This multidistrict litigation consolidates for pretrial purposes all federal cases arising out of a data security breach at stores owned and operated by Target Corporation in the United States. Plaintiffs are consumers, financial institutions, and Target shareholders. Defendants are Target Corporation and related entities, and members of the Board of Directors of Target.
In the federal court system, when multiple cases involving common questions of fact are pending in several different district courts, the law provides that the Judicial Panel on Multi District Litigation (JPML) can transfer all of the federal cases to one federal judge, if centralization will serve the convenience of the parties and the witnesses and promote the just and efficient conduct of the litigation for pretrial purposes.
On April 2, 2014, the JPML determined that these actions involve common questions of fact "arising from a data security breach at stores owned and operated by Target between November 27, 2013, and December 15, 2013." The JPML also found that "[c]entralization will eliminate duplicative discovery; prevent inconsistent pretrial rulings, including with respect to class certification; and conserve the resources of the parties, their counsel, and the judiciary."
Plaintiffs in these consolidated cases fall into three categories: consumers, financial institutions, and shareholders. Each group raises some claims that are similar to the claims made by the other groups; each also raises claims that are distinct from claims made by the other groups. For that reason, the Court has appointed lead and liaison counsel for each of the three groups of Plaintiffs, in addition to supervising lead and liaison counsel for all Plaintiffs. The Contacts page has more information about the lawyers who are serving in these capacities. In addition, for ease of reference, the web page contains navigation buttons for each of the three types of cases currently pending before the Court. Orders pertaining to all three types of cases can be found under each navigation button.