Executive Shareholder
Shanon J. Carson is a Executive Shareholder of the Firm. He Co-Chairs the Employment & Unpaid Wages, Consumer Protection, Defective Products, and Defective Drugs and Medical Devices Departments and is a member of the Firm’s Commercial Litigation, Employee Benefits & ERISA, Environment & Public Health, Insurance Fraud, Predatory Lending and Borrowers’ Rights, and Technology, Privacy & Data Breach Departments.
Mr. Carson has achieved the highest peer-review rating, “AV,” in Martindale-Hubbell, and has received honors and awards from numerous publications. In 2009, Mr. Carson was selected as one of 30 “Lawyers on the Fast Track” in Pennsylvania under the age of 40. In both 2015 and 2016, Mr. Carson was selected as one of the top 100 lawyers in Pennsylvania, as reported by Thomson Reuters. In 2018, Mr. Carson was named to the Philadelphia Business Journal‘s “2018 Best of the Bar: Philadelphia’s Top Lawyers.”
Mr. Carson is often retained to represent plaintiffs in employment cases, wage and hour cases for minimum wage violations and unpaid overtime, ERISA cases, consumer cases, insurance cases, construction cases, automobile defect cases, defective drug and medical device cases, product liability cases, breach of contract cases, invasion of privacy cases, false advertising cases, excessive fee cases, and cases involving the violation of state and federal statutes. Mr. Carson represents plaintiffs in all types of litigation including class actions, collective actions, multiple plaintiff litigations, and single plaintiff litigation. Mr. Carson is regularly appointed by federal courts to serve as lead counsel and on executive committees in class actions and mass torts.
Mr. Carson is frequently asked to speak at continuing legal education seminars and other engagements and is active in nonprofit and professional organizations. Mr. Carson currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association (PTLA) and as a Co-Chair of the PTLA Class Action/Mass Tort Committee. Mr. Carson is also a member of the American Association for Justice, the American Bar Foundation, Litigation Counsel of America, the National Trial Lawyers – Top 100, and the Pennsylvania Association for Justice.
While attending the Dickinson School of Law of the Pennsylvania State University, Mr. Carson was senior editor of the Dickinson Law Review and clerked for a U.S. District Court Judge. Mr. Carson currently serves on the Board of Trustees of the Dickinson School of Law of the Pennsylvania State University.
Professional Leadership
Treasurer, NELA-Eastern PA (Feb. 2008 – current)
ACI’s 15th National Forum on Wage & Hour Claims and Class Actions “Views from the Plaintiffs’ Bar.” New York City, NY, May 31-June 1, 2012
PBI Employment Law Institute, “What to Look for in a Plaintiff for a Wage & Hour Case” April 19-20, 2012, Pennsylvania Convention Center, Philadelphia PA
ACI’s 14th National Wage & Hour Claims & Class Actions Conference.
“View From the Plaintiff’s Bar” Miami, Florida, (Hyatt Regency), January 30-31, 2012
PBI’s Wage & Hour Symposium, The CLE Conference Center, Philadelphia, PA, November 2, 2011
Securing Wages, Protecting Hours: Representing Workers In Individual & Collective Actions Under The FLSA “Getting To The Finish Line: Crafting An Effective, Ethical, And Approvable Class & Collective Action Settlement Agreement,” Washington, DC (The Omni Shoreham Hotel), October 21-22, 2011
Trends and Issues in Wage and Hour Litigation Philadelphia Bar Association, Labor and Employment Law Committee, Philadelphia, PA, September 29, 2010
Mr. Carson has also authored articles and made numerous other presentations concerning class actions, employment law, and other legal issues.
Judicial Praise:
In Employees Committed For Justice v. Eastman Kodak (W.D.N.Y. 2010) (Mem. & Order), United States Magistrate Judge Jonathan W. Feldman observed:
“The nature of the instant application obliges the Court to make this point clear: In my fifteen years on the bench, no case has been litigated with more skill, tenacity and legal professionalism than this case. The clients, corporate and individual, should be proud of the manner in which their legal interests were brought before and presented to the Court by their lawyers and law firms.”
…
“…the Court would be remiss if it did not commend class counsel and all those who worked for firms representing the thousands of current and former employees of Kodak for the outstanding job they did in representing the interests of their clients. For the last several years, lead counsel responsibilities were shared by Shanon Carson… Their legal work in an extraordinarily complex case was exemplary, their tireless commitment to seeking justice for their clients was unparalleled and their conduct as officers of the court was beyond reproach.”
Prominent Judgments and Settlements
Clements v. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., No. 3:12-cv-2179 (N.D. Cal.). Co-Lead Counsel. Mr. Carson obtained a settlement of $22,125,000 on behalf of a nationwide class of borrowers whose mortgage loans were serviced by JPMorgan Chase and who were force-placed with flood insurance by JPMorgan.
