SO yesterday I reported on the big Western Express TCPA settlement.
One angle I didn’t cover was the apparent connection between class counsel Gerard Stranch IV of Stranch, Jennings & Garvey, PLLC and sitting Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals Judge, the Hon. Jane Branstetter Stranch.
Apparently Gerard has been involved in a number of TCPA class actions– although I havent personally come across him that I can recall– and Judge Stanch has ruled on a number of TCPA cases– although I can’t recall a panel she was on.
It has been suggested to me that this is a very bad thing.
I will admit it seems a bit odd to me that a sitting federal appellate court judge would be ruling on TCPA decisions if her son is directly profiting from TCPA class litigation (I will note her daughter and husband are also, apparently, partners at the firm.)
Obviously I am not suggesting wrongdoing by Judge Stanch–even assuming all of these facts are true– but it certainly looks bad.
Then again, if you’re a judge and you have lawyers in the family I suppose you wouldn’t want to recuse yourself from a ruling in every type of case the law firm might be handling. So I suppose I get it.
Still, with the huge number of dollars at issue in these TCPA cases– and the unfair application of the rules in many instances– I can understand why some would be irked by a court of appeals judge making TCPA law while her family profits from TCPA cases.
Will pay closer attention to ruling involving Judge Stanch and the TCPAWorld exploits of Gerard moving forward.
Chat soon.