ERIC LECHTZIN is a founding Partner of the national class action law firm EDELSON LECHTZIN LLP (https://www.edelson-law.com/), in suburban Philadelphia. Mr. Lechtzin's practice includes ERISA retirement plan class actions, unpaid wages & overtime class and collective actions, consumer protection class actions, and securities fraud litigation.
Mr. Lechtzin is the Pennsylvania State Chair for the National Association of Consumer Advocates (NACA). He has been named a “Super Lawyer” in Pennsylvania for Class and Mass Tort Litigation and is "AV Preeminent Rated" by Martindale Hubble. Mr. Lechtzin received his J.D. from the Temple University - James E. Beasley School of Law in 1991.
In the area of ERISA class actions, Mr. Lechtzin co-authored an amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court in Retirement Plans Committee of IBM v. Jander, 140 S. Ct. 592 (2020) (argued successfully that the Court should not alter the standard to plead claims against fiduciaries of an employee stock ownership plans (ESOP), alleging that fiduciaries should have made earlier public disclosures of adverse insider information). Mr. Lechtzin’s successful ERISA cases include Daugherty v. Univ. of Chicago, 2018 WL 1805646 (N.D. Ill. 2018) ($6.5 million settlement of ERISA claims alleging breach of fiduciary duties by incurring excessive expenses and retaining underperforming funds). Mr. Lechtzin's recent successes in ERISA litigation include defeating a motion to dismiss in Crawford v. CDI Corporation, No. 2:20-cv-03317-CFK (E.D. Pa. Nov. 5, 2020) (alleging that fiduciaries of the CDI 401(k) plan selected and retained imprudent investment options); and securing class certification on behalf of nearly 250,000 participants in Alas v. AT&T Inc., No. 2:17-cv-08106 (C.D. Cal. Aug. 6, 2020) (alleging excessive administrative fees).
Mr. Lechtzin’s successful representations of unpaid wages and overtime cases include Arrington v. Optimum Healthcare IT, 2018 WL 5631625 (E.D. Pa. 2018) (member of team that obtained $4.9 million settlement of class action alleging failure to pay overtime to IT consultants)
In the area of securities fraud, Mr. Lechtzin was a member of the litigation team in In re: Oppenheimer Rochester Funds Group Securities Litig., No. 09-md- 02063-JLK (D. Col.), which settled for $89.5 million. Among his successful representations in the area of consumer fraud is Silver v. Fitness Intern., LLC, 2013 WL 5429293 (E.D. Pa.), a class action against a national health club chain that resulted in substantial changes of its cancellation polices.
State Bar Admissions:
California
New Jersey
Pennsylvania
| Eric Lechtzin: | Member at The Edelson Lechtzin LLP |
 |
3 Terry Drive, Suite 205 Newtown, PA 18940 |
| Website: | https://www.edelson-law.com/index.cfm |
| Phone: | 215-867-2399 |
| Offices: |
Edelson Lechtzin LLP
Eric Lechtzin
|
Representing consumers in consumer fraud class actions, such as the recently filed national consumer fraud class action against L.A. Fitness.
Representing investors in securities fraud class actions and corporate governance litigation. In cases where I have served as lead or co-lead counsel, I have helped recover more than $125 million for shareholders.
Representing employees in state and federal wage & hour class actions and ERISA class actions
Federal Securities Fraud class actions, Mergers and Acquisitions class actions, Consumer Fraud class actions, Wage Hour/Fair Labor Standards Act class actions, and ERISA class actions.
