Cornell vs. Generali filed in U.S. District Court in New York; more "class-action" suits follow

California court denies Generali’s motion to dismiss Stern, allowing litigation to go forward

Federal judge Michael Mukasey denies Generali’s motion to dismiss cases against the company

March 1997

January 1999

September 2002 

Judge Mukasey dismisses 20 suits against Generali on ground of “executive preemption” citing Garamendi decision

Four plaintiffs propose new settlement with Generali, withdraw their appeals of Mukasey decision

Settlement approved by U.S. District Court George B. Daniels

October 2004

August 2006

March 2007 

2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals vacates settle-ment and orders new public notification with Dec. 26, 2007 claims deadline

U.S. District Court re-approves settlement

Another round of Supplemental Briefs filed in U.S. Court of Appeals by Objectors, Generali & Plaintiffs' attorneys favoring settlement

October 2007

January 2008

February 2008

U.S. Court of Appeals for Second Circuit solicits statement from the Executive Branch

In response to request of Court of Appeals,  Department of Justice files a brief supporting Generali

August 2008

October 2008

February 1998

 December 2000

June 2003

Stern vs. Generali, first private lawsuit, is filed in California Superior Court; more individual suits follow in California, New York, Florida and Wisconsin

Federal judicial panel orders removal of all state suits and transfers them to federal court for Southern District of New York

U.S. Supreme Court renders decision in Garamendi v. AIA

June 2006

 November 2006

April 2007

After series of procedural moves, plaintiffs file formal appeal of Mukasey decision; appeal still pending in 2008

Non-settling plaintiffs formally object to proposed settlement 

Appeal of Judge Daniels’ decision filed

December 2007

January 2008 

June 2008

Objections to settlement filed.

Supplemental Brief filed by Objectors in U.S. Court of Appeals

U.S. Court of Appeals denies objections & affirms District Court approval of class action settlement, later denies motion for rehearing

October 2008

February 2009

 Three Members of Congress file a "Friend of the Court" brief in support of survivors appealing the 2005 court decision

Petition for writ of certiorari denied by U.S. Supreme Court. Final Reply Brief by petitioning survivor-objectors to class action settlement.