E. Michelle Drake
Biography
E. Michelle Drake is an Executive Shareholder in the Firm’s Minneapolis office. With career settlements and verdicts valued at more than $150 million, Michelle has had great success in a wide variety of cases.
Michelle focuses her practice primarily on consumer protection, improper credit reporting, and financial services class actions. Michelle is empathetic towards her clients and unyielding in her desire to win. Possessing a rare combination of an elite academic pedigree and real-world trial skills, Michelle has successfully gone toe-to-toe with some of the world’s most powerful companies.
Michelle helped achieve one of the largest class action settlements in a case involving improper mortgage servicing practices associated with force-placed insurance, resulting in a settlement valued at $110 million for a nationwide class of borrowers who were improperly force-placed with overpriced insurance. Michelle also served as liaison counsel and part of the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee on behalf of consumers harmed in the Target data breach, a case she helped successfully resolve on behalf of over ninety million consumers whose data was affected by the breach. In 2015, Michelle resolved a federal class action on behalf of a group of adult entertainers in New York for $15 million. Most recently, Michelle has been successful in litigating numerous cases protecting consumers’ federal privacy rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, securing settlements valued at over $10 million on behalf of tens of thousands of consumers harmed by improper background checks and inaccurate credit reports in the last two years alone.
Michelle was admitted to the bar in 2001 and has since served as lead class counsel in over fifty class and collective actions alleging violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, various states’ unfair and deceptive trade practices acts, breach of contract and numerous other pro-consumer and pro-employee causes of action.
Michelle serves on the Board of the National Association of Consumer Advocates, is a member of the Partner’s Council of the National Consumer Law Center, and is an At-Large Council Member for the Consumer Litigation Section for the Minnesota State Bar Association. She was named as a Super Lawyer in 2013-2021 and 2023, and was named as a Rising Star prior to that. Michelle was also appointed to the Federal Practice Committee in 2010 by the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota. She has been quoted in the New York Times and the National Law Journal, and her cases were named as “Lawsuits of the Year” by Minnesota Law & Politics in both 2008 and 2009.
Michelle began her practice of law by defending high stakes criminal cases as a public defender in Atlanta. Michelle has never lost her desire to litigate on the side of the “little guy.”
Professional Leadership
- Board Member for Southern Center of Human Rights
- Board Member for the National Association of Consumer Advocates, 2014 – Present
- Partner’s Council Member for the National Consumer Law Center, 2014-Present
- Minnesota Association for Justice, Board of Governors, 2016 – Present
- Member of Ethics Committee for the National Association of Consumer Advocates, 2015
- American Bar Association Member
- Federal Bar Association Member
- Minnesota State Bar Association Member
- National Employment Lawyers Association Member
- Public Justice
Business and Community Leadership
Speaking engagements:
- “Evidentiary Challenges in Certifying Class Actions,” Class Action Symposium, Consumer Rights litigation Conference, National Consumer Law Center, December 2021.
- “Conducting Financial & Criminal Background Checks – Applicant Rights and Employer Best Practices,” Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, Minneapolis, MN, October 2020.
- “Current Accuracy Topics for Traditional Credit Reporting,” Accuracy in Consumer Reporting, FTC/CFPB Workshop, Washington, DC, December 2019.
- Plaintiffs’ Food Fraud Litigation Forum, Cambridge Forums, Manalapan, FL, November 2019.
- “Sealing, Expungement and FCRA: Criminal Records Reporting in a New Era,” Consumer Rights Litigation Conference, National Consumer Law Center, Boston, MA, November 2019.
- “Stop Stealing the Microphone! Amped-Up Judicial Scrutiny of Class-Action Settlements,” Class Action Institute, American Bar Association, Nashville, TN, October 2019.
- “The Complete Lawyer: Consumer Law,” Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, Minneapolis, MN, June 2019.
- “Fair Credit Reporting Act/Debt Collection Issues,” 24th Annual Consumer Financial Services Institute, Practising Law Institute, Chicago, IL, May 2019.
- “Ethics Session: Referrals and Fee-Sharing,” Fair Credit Reporting Act Conference, National Association of Consumer Advocates, Long Beach, CA, May 2019.
- “Consumer Law: Recent Trends and Hot Topics in FCRA Litigation,” Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, Minneapolis, MN, January 2019.
- “Diamonds in the Rough: Identifying Good Class Claims,” Mass Torts Made Perfect Fall Seminar, Las Vegas, NV, October 2018.