| Association name | Position name | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| American Bar Association | Member | 1991 - 1900 |
| American Bar Association | Member | N/A |
| Philadelphia Bar Association | Commission on Judicial Selection & Retention | 2002 - 2004 |
| State Bar of California | Member | N/A |
| State Bar of California | Member | 2007 - 1900 |
| National Association of Consumer Advocates (NACA) | Member | N/A |
| National Association of Consumer Advocates (NACA) | Member | 2016 - 1900 |
| National Association of Consumer Advocates | Pennsylvania State Chair | 2017 - 1900 |
| National Association of Consumer Advocates | Pennsylvania State Chair | N/A |
| Award name | Grantor | Date granted |
|---|---|---|
| Top Contributor | Avvo | 2021 |
| AV Preeminent Rated | Martindale-Hubbell® | 2021 |
| Top Rated Class Action & Mass Torts Attorney in Philadelphia, PA | SuperLawyers | 2021 |
| Top Contributor | Avvo | 2020 |
| AV Preeminent Rated | Martindale-Hubbell® | 2020 |
| Top Rated Class Action & Mass Torts Attorney in Philadelphia, PA | Super Lawyers Magazine | 2020 |
| AV Preeminent Rated | Martindale-Hubbell® | 2019 |
| Top Rated Class Action & Mass Torts Attorney in Philadelphia, PA | SuperLawyers | 2019 |
| Top Contriutor Award | Avvo | 2019 |
| Top Rated Class Action & Mass Torts Attorney in Philadelphia, PA | SuperLawyers | 2018 |
| AV Preeminent Rated | Martindale-Hubbell | 2018 |
| AV Preeminent Rated | Martindale-Hubbell | 2017 |
| Top Rated Class Action & Mass Torts Attorney in Philadelphia, PA | Super Lawyers | 2017 |
| AV Preeminent Rated | Martindale-Hubbell | 2016 |
| Top Contributor Award | Avvo | 2016 |
| Top Contriutor Award | Avvo | 2015 |
| AV Preeminent Rated | Martindale-Hubbell | 2015 |
| AV Peer Review Rating | Martindale-Hubbell | 2014 |
| Top Contriutor Award | Avvo | 2014 |
| Top Contributor Award | Avvo | 2013 |
| BV® Distinguished 4.4 out of 5 | Martindale-Hubbell | 2012 |
| BV® Distinguished 4.4 out of 5 | Martindale-Hubbell | 2011 |
| BV® Distinguished™ 4.4 out of 5 | Martindale-Hubbell | 2010 |
| BV Rated | Martindale-Hubbell | 2009 |
| BV Rated | Martindale-Hubbell | 2008 |
| BV Rated | Martindale-Hubbell | 2007 |
| BV Rated | Martindale-Hubbell | 2006 |
| BV Rated | Martindale-Hubbell | 2005 |
| BV Rated | Martindale-Hubbell | 2004 |
| BV Rated | Martindale-Hubbell | 2003 |
| BV Rated | Martindale-Hubbell | 2002 |
| BV Rated | Martindale-Hubbell | 2001 |
| BV Rated | Martindale-Hubbell | 2000 |
| Dean's List | Temple University - James E. Beasley School of Law | 1990 |
| Dean's List | Temple University - James E. Beasley School of Law | 1989 |
| Phi Beta Kappa | Temple University | 1988 |
| School name | Degree | Graduated |
|---|---|---|
| Temple University - College of Arts & Sciences | BA - Bachelor of Arts | 1988 |
| Temple University - College of Arts & Sciences | BA - Bachelor of Arts | 1988 |
| Temple University - James E. Beasley School of Law | JD - Juris Doctor | 1991 |
| Temple University - James E. Beasley School of Law | JD - Juris Doctor | 1991 |
| Case name | Outcome |
|---|---|
| Arrington et al. v. Optimum Healthcare IT LLC, No. 2:17-cv-03950 (E.D. Pa.) | $4.9 million class action settlement |
| Daugherty et al. v. The University of Chicago, No. 1:17-cv-03736 (N.D. Ill.) | $6.5 million settlement |
| In re Biolase Technology, Inc. Securities Litigation, No. 8:04-CV-947 (C.D. Cal. July 25, 2006) | $2.95 million settlement |
| In re Global Crossing Access Charge Litigation, No. 04-MD-1630 (S.D.N.Y) | $15 million settlement |
| In re Hemispherx Biopharma, Inc. Litigation, 09-CV-5262-PD (E.D. Pa.) | $3.6 million settlement achieved after defeating defendants' motion to dismiss Rule 10b-5 claims. |
| In re LaBranche Sec. Litig., 405 F. Supp. 2d 333 (S.D.N.Y. 2005) | $13 million settlement |
| In re RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. Securities Litigation, No. 1:05-CV-6764 (S.D.N.Y.) | $13.5 million settlement |