Citibank Force-Placed Insurance Litigation, Nos. 5:12-cv-00820, 1:13-cv-353 (N.D.N.Y.). Co-Lead Counsel. Mr. Carson obtained a settlement valued at $110 million in this consolidated class action on behalf of nationwide classes of borrowers whose mortgage loans were serviced by Citibank or CitiMortgage and who were force-placed with hazard, flood or wind insurance by Citi. The settlement has been preliminarily approved and is currently awaiting final approval.
Arnett v. Bank of America, N.A., No. 3:11-cv-1372 (D. Or.). Co-Lead Counsel. Mr. Carson obtained a settlement of $31 million on behalf of a nationwide class of borrowers whose mortgage loans were serviced by Bank of America and who were force-placed with flood insurance by Bank of America. The settlement has been preliminarily approved and is currently awaiting final approval.
In re CertainTeed Fiber Cement Siding Litigation, MDL No. 2270 (E.D. Pa.). Co-Lead Counsel. Mr. Carson obtained a settlement valued at more than $103 million in this multidistrict products liability litigation concerning CertainTeed Corporation’s fiber cement siding, on behalf of a nationwide class.
Employees Committed for Justice v. Eastman Kodak Company, No. 6:04-cv-06098 (W.D.N.Y.) (as co-lead counsel, obtained a $21.4 million settlement on behalf of a nationwide class of African American employees alleging racial discrimination)
Salcido v. Cargill Meat Solutions Corp., Civil Action Nos. 1:07-cv-01347-LJO-GSA and 1:08-cv-00605-LJO-GSA (E.D. Cal.) (as co-lead counsel, obtained a $7.5 million settlement on behalf of thousands of meat-packing employees alleging they were forced to work off-the-clock and during their meal and rest breaks; this is one of the largest settlements of this type of case involving a single plant in U.S. history)
Confidential (as lead counsel, obtained a $6 million settlement on behalf of a group of African American employees of a Fortune 100 company to resolve claims of race discrimination, as well as injunctive relief including significant changes to the Company’s employment practices)
Cortez v. Nebraska Beef, Inc., Nos. 8:08CV90, 8:08CV99 (D. Neb.) (as co-lead counsel, obtained a $3.9 million settlement on behalf of thousands of meat-packing plant employees alleging they were forced to work off-the-clock and during their meal and rest breaks)
Miller v. Hygrade Food Products, Inc., No. 99-1087 (E.D. Pa.) (as lead counsel, obtained a $3.5 million settlement on behalf of a group of African American employees of Sara Lee Foods Corp. alleging race discrimination and retaliation at its Ball Park Franks plant in Philadelphia)
Espinosa v. National Beef California, L.P., No. ECU04657 (Cal. Super. Ct.) (as co-lead counsel, obtained a $3.35 million settlement on behalf of thousands of meat-packing plant employees alleging they were forced to work off-the-clock and during their meal and rest breaks)
Chabrier v. Wilmington Finance, Inc., No. 06-4176 (E.D. Pa.) (as co-lead counsel, obtained a $2.9 million settlement on behalf of retail loan officers for unpaid overtime wages and related penalties)
In re Mortgage Lenders Network USA, Inc., No. 07-10146 (Bkrtcy. D. Del.) ($2.7 million WARN Act settlement)
Justison v. McDonalds Corp., No. 08-cv-448 (D. Del.) (as co-lead counsel, obtained a $2.4 million settlement on behalf of hundreds of assistant manager trainees alleging claims for unpaid overtime wages)
Bonnette v. Rochester Gas & Electric Co., No. 07-6635 (W.D.N.Y.) (as lead counsel, obtained a $2 million settlement on behalf of a class of African American employees of Rochester Gas & Electric Co. to resolve charges of race discrimination in hiring, job assignments, compensation, promotions, discipline, termination, retaliation, and a hostile work environment)
Michael v. Indiana Packers Corporation, No. 4:08-cv-00013 (N.D. Ind.) (as co-lead counsel, obtained a $1.995 million settlement on behalf of thousands of meat-packing plant employees alleging they were forced to work off-the-clock and during their meal and rest breaks)
Thomas v. Allis-Chalmers Energy, Inc., No. 2:10-cv-01591 (W.D. Pa.) (as co-lead counsel, obtained a $1.9 million settlement on behalf of hundreds of oil and gas employees who were paid on a day rate compensation system, and who alleged claims for unpaid overtime and related penalties)
Ozga v. U.S. Remodelers, Inc., No. 3:09-cv-05112 (N.D. Cal.) (as co-lead counsel, obtained a $1.8 million settlement on behalf of hundreds of workers who installed kitchens purchased at Home Depot)
Aldridge v. A.T. Cross Corp., No. 00203 ML (D.R.I.) (as lead counsel, obtained a $1.5 million settlement on behalf of investors in a securities fraud class action)
Donkerbrook v. Title Guarantee Escow Services, Inc., No. 10-cv-00616 (D. Hawaii) (as lead counsel, obtained a $1.1 million settlement on behalf of a class of escrow officers alleging claims for unpaid overtime wages)