- “Nationwide Settlement Cases – The Impact of the Hyundai/ Kia Litigation,” Class Action Symposium, Consumer Rights Litigation Conference, National Consumer Law Center, Denver, CO, October 2018.
- “Developments in Public Records Litigation,” Consumer Rights Litigation Conference, National Consumer Law Center, Denver, CO, October 2018.
- “Big Challenges in the City of BIG Shoulders, Electronic Discovery’s Rise to Prominence,” ABA 22nd Annual National Institute on Class Actions, Chicago, IL, October 2018.
- “Jurisdiction Issues Post Bristol-Myers,” Bridgeport 2018 Class Action Litigation Conference, San Francisco, CA, September 2018.
- “New Developments in the Law of Personal Jurisdiction in the Aftermath of the Supreme Court’s Decisions in BNSF Railway Co. v. Tyrrell and Bristol Myers and the Strategies,” Plaintiffs’ Class Action Roundtable, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA, April 2018.
- “New Developments in Personal Jurisdiction,” Litigator’s Short Course, Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, Minneapolis, MN, February 2018
- “Game Changing Blindspots that Create Privacy Liabilities – a Plaintiff-Side Litigator’s Insights,” Midwest Legal Conference on Privacy & Data Security, Minneapolis, MN, January 2018
- “Federal Discovery: Winning Your Cases Early,” & “FCRA Report Disclosures: Issues and Litigation,” Consumer Rights Litigation Conference, National Consumer Law Center, Washington, D.C., November 2017
- “Strategic Response to Recent Supreme Court Decision in Bristol-Meyers,” Class Action Symposium, Consumer Rights Litigation Conference, National Consumer Law Center, Washington, D.C., November 2017
- “The Times They Are a-Changin’: The Role of Administrative Agencies and Private Counsel in the Trump Era,” American Bar Association Annual National Institute on Class Actions, Washington, D.C., October 2017
- “The CFPB’s New Rule on Arbitration: What It Is and What Comes Next,” Minnesota State Bar Association Continuing Legal Education, Minneapolis, MN, September 2017
- “Standing: Assessing Article III Jurisdiction One Year After Spokeo,” Minnesota State Bar Association Continuing Legal Education, Minneapolis, MN, June 2017
- “House Resolution 985 – Update and Strategies for Defeat,” Presenter, Cambridge Forums – Plaintiffs’ Class Action Forum, Carefree, AZ, May 2017
- “TCPA/Fair Credit Reporting Act/Debt Collection Issues,” Presenter, PLI 22nd Annual Consumer Financial Services Institute, Chicago, IL, May 2017
- “Case Law and Recent Trial Updates,” Panelist, 2017 NACA Fair Credit Reporting Act Conference, Baltimore, MD, April 2017
- “Using the FCRA for Criminal Background Checks” and “Spokeo Standing Challenges (and Opportunities),” Presenter, The Consumer Rights Litigation Conference, National Consumer Law Center, Anaheim, CA, October 2016
- “Appeals: Whether, When and How,” Presenter, The Consumer Rights Litigation Conference Class Action Symposium, National Consumer Law Center, Anaheim, CA, October 2016
- “Recent Developments in Food Class Action Litigation,” Presenter, Food & Beverage Litigation Conference: A Look at Hospitality, Liquor & Food Liability, Perrin Conferences, New York, NY, October 2016
- “A Winning Hand or a Flop? After 50 Years, Are Class Actions Still Legit?,” Presenter, 20th Annual National Institute on Class Actions, American Bar Association, Las Vegas, NV, October 2016
- “Changing Standard for Class Certification Including a Discussion of the Use of Experts and Statistical Sampling at Class Certification in Light of Spokeo and Tyson,” Chair and Presenter, 2016 Class Action Litigation Conference, Bridgeport Continue Education, San Francisco, CA, September 2016
- “The U.S. Supreme Court’s Big New Decisions,” Presenter, Minnesota CLE, Minneapolis, MN, August 2016
- “The Complete Lawyer Series: Consumer Law, Debt Collection and Credit Reporting,” Presenter, Minnesota CLE Webcast, July 2016
- “What Does the Spokeo Decision Mean for Consumer Lawyers,” Panelist, National Association of Consumer Advocates Webinar, May 2016
- “Hot Button Consumer Issues,” Panelist, 21st Annual Consumer Financial Services Institute, Practising Law Institute, Chicago, IL, May 2016
- “Consumer Law,” Presenter, The Complete Lawyer Seminar, Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, May 2016
- “Hot Topics in Class Actions,” Presenter, Bridgeport Class Action Conference, Hollywood, CA, April 2016
- “Hot Button Consumer Issues,” Panelist, 21st Annual Consumer Financial Services Institute, Practising Law Institute, New York, NY, April 2016
Judicial Praise:
The Honorable Judge Paul A. Engelmayer of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York:
I know the diligence of counsel and dedication of counsel to the class…Thank you, Ms. Drake. As always I appreciate the — your extraordinary dedication to your — to the class and the very obvious backwards and forwards familiarity you have with the case and level of preparation and articulateness today. It’s a pleasure always to have you before me…Class counsel [] generated this case on their own initiative and at their own risk. Counsel’s enterprise and ingenuity merits significant compensation…Counsel here are justifiably proud of the important result that they achieved.
