Matthew A.Kairis (Matt)

Partner-in-Charge Texas Region

Dallas + 1.214.969.3605 Houston + 1.832.239.3939

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Matt Kairis has spent more than 30 years trying class actions, winning verdicts in mass tort, financial regulation, and consumer fraud litigation. He currently serves as lead counsel for all collegiate institutions in the national football concussion MDL (multidistrict litigation) pending in Chicago federal court, a consolidation of more than 500 class actions against the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) and its member institutions. Matt routinely handles high-profile matters, such as assisting Notre Dame following a videographer's fatal accident during football practice, defending nationwide legal attacks on electronic voting systems for the industry's leading manufacturer, and leading all litigation efforts in the wake of the multibillion dollar collapse and FBI raid on National Century Financial.

On behalf of First American Financial, Matt obtained the complete reversal of what would have been the largest punitive damages award in an economic injury case in Ohio history. He served as lead trial counsel for First American defeating a putative multibillion dollar consumer fraud RESPA (Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act) class action and defends mortgage servicers in various servicing class actions. Matt was a member of the lead trial team representing R.J. Reynolds in a $2 billion tobacco class action that resulted in a jury defense verdict, named one of the "Top Defense Wins of the Year" by The National Law Journal.

Matt's trial experience began at a unique program at Harvard Law, serving as a Massachusetts prosecutor with a perfect conviction rate in north Boston. He is the Partner-in-Charge of Jones Day's Texas Region, which encompasses two offices and nearly 200 lawyers.

Experience

  • Insurance company obtains full victory in nationwide putative class actionJones Day secured a full victory for a large national insurance company and several affiliated entities in a nationwide putative class action asserting RICO fraud claims and wage and hour claims in connection with the client’s design and operation of several independent contractor agent programs
  • Universities defend multidistrict putative class action litigation brought by former football playersJones Day is serving as lead counsel for all NCAA member institution defendants in a multidistrict litigation ("MDL") consolidating more than 500 putative class actions brought on behalf of former football players.
  • Penn State prevails in whistleblower action brought by former team physicianJones Day successfully defended The Pennsylvania State University, its head football coach, and two athletic department administrators in a whistleblower action brought by a former team physician.
  • Penn State defends COVID-19 tuition refund class actionsJones Day represents The Pennsylvania State University in three class action lawsuits brought by students and parents seeking refunds for tuition and fees for the spring 2020 semester after the university closed its campus and transitioned to online classes due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Notre Dame defends lawsuit brought by former student-athlete in Kentucky relating to football concussion injuriesJones Day is defending the University of Notre Dame in a personal injury lawsuit in Kentucky state court brought by a former football student-athlete.
  • Notre Dame defends personal injury lawsuit brought by former student-athlete in Ohio relating to football concussion injuriesJones Day is defending the University of Notre Dame in a personal injury lawsuit in Ohio state court brought by the estate and widow of a former football student-athlete.
  • Penn State defends wrongful discharge action brought by former head athletic trainerJones Day is defending The Pennsylvania State University and two athletic department administrators in a wrongful discharge action brought by the university's former head athletic trainer, who resigned to accept a position at another school following a reduction in his role and compensation.
  • Penn State defends lawsuit brought by former student-athlete relating to alleged hazing by teammatesJones Day is defending The Pennsylvania State University and its head football coach in an action brought by a former football student-athlete who alleges that his freshman teammates hazed and harassed him.
  • Infrastructure firm defends post-reorganization claimsJones Day is defending an international infrastructure company in Texas federal court against fiduciary duty and fraudulent transfer claims stemming from construction and bankruptcy disputes.
  • Insurance company obtains dismissal in putative class actions asserting Medicare secondary payer claimsJones Day obtained dismissals on behalf of an insurance company in two related putative class actions brought in the Southern District of Ohio alleging liability under the Medicare Secondary Payer provision of the Medicare Act.
  • First American Title obtains dismissal in putative class action involving mortgage closing feesJones Day represented First American Title in a putative class action alleging that Texas law proscribes certain fees charged in connection with mortgage closings.
  • CoreLogic Document Solutions defends against FDCPA, RESPA, TILA, FCRA, and Ohio common law claimsJones Day successfully defended CoreLogic Document Solutions against FDCPA, RESPA, TILA, FCRA, and Ohio common law claims arising out of alleged improper document signing activities.
  • Global Fitness Holdings defends two putative class actions alleging consumer fraud violationsJones Day defended Global Fitness Holdings, LLC in two consolidated putative statewide class actions brought by plaintiffs alleging that "Urban Active" fitness centers engaged in various consumer fraud violations.
  • First American Title wins Seventh Circuit appeal affirming denial of Illinois statewide RESPA class certificationOn behalf of First American Title Insurance Company, Jones Day persuaded the Seventh Circuit to affirm the denial of class certification in a putative Illinois statewide class action alleging violations of the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) and other laws.
  • University of Notre Dame investigates death of student videographerJones Day served as counsel to the University of Notre Dame in connection with an investigation into the death of a student videographer at Notre Dame football practice.
  • Diebold sells its U.S. election systems business to Election Systems & SoftwareJones Day advised Diebold, Inc in the sale of its U.S. election systems business, primarily consisting of its Allen, Texas-based subsidiary, Premier Election Solutions, Inc., to Election Systems & Software, Inc. (ES&S), a leading company in the election systems industry.
  • First American Title Insurance successfully appeals majority of adverse jury verdict in largest damages award given in economic injury case in Ohio historyJones Day is counsel for First American Title Insurance Company and its executive, James Magnuson, as appellate and retrial counsel after an adverse jury verdict in the amount of $43.2 million.
  • Black Diamond Mining files bankruptcyJones Day represented Black Diamond Mining Company and its affiliated debtors, producers of up to 2 million tons per year of steam coal in Eastern Kentucky, in their chapter 11 restructuring.
  • First American Title successfully defends against putative class action alleging illegal kickbacks to attorney agentsJones Day represented First American Title Insurance Company in a putative class action alleging unlawful payments to attorney agents.
  • Time Warner resolves securities litigation involving AOL's revenuesJones Day, along with other firms, settled and obtained dismissal of client Time Warner Inc. in a $2.5 billion securities litigation case brought by five Ohio public employee retirement pension funds.
    • View All

    May 2020 Alerts

    Ninth Circuit Permits Education-Related Benefits but Rejects Student-Athletes' Bid for Payments Akin to Salaries

    May 2020 White Paper

    A Guide to Navigating the COVID-19 Crisis for Institutions of Higher Education

    March 2019 Alerts

    Court Rejects Student-Athletes' Latest "Pay-for-Play" Bid

    May 2018 Alerts

    Bet on It: Supreme Court Clears Path for States to Legalize Sports Gambling

    March 2017 Commentaries

    Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act Would Mandate Sanctions for Frivolous Claims

    Speaking Engagements

    • February 19, 2014
      Effective Implementation of Federal Servicing Rules/RESPA and CFPB Compliance, Mortgage Bankers Association National Servicing Conference
    • December 9, 2010
      Principles of Crisis Management
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