| In re Transkaryotic Therapies, Inc. Sec. Litig., 2005 WL 3178162 (D. Mass. 2005) | $50 million settlement |
| In re TV Azteca S.A. de C.V. Securities Litigation, 04-cv-00546-JES (S.D.N.Y.) | $1.2 million settlement that, combined with SEC Fair Funds, represented a recovery of nearly 100% damages sustained by the class |
| In re Van der Moolen Holding N.V. Securities Litigation, No. 1:03-CV-8284 (S.D.N.Y.) | $8 million settlement |
| In re Wireless Facilities, Inc. Sec. Litig., Civil No. 04-cv-1589 (S.D. Cal. May 7, 2007) | $12 million settlement after defeating defendants' motion to dismiss |
| In re: Oppenheimer Rochester Funds Group Securities Litigation, No. 09-md-02063-JLK (D. Col.) | $89.5 million settlement |
| Maddox v. Bank of New York Mellon Trust Co., --- F.3d ----, 2021 WL 1846308 (2d Cir. 2021) | Denial of motion for judgment on the pleadings affirmed and remanded to the district court |
| Retirement Plans Committee of IBM v. Jander 589 U.S. ____, 140 S. Ct. 592, 205 L. Ed. 2d 432 (2020) | Vacated judgment and remanded the case. |
| Scott Tanne v. Autobytel, Inc., et al, No. CV 04-8987 (C.D. Cal.) | $6.75 million settlement |
| Short v. Brown University, No. 1:17-cv-00318 (D.R.I.) | Settled for $3.5 million |
| Silver v. Fitness Intern., LLC, No. 10-cv-2326-MMB, 2013 WL 5429293 (E.D. Pa. ) | Settled |
| Taft v. Ackermans, (KPNQwest Securities Litigation), No. 02-CV-07951 (S.D.N.Y.) | $15 million settlement |
| The Eshe Fund Group v. Fifth Third Bancorp, No. 1:08-CV-539 (S.D. Ohio 2013) | $16 million settlement |
| Wilcox v. Georgetown Univ., --- F.3d ----, 2021 WL 446126, at *1 (D.C. Cir. Feb. 9, 2021) | Order dismissing case was vacated by Court of Appeals and remanded to District Court |
| State | Number | Status | Acquired | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NJ | Active | 1992 | 11/15/2021 | |
| PA | Active | 1991 | 11/15/2021 |
| Publication name | Title | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Portfolio Media (Law360) | Ky. Coal Miners Nab Collective Cert. In FLSA Suit | 2021 |
| Portfolio Media (Law360) | 8th Circ. Revives Washington U. Workers' ERISA Suit | 2020 |
| Portfolio Media (Law360) | Princeton To Settle Workers’ Retirement Plan Suit | 2020 |
| Portfolio Media (Law360) | Class Of 250,000 Workers Gets OK In AT&T 401(k) Fee Suit | 2020 |
| Portfolio Media (Law360) | CDI Hit With ERISA Suit Over 401(k) Plan Management | 2020 |
| The Philadelphia Inquirer | How Philly investors were drawn into what SEC alleges is $500 million fraud | 2020 |
| The Philadelphia Inquirer | Investors sue King of Prussia financial adviser Dean Vagnozzi and his lawyer | 2020 |
| The Deal | Investors Accuse Vagnozzi, Coventry of Racketeering | 2020 |
| Portfolio Media (Law360) | 200,000-Member ERISA Class Certified In TIAA Lending Beef | 2020 |
| Portfolio Media (Law360) | AT&T Won't Get Redo On Bid To Kill Retirement Plan Fee Suit | 2019 |
| Portfolio Media (Law360) | Class Attys Awarded $1M For Brown University ERISA Deal | 2019 |
| Portfolio Media (Law360) | Wash. U. Workers Urge 8th Circ. To Revive ERISA Suit | 2019 |
| Portfolio Media (Law360) | Brown Reaches $3.5M Deal To Close Book On ERISA Suit | 2019 |
| Portfolio Media (Law360) | Justices Urged To Use IBM Case To Set Trial Courts Straight | 2019 |
| Portfolio Media (Law360) | Princeton Can't Pare Down Claims In Retirement Plan Suit | 2019 |
| Portfolio Media (Law360) | Schwab ERISA Ruling Created Split In 9th Circ., Worker Says | 2019 |
| Portfolio Media (Law360) | Freedom Mortgage Can't Shake 2 TCPA Class Actions In NJ | 2018 |
| Portfolio Media (Law360) | Brown U. Gets Employees' ERISA Suit Trimmed | 2018 |
| Portfolio Media (Law360) | UChicago, Workers To Settle ERISA Suit For $6.5M | 2018 |
| Portfolio Media (Law360) | Medical Records Co. Reaches $4.9M Deal To Resolve OT Suit | 2018 |
| Bureau of National Affairs (BNA) publication | University of Chicago Latest College Hit With Retirement Plan Suit | 2017 |
| Portfolio Media (Law360) | Pa. Judge Urged To OK Classes In Mortgage Adjustment Suits | 2016 |
