David S. Stellings

David Stellings represents consumers and small businesses from around the world in complex litigation in federal and state courts.

Mr. Stellings is a member of the firm’s Executive Committee. For approximately the last 28 years, Mr. Stellings has focused on product liability, consumer fraud, financial fraud, and breach of contract cases. His clients and class members have received more than $18 billion as a result of his advocacy. Several of Mr. Stellings’ recent cases are described below.

Mr. Stellings is Court-appointed co-lead counsel in a large multidistrict class action litigation pending in federal court in Los Angeles. Plaintiffs allege certain auto part makers and automobile manufacturers - including ZF-TRW, Hyundai, Kia, Mitsubishi, Toyota, Honda, and Fiat Chrysler - caused consumers to buy and overpay for millions of cars that have defective airbag and seat belt systems. These defective safety systems have led to a number of deaths and serious injuries. Plaintiffs entered into settlements with Toyota, Mitsubishi, Hyundai and Kia valued at more than $225 million. The litigation against the other defendants continues.

Mr. Stellings is lead counsel in a proposed nationwide class action pending in the Southern District of New York against Underdog Fantasy. Plaintiffs allege Underdog operates an unlicensed, illegal sportsbook that masquerades as a fantasy sports platform.

Mr. Stellings is lead counsel in a class action against Toyota Industries Corporation (“TICO”) in which plaintiffs allege that TICO cheated on emissions tests of forklifts it sold throughout the United States. In early 2026 the parties agreed to a class settlement worth approximately $436 million, including a non-reversionary cash payment of $299.5 million and a valuable service and maintenance program. The settlement is subject to Court approval.

Mr. Stellings is Court-appointed co-lead counsel in another defective-airbag-related multidistrict class action litigation pending in federal court in Atlanta. Plaintiffs allege airbag manufacturer ARC, along with several other part suppliers and automakers, manufactured and sold more than 50 million vehicles with defective airbags that sometimes explode in a crash, and send razor-sharp pieces of steel shrapnel into the faces, necks and bodies of drivers and passengers.

Mr. Stellings is co-lead counsel in a class action in federal court in Miami against truck manufacturer Hino. Plaintiffs allege Hino engaged in various types of emission cheating, and that as a result Hino purchasers paid too much for their trucks. The parties settled the case for $237.5 million plus valuable extended and additional warranties.

Mr. Stellings is co-lead counsel in a case in federal court in Northern California against General Motors, in which plaintiffs allege the airbags in millions of GM trucks are calibrated improperly to fail to deploy in certain types of moderate and severe crashes, which can lead to serious injuries and/or death.

Mr. Stellings is a member of the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee in a multidistrict litigation pending in federal court in Pittsburgh against Philips Respironics and its parent companies. Plaintiffs allege defendants manufactured and sold more than 10 million defective CPAP machines, which caused economic damage and physical injuries to the people who bought and used the machines. The case settled for more than $1.5 billion.

Mr. Stellings is part of the leadership team in the historic Volkswagen “Clean Diesel” multidistrict litigation, in which plaintiffs alleged that Volkswagen intentionally and systematically cheated its customers, lied to the government, and misled the public about the emissions of its diesel engine vehicles sold under the Volkswagen, Audi, and Porsche brands. The Court approved a settlement relating to 2.0-Liter engines worth approximately $10 billion in cash, as well as a 3.0-Liter engine settlement with an estimated value between $1.2 and $4 billion. The Court also approved a separate $327.5 million settlement with Bosch for designing the “defeat device” software in the affected VW vehicle engines. Class members in these cases recovered 100% of their alleged economic damages.

Mr. Stellings is a member of the leadership team in the Takata exploding airbag multidistrict litigation. Plaintiffs in that case allege that more than 40 million class members were damaged when airbag manufacturer Takata and several major automobile manufacturers knowingly exposed them to the risk of being killed or injured by shrapnel from exploding airbags. Certain automaker defendants in the case have settled for a total of more than $1.5 billion, and the litigation continues against the remaining defendants.

Mr. Stellings was on the leadership team in a case against various automakers who allegedly cheated fuel economy tests for certain gasoline-powered vehicles, and as a result, represented to regulators and consumers that the vehicles obtained better fuel economy than they actually did. The litigation and intensive settlement negotiations resulted in a non-reversionary $96.5 million settlement that provides class members “full compensation”-i.e., 100 on the dollar-for their alleged losses.

Mr. Stellings led a similar class action against Porsche for fuel economy cheating. The case settled for more than $80 million, close to 100% of the economic damages class members experienced.

Mr. Stellings was part of the leadership team in the Fiat Chrysler “EcoDiesel” multidistrict litigation, in which plaintiffs alleged that Fiat Chrysler and Bosch designed and installed cheating emissions software in more than 100,000 vehicles. The Court approved a settlement that required Fiat Chrysler to fix the vehicles, and provided class members $307.5 million in cash plus a valuable extended warranty.

Honors & Awards

•“Lawdragon 500 Global Plaintiff Lawyers,” Lawdragon, 2024-2026
•“Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America,” Lawdragon, 2026
•“Lawdragon 500 Leading Global Antitrust & Competition Lawyers,” Lawdragon, 2025, 2026
•“Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America,” Lawdragon, 2025, 2026
•“Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers in America,” Lawdragon, 2023-2026
•“Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyers in America,” Lawdragon, 2021-2026
•“Lawdragon Finalist,” Lawdragon, 2009
•“Super Lawyer for New York Metro,” Super Lawyers, 2012-2025
•“Consumer Attorney of the Year Finalist,” Consumer Attorneys of California, 2017
•“Trial Lawyer of the Year Finalist,” Public Justice, 2012

Publications & Presentations

•Speaker, Trial Lawyers of Mass Torts conference, December 2023
•Speaker, ABA National Class Action Institute, 2023
•Speaker, Miami Law Class Action & Complex Litigation Forum, 2023
•Speaker, “Trends in Class Action Litigation,” Trial Lawyers of Mass Torts Inaugural Conference, December 2022
•Speaker, “MDL-Who Wants One? Plaintiff, Defense and Judicial Perspectives on MDL Pros and Cons,” University of Miami School of Law 2020 Class Action & Complex Litigation Forum, January, 2020

In the News

•April 24, 2026
19 Lieff Cabraser Lawyers Named to the 2026 “Lawdragon 500 Global Plaintiff Lawyers” Guide
•March 27, 2026
Twenty-Three Lieff Cabraser Attorneys Named to Lawdragon’s “500 Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyers” List for 2026
•February 17, 2026
30 Lieff Cabraser Attorneys Recognized as Lawdragon “500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers” for 2026
•January 16, 2026
14 Lieff Cabraser Lawyers Named to Lawdragon’s 2nd Annual “Lawdragon 500 Leading Global Antitrust & Competition Lawyers” List
•January 9, 2026
Eleven Lieff Cabraser Partners Named to 2026 “Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America” List