Sept. 22, 2020, Final Approval Hearing, Gambles v. Sterling Info., Inc., No. 15-cv-9746.
The Honorable Judge Paul A. Engelmayer of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York:
The Court has previously commended counsel for their excellent lawyering. See Dkt 541 at 98 (“I have benefited by very high-quality briefing from both of you.”). The point is worth reiterating here. [Plaintiff’s Counsel] was energetic, effective, and creative throughout this long litigation. The Court found [Plaintiff’s Counsel’s] briefs and arguments first-rate. And the documents and deposition transcripts which the Court reviewed in the course of resolving motions revealed the firm’s far-sighted and strategic approach to discovery….Further, unlike in many class actions, plaintiffs’ counsel did not build their case by piggybacking on regulatory investigation or settlement. … The lawyers …can genuinely claim to have been the authors of their clients’ success.
Hart v. RCI Hospitality Holdings, Inc., No. 09 Civ. 3043, 2015 WL 5577713 (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 22, 2015) (granting final approval of the settlement and awarding attorneys’ fees and costs).
The Honorable Judge Richard H. Kyle of the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota:
Well, I think you did a great job on this. I mean, I really do. It’s nice to see when cases go, and go quickly, and I know that it’s a little different than a lot of other cases but it still — you still have a lot of fooling around here that doesn’t have to be done, but it seems to me you folks have gotten it done the right way.
Bible v. Gen. Revenue Corp., 12-CV-1236 (D. Minn. Jan. 6, 2014) (transcript from preliminary approval hearing).
Prominent Judgments and Settlements
- Gambles v. Sterling Infosystems, Inc., No. 15-cv-9746 (S.D.N.Y.). FCRA class action, alleging violations by consumer reporting agency, resulting in a gross settlement of $15 million, one of the largest FCRA settlements to date.
- Thomas v. Equifax Info. Services, LLC, No. 18-cv-684 (E.D. Va.). FCRA class action, alleging violations by credit bureau, providing nationwide resolution of class action claims asserted across multiple jurisdictions, including injunctive relief, and an uncapped mediation program for millions of consumers.
- Clark v. Experian Info. Sols., Inc., No. 16-cv-32 (E.D. Va.). FCRA class action, alleging violations by credit bureau, providing a nationwide resolution of class action claims asserted by 32 plaintiffs in 16 jurisdictions, including injunctive relief and an uncapped mediation program, for millions of consumers.
- Clark/Anderson v. Trans Union, LLC, No. 15-cv-391 & No. 16-cv-558 (E.D. Va.). FCRA consolidated class action, alleging violations by credit bureau, providing groundbreaking injunctive relief, and an opportunity to recover monetary relief, for millions of consumers.
- Rilley v. MoneyMutual, LLC, No. 16-cv-4001 (D. Minn.). Court certified a litigation class of over 20,000 Minnesota consumers alleging that MoneyMutual violated Minnesota payday lending regulations, resulting in $2 million with notable injunctive relief.
- Rubio-Delgado & Moore v. Aerotek, Inc., Nos. 2:15-cv-2701, 2:16-cv-1066 (S.D. Ohio). Serving as lead counsel, Ms. Drake obtained a $15 million settlement on behalf of a nationwide class of employees and applicants against a large temporary staffing company for alleged violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
- Bible v. United Student Aid Funds, Inc., No. 1:13-cv-00575 (S.D. Ind.). Serving as co-lead counsel, Ms. Drake obtained a $23 million settlement on behalf of a nationwide class of borrowers against United Student Aid Funds, Inc. for alleged breach of contract and violations of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (“RICO”).
