In Re Vitamin Cases

I. INTRODUCTION

This appeal challenges the attorney fees and costs awarded class counsel following settlement of numerous class action complaints brought against various manufacturers of vitamin products. Sandra Norris, the single objecting class member, raises many issues with respect to the award of attorney fees, but the main thrust of her appeal challenges the lodestar figure requested by class counsel, the multiplier that was applied to that figure, and the size of the resulting award as a percentage of the settlement fund. We reverse and remand with directions to the trial court to provide a more complete explanation for the award of fees and costs.

n. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

In 1998, the first antitrust class action lawsuit brought on behalf of direct purchasers of vitamins was filed in federal district court. (In re Vitamins Antitrust Litigation (D.D.C. 2002) 209 F.R.D. 251, 254 .) Ultimately, approximately 49 federal cases were filed and coordinated in a multidistrict litigation proceeding in the federal district court for the District of Columbia (MDL litigation). (In re Vitamins Antitrust Litigation (D.D.C. 1999) 1999 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 21963 , 1999…