Ethics/Professional Responsibility
May 21, 2025
Judge rebukes attorney over request to seal class settlement
A San Francisco Superior Court judge sharply criticized a plaintiff's attorney for attempting to seal a class action settlement that included $390,000 in fees and minimal recovery for the named plaintiffs. The judge questioned whether the case was filed in state court simply to bypass stricter federal standards--and whether the public's right to transparency was being disregarded.
A judge suggested a plaintiff's attorney had been "bought off" by defendants as he denied a motion to dismiss a putative class action that sought to redact a settlement payment and attorney's fees.
San Francisco Superior Court Judge Ethan P. Schulman slammed Seth A. Safier, partner at Gutride Safier LLP, at a hearing Tuesday for not acting in the public's interest or complying with Rule 3.770 of the California Rules of Court by requesting a class action dismi...
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