Karla focuses her practice on high-stakes financial services and class action litigation, representing financial industry clients in state and federal courts across the country, as well as in arbitration proceedings.
Karla has significant experience representing major financial institutions in matters involving mortgage lending and servicing, allegations of discriminatory lending, exposure relating to the operation of Ponzi schemes, auto lending and repossession issues, deposit account issues including claims under the Electronic Fund Transfer Act and UCC Article 4A, litigation and mass arbitration relating to overdraft fees, and securities lending programs and investments losses. Karla has significant experience negotiating class action settlements, including drafting of settlement papers, obtaining court approval, and handling administration issues in a wide variety of the most complex matters, including defending the terms of a class settlement at the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. She also has experience defending financial industry clients from subpoenas arising out of a variety of situations, including the most complex litigation.
Karla also regularly represents individuals on a pro bono basis in obtaining protection from abuse orders in situations of domestic violence within the Allegheny County Courts.
- Represented a bank client in nationwide class action resulting in denial of class certification of claims arising out of interest payments on FHA-insured mortgages.
- Successfully defended bank client against class allegations of improper credit reporting in forbearance under the CARES Act.
- Defended multiple bank clients in state and federal courts alleging aiding and abetting and fraudulent transfer claims relating to the operation of Ponzi schemes.
- Successfully defended bank client against class allegations of improper loss mitigation procedures and responses to Requests for Information and Notices of Error under RESPA.
- Represented multiple financial institutions defending allegations of discriminatory lending based on considerations of temporary immigration status.
- Represented various financial institutions in defending class allegations relating to auto repossession notices and compliance with the Uniform Commercial Code.
- Successfully defended terms of UCC auto class action settlement at the Third Circuit Court of Appeals.
- Defended large bank client against threat of mass arbitration arising out of overdraft fee practices.
- Defended credit union against class claims for violation of the Electronic Funds Transfer Act relating to alleged unauthorized transfers.
- Represented bank clients in arbitrations relating to claims of fraudulent wire transfers.
- Advocated successfully to strike the class allegations in multiple matters based on “fail-safe” class definitions.
- Defended a bank client in a jury trial in federal court arising out of alleged losses in a securities lending program relating to the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers.
- Represented multiple major financial institutions in numerous complex actions in state and federal courts relating to securities lending investment programs.
- Argued successfully at the Pennsylvania Superior Court for financial institution in matter challenging viability of mortgage lien.
- Defended multiple financial institutions from subpoena inquiries arising out of the most complex litigation.
- Drafted class settlement papers and handled court approval and administration of a wide variety of complex class actions.
- Drafted a wide variety of settlement papers in a significant number of high stakes matters for financial industry clients.
Insights
- Author, No Private Right of Action to Enforce CARES Act; Expect Claims Under State Consumer Protection Laws, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, April 22, 2020