- Hillson v. Kelly Services, Inc., No. 2:15-cv-10803 (E.D. Mich.). Serving as co-lead counsel, Ms. Drake obtained a $6.7 million settlement on behalf of a nationwide class of employees and applicants against a national staffing company.
- Halvorson, et al. v. TalentBin, Inc., No. 3:15-cv-05166 (N.D. Cal.). Serving as lead counsel, Ms. Drake obtained a $1.5 million settlement on behalf of a nationwide class against a large consumer reporting agency for alleged violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
- Citibank Force-Placed Insurance Litigation, Nos. 5:12-cv-00820, 1:13-cv-353 (N.D.N.Y.) Ms. Drake 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.
- Arnett v. Bank of America, N.A., No. 3:11-cv-1372 (D. Or.). Co-Lead Counsel. Ms. Drake 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.
- Hart v. RCI Hospitality Holdings, Inc., No. 09 Civ. 3043, 2015 WL 5577713 (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 22, 2015) Lead Counsel. Ms. Drake achieved final approval of a settlement valued at $15 million on behalf of a certified class of 2,000 female adult entertainers who were improperly misclassified as independent contractors, denied the minimum wage, and required to pay a variety of unlawful fees and fines.
- Farmer v. Bank of America, No. 5:11-cv-00935-OLG (W.D. Tex.) Lead Counsel. Ms. Drake obtained a $10 million settlement on behalf of Texas borrowers who were force-placed or otherwise improperly required to obtain insurance on their homes.
- Hofstetter v. Chase, No. 10-cv-1313-WHA (N.D. Cal.) Lead Counsel. Ms. Drake obtained a $10 million settlement on behalf of a nationwide class of borrowers who were improperly force-placed with flood insurance.
- Knights v. Publix Super Markets, Inc., No. 3:14-cv-00720 (M.D. Tenn.) Lead Counsel. Ms. Drake obtained a $6.8 million settlement in this Fair Credit Reporting Act case challenging Publix’s improper procedures for obtaining background checks on its employees.
- Ernst v. DISH Network, LLC, DISH Network Service, LLC, and Sterling Infosystems, Inc., No. 12-cv-8794-LGS (S.D.N.Y.) Lead Counsel. Ms. Drake obtained a $4.75 million settlement with Sterling on Fair Credit Reporting Act claims against background check company Sterling for improperly reporting outdated criminal background information. Ms. Drake defeated DISH’s motion for summary judgment litigation against DISH is ongoing.
- Singleton v. Domino’s Pizza, No. 8:11-cv-01823(DKC (D. Md.) Lead Counsel. Ms. Drake obtained a $2.5 million settlement on behalf of a nationwide class in this Fair Credit Reporting Act case which challenged Domino’s improper procedures for obtaining and using employment-related background checks. Ms. Drake successfully defeated a motion to dismiss in this case, establishing authoritative precedent on the impropriety of including liability releases in required disclosures.
- Rasschaert v. Frontier, No. 11-cv-02963-DWF (D. Minn.) Lead Counsel. Ms. Drake secured a settlement whereby Frontier applied for a $9 million sales tax refund on behalf of a class of Minnesota internet customers from whom Frontier improperly collected sales tax.
In the News
- Three Berger Montague Attorneys Named 2021 Minnesota Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
- Berger Montague Upgrades Minneapolis and San Diego Office Locations to Accommodate Law Firm Growth
- E. Michelle Drake Named a 2021 Plaintiffs’ Lawyers Trailblazer by the National Law Journal
- Berger Montague Names Superstar Litigator E. Michelle Drake Newest Member of Firm’s Executive Committee
- Three Berger Montague Attorneys Named 2020 Minnesota Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
- Great Lakes, Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian Sued for Damaging Millions of Student Loan Borrowers’ Credit, Mishandling Pandemic Relief
- Berger Montague Named 2020 Elite Trial Lawyers; E. Michelle Drake Recognized as Elite Woman of the Plaintiffs Bar
- E. Michelle Drake of Berger Montague Appointed to Plaintiffs' Steering Committee in Multi-District Litigation Against JUUL
- Berger Montague PC Announces Class Action Lawsuit on Behalf of United States Military Members and Their Families Endangered by Mold Exposure
- E. Michelle Drake Named 2020 Elite Woman of the Plaintiffs Bar; Berger Montague Selected as Elite Trial Lawyers Finalist