Class Counsel has without question done a tremendous job in litigating this case.  They represent some of the best plaintiff-side antitrust groups in the country, and the size and skill of the defense they litigated against cannot be overstated.  They have also demonstrated the utmost professionalism despite the demands of the extreme perseverance that this case has required…

This is a substantial recovery that has the deterrent effect that class actions are supposed to have, and I think it was done because we had really good Plaintiffs’ lawyers in this case who were running it.

[C]ounsel…for direct action plaintiffs have done an outstanding job here with representing the class, and I thought your briefing was always very on point. I thought the presentation of the very contentious issues on the class action motion was very well done, it was very well briefed, it was well argued.

You are extraordinarily impressive. And I thank you for being here, and for your candid, non-evasive response to every question I have. I was extremely skeptical at the outset of this morning. You have allayed all of my concerns and have persuaded me that this is an important issue, and that you have done a great service to the class. And for that reason, I am going to approve your settlement in all respects, including the motion for attorneys’ fees. And I congratulate you on your excellent work.

I just want to thank you for an outstanding presentation. I don’t say that lightly . . . it’s not lost on me at all when lawyers come very, very prepared. And really, your clients should be very proud to have such fine lawyering. I don’t see lawyering like this every day in the federal courts, and I am very grateful. And I appreciate the time and the effort you put in, not only to the merits, but the respect you’ve shown for each other, the respect you’ve shown for the Court, the staff, and the time constraints. And as I tell my law clerks all the time, good lawyers don’t fight, good lawyers advocate. And I really appreciate that more than I can express.

…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…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.

Class Counsel provided extraordinarily high-quality representation. This case raised a number of unique and complex legal issues…The law firms of Berger Montague and Coughlin Stoia were indefatigable. They represented the Class with a high degree of professionalism, and vigorously litigated every issue against some of the ablest lawyers in the antitrust defense bar.

[W]e sitting here don’t always get to see such fine lawyering, and it’s really wonderful for me both to have tough issues and smart lawyers…I want to congratulate all of you for the really hard work you put into this, the way you presented the issues…On behalf of the entire federal judiciary I want to thank you for the kind of lawyering we wish everybody would do.

Co-lead counsel…here were extraordinarily deft and efficient in handling this most complex matter…they were at least eighteen months ahead of the United States Department of Justice in ferreting out the conduct that ultimately resulted in the write down of over $1.6 billion in previously reported Rite Aid earnings. In short, it would be hard to equal the skill class counsel demonstrated here.

[Y]ou have acted the way lawyers at their best ought to act. And I have had a lot of cases…in 15 years now as a judge and I cannot recall a significant case where I felt people were better represented than they are here…I would say this has been the best representation that I have seen.