Banuelos v. XL Four Star Beef, Inc., No. 1:07-cv-00422 (D. Idaho) (as co-lead counsel, obtained a $1.1 million settlement on behalf of thousands of meat-packing plant employees alleging they were forced to work off-the-clock and during their meal and rest breaks)
Drayton v. Pilgrim’s Pride Corp., No. 03-2334 (E.D. Pa.) (obtained a large confidential settlement and served as counsel in a consolidation of wrongful death and other catastrophic injury cases brought against two manufacturers of turkey products, arising out of a 2002 outbreak of Listeria Monocytogenes in the Northeastern United States, which resulted in the recall of over 32 million pounds of turkey — at the time the second largest meat recall in U.S. history)
In the News
Berger Montague Executive Shareholder Shanon Carson named 2022 Pennsylvania Super Lawyer
Berger Montague Files Class Action Lawsuit Against Philips on Behalf of Consumers Who Purchased Philips’ Recalled CPAP, BiPAP, and other Sleep Apnea Machines and Ventilators
21 Berger Montague Attorneys Named 2021 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
Berger Montague Announces That Many Claims for Injuries Arising from the Recall of Allergan’s BIOCELL Textured Breast Implants Will Now Proceed to Discovery
Class Action Settlement Will Provide Cash Relief and Enhanced Warranty Benefits to Consumers Who Purchased Certain LG Refrigerators
Class Action Lawsuit: Big Pharma Firm Gilead Sciences Sent Envelopes Marking Recipients As Users of HIV Medication
Federal Court Grants Class Certification for Landowners in Northeast Pennsylvania Natural Gas Royalties Lawsuit
Shanon J. Carson of Berger Montague Named Co-Lead Counsel in Allergan BIOCELL Textured Breast Implant Litigation
Class Action Lawsuit to Proceed Against The Glen Mills Schools on Behalf of Children Alleging Abuse
Berger Montague PC Announces Class Action Lawsuit on Behalf of United States Military Members and Their Families Endangered by Mold Exposure
Berger Montague PC, Sauder Schelkopf, and Mazie Slater Katz & Freeman Announce Class Action Lawsuit Against Allergan to Protect Women From the Increased Risk of Cancer Resulting From Textured Breast Implants and for Economic Damages
Practice Areas
Commercial Litigation, Consumer Protection, Defective Drugs & Medical Devices, Defective Products, Employee Benefits & ERISA, Employment & Unpaid Wages, Environment & Public Health, Insurance Fraud, Predatory Lending and Borrowers' Rights, Technology, Privacy & Data Breach
Education:
Law School
The Dickinson School of Law of the Pennsylvania State University, J.D.
Undergraduate
Indiana University of Pennsylvania, B.A. with honors
Honors & Awards:
Named 2023 Best Lawyers for Employment Law, Labor & Employment Litigation, Mass Tort, and Class Actions.
In 2018, Mr. Carson was named to the Philadelphia Business Journal‘s “2018 Best of the Bar: Philadelphia’s Top Lawyers.”
From 2018 – 2021, Mr. Carson was selected as a Best Lawyer in America.
From 2015-2022, Mr. Carson was selected as a Top 100 “Pennsylvania Super Lawyer” and Top 100 “Philadelphia Super Lawyer” by Thomson Reuters, an honor conferred upon only the top 5% of attorneys in the state.
From 2019 – 2020, and 2022 Mr. Carson was named a Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyer.
From 2008-2012, Mr. Carson was selected as a “Pennsylvania Super Lawyer – Rising Star” by Philadelphia and Law and Politics magazines, an honor conferred upon only the top 2.5% of attorneys in Pennsylvania who are 40 or younger.
In 2009, Mr. Carson was selected by The Legal Intelligencer and Pennsylvania Law Weekly as one of the top 30 lawyers in Pennsylvania under the age of 40, and as a “future leader of the state’s legal community.” Mr. Carson also received the “Lawyers on the Fast Track” award as selected by a panel of judges.
In 2010, Portfolio Media selected Berger Montague’s Employment Law Department, chaired by Mr. Carson, as one of the top eight plaintiffs’ employment law practices in the United States.
Publications
An Introduction to Employment Discrimination Class Actions and FLSA Collective Actions, NELA-EPA. March 13, 2008.
Admissions
Member – Pennsylvania Bar
Admitted – Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
Admitted – Eastern District of Pennsylvania
Admitted – Middle District of Pennsylvania
Admitted – Western District of Pennsylvania
Admitted – Eastern District of Arkansas
Admitted – District of Colorado
Admitted – District of Nebraska
Admitted – Northern District of Illinois
Admitted – Eastern District of Michigan
Admitted – Northern District of New York
Admitted – Western District of New York
Admitted – Northern District of Ohio
Admitted – Southern District of Texas
Admitted – U.S. Court of Federal Claims
Admitted – Third Circuit Court of Appeals
Admitted – Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals
Admitted – Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals
Admitted – Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
Admitted – Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals
Clerkships
Honorable William W. Caldwell, Senior Judge, Middle District of Pennsylvania (Extern)
