Thomas L. Azar, Jr. is an experienced litigator who represents clients in complex commercial litigation, specializing in defending companies in class actions involving allegations of product defect, consumer fraud, false advertising, and unfair trade practices. He also has extensive experience defending clients in securities litigation, arbitrations before the American Arbitration Association (AAA) and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), derivative-shareholder actions, and contract disputes. Over the last 10 years, his practice has focused on defending automakers in nationwide and multi-state consumer class actions, obtaining dismissals, summary judgment, and denials of class certification in a multitude of cases.
Publicly Reported Representative Matters:
- Bledsoe v. FCA US LLC, 2024 WL 445334 (E.D.Mich. 2024). Counsel for defendant automobile manufacturer in putative nationwide vehicle-defect class action. Order granting judgment on the pleadings in client’s favor on preemption grounds.
- Norman v. FCA US LLC, 2023 WL 6388926 (E.D.Mich. 2023). Counsel for defendant automobile manufacturer in putative multi-state vehicle-defect class action. Order granting motion to dismiss with prejudice
- Hunter v. FCA US LLC, 2023 WL 4828013 (N.D.Cal. 2023). Counsel for defendant automobile manufacturer in putative vehicle-defect class action. Order granting motion to dismiss.
- Victorino v. FCA US LLC, 2023 WL 3296155 (S.D.Cal. 2023). Counsel for defendant automobile manufacturer in putative nationwide vehicle-defect class action. Order granting approval of California-only class settlement.
- Johnson v. FCA US LLC, 2023 WL 2577228 (E.D.Mich. 2023). Counsel for defendant automobile manufacturer in putative nationwide vehicle-defect class action. Order granting motion to dismiss for lack of standing.
- Sharp v. FCA US LLC, 637 F. Supp. 3d 454 (E.D.Mich. 2022). Counsel for defendant automobile manufacturer in putative nationwide vehicle-defect class action. Order granting motion to dismiss based on prudential mootness.
- Flynn v. FCA US LLC, 39 F.4th 946 (7th Cir. 2022). Counsel for defendant automobile manufacturer in certified vehicle-defect class action. Opinion affirming dismissal based on lack of subject-matter jurisdiction. See also Flynn v. FCA US LLC, 2020 WL 1492687 (S.D.Ill. 2020) (district court dismissal order).
- Marksberry v. FCA US LLC, 606 F. Supp. 3d 1075 (D.Kan. 2022). Counsel for defendant automobile manufacturer in putative class action asserting claims based on breach of warranty and false representations. Order granting summary judgment.
- Garcia v. FCA US LLC, 2021 WL 7709961 (S.D.Fla. 2021). Counsel for defendant automobile manufacturer in putative nationwide TCPA class action. Order granting motion to dismiss for lack of standing.
- Grigorian v. FCA US LLC, 838 F. App'x 390 (11th Cir. 2020). Counsel for defendant automobile manufacturer in putative nationwide TCPA class action. Opinion affirming dismissal for lack of standing.
- Shamamyan v. FCA US LLC, 2020 WL 3643481 (C.D.Cal. 2020). Counsel for defendant automobile manufacturer in putative vehicle-defect class action. Order granting motion to dismiss.
- LaRoe v. FCA US LLC, 2020 WL 1043564 (D.Kan. 2020). Counsel for defendant automobile manufacturer in putative nationwide vehicle-defect class action. Order granting motion to dismiss.
- Shamamyan v. FCA US LLC, 2020 WL 3643481 (C.D.Cal. 2020). Counsel for defendant automobile manufacturer in putative vehicle-defect class action. Order granting motion to dismiss.
- Gerritsen v. FCA US LLC, 2020 WL 3841304 (C.D.Cal. 2020). Counsel for defendant automobile manufacturer in putative nationwide vehicle-defect class action. Order granting motion to dismiss.