| National Consumer Law Center 2016 Consumer Rights Litigation Conference | Expert Testimony & Daubert Motions in Consumer Litigation | 2016 |
| Portfolio Media (Law360) | Hyundai Loses 2nd Bid To Trim Claims In Sunroofs Suit | 2016 |
| Portfolio Media (Law360) | Kia Accused Of Selling Cars With Shatter-Prone Sunroofs | 2015 |
| Orange House Media | Lawsuit Magnet Ocwen Hit With Yet Another Class Action | 2014 |
| Torque News | Second Oil Consumption Lawsuit Suddenly Filed Against Subaru | 2014 |
| Courier-Post | 2nd lawsuit filed against Subaru | 2014 |
| New York Post | Ocwen forced homeowners to stay quiet: reports | 2014 |
| HOUSINGWIRE | Ocwen’s Bad Day Just Got Worse | 2014 |
| Portfolio Media (Law360) | Ocwen Unit Hit With Class Action Over Late Mortgage Docs | 2014 |
| The Legal Intelligencer | People in the News - August 1, 2014 | 2014 |
| American Bar Association, Litigation Section, Section Annual Conference April 26, 2013 | A Survey of Foreclosure-Related Class Actions | 2013 |
| Portfolio Media (Law360) | Disputed $42M NFL Publicity Rights Settlement Gets Approval | 2013 |
| Portfolio Media (Law360) | Ex-NFLers Seek OK Of Contested $42M Publicity Rights Deal | 2013 |
| Portfolio Media (Law360) | More Ex-NFL Players Object To $42M Publicity Rights Deal | 2013 |
| The Madison-St. Clair Record: Metro East's Legal Journal | H&R Block asks federal judge to compel arbitration, stay case over delayed refunds | 2013 |
| The Madison-St. Clair Record: Metro East's Legal Journal | Herndon stays motion for class certification in suit over delayed tax returns | 2013 |
| The Madison-St. Clair Record: Metro East's Legal Journal | Class action suit filed against H&R Block over tax return delays | 2013 |
| Portfolio Media (Law360) | Ex-Morgan Stanley Unit Can't Duck Mortgage Modification Suit | 2013 |
| Bloomberg News | Ex-Players Oppose NFL Properties’ Image Rights Settlement | 2013 |
| Southeast Texas Legal Journal | Class action filed against fitness club for charging dues after memberships cancelled | 2012 |
| Portfolio Media (Law360) | $3.6M Hemispherx Securities Settlement Gets Final OK | 2011 |
| Portfolio Media (Law360) | Beckman Reaches $5.5M Settlement In Shareholder Suit | 2011 |
| S&B Bulletin | UNIQUE DEFENSES CANNOT PREVENT CLASS CERTIFICATION | 2006 |
| S&B Bulletin | COURT SUSTAINS CLAIMS AGAINST NYSE SPECIALISTS LABRANCHE AND VAN DER MOOLEN | 2006 |
| S&B Bulletin | Court Upholds 10B-5 Claims Against Parmalat’s Auditors and Bankers | 2005 |
| Conference name | Title | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Chapter 2019 Annual Meeting | Mortgage Litigation, PA Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law, Vaping, the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, and Auto Dealer Fraud | 2019 |
| National Association of Legal Fee Analysis | Attorney Fees in Class Action Settlements | 2017 |
| 2016 Consumer Rights Litigation Conference | Expert Testimony & Daubert Motions | 2016 |
| 16th Annual Consumer Class Action Symposium | Settlement Tenders After Campbell-Ewald v. Gomez | 2016 |
| NLADA Litigation Directors Conference | Trends in Foreclosure-Related Class Actions | 2014 |
| How to Draft an Amended Consolidated Class Action Complaint | Federal Securities Fraud Class Action | 2006 |
| Title | Company name | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Associate | Montgomery, McCracken, Walker & Rhoads, LLP | 1994 - 2000 |
| Of Counsel | Rawle & Henderson | 2000 - 2003 |
| Of Counsel | Rawle & Henderson | 2000 - 2003 |
| Associate | Grant & Eisenhofer | 2003 - 2004 |
| Associate | Grant & Eisenhofer | 2003 - 2004 |
| Associate Attorney | Schiffrin & Barroway | 2004 - 2008 |
| Associate Attorney | Schiffrin & Barroway | 2004 - 2008 |
| Shareholder | Berger Montague PC | 2008 - 2020 |
| Managing Partner | Edelson Lechtzin LLP | 2020 - 1900 |
| Managing Partner | Edelson Lechtzin LLP | N/A |
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