleration. The firm has also served on the national plaintiffs’ steering committee for litigation surrounding the Deepwater Horizon BP oil spill and high-sulfur Chinese Drywall.
For more information call Julie Braman Kane at 305-476-7400 or visit www.colson.com.
ABOUT COLSON HICKS EIDSON
The Law Firm of Colson Hicks Eidson is a trial firm with nearly 50 years of experience handling local, national and international litigation, and arbitration. Members of the firm have been involved in some of the country’s most high-profile and landmark cases resulting in impactful and precedential rulings. A mid-size firm with a diverse staff comprised of more than 50 percent women and minorities, Colson Hicks Eidson prides itself on a track record of developing future leaders within the legal profession and its civic and community involvement. Members of the firm have held notable positions serving on the boards of prominent institutions, such as the State University System of Florida and the Florida State Board of Education, and holding high-ranking offices, including President of the 60,000-member American Association for Justice; President of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers; President of the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers; President of the Dade County Bar Association; President of the Miami-Dade Florida Association of Women Lawyers; United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida; and Chairman of the Florida Federal Judicial Nominating Commission.