Michael J. Boni founded Boni and Zack LLC in March 2007 after practicing complex commercial litigation at Kohn, Swift and Graf, P.C. for 14 years. He specializes in antitrust, copyright, consumer and class action litigation.
Education
Mr. Boni graduated from the University of Pennsylvania School of Law, received an M.A. degree in psychology from the University of Connecticut, and received an A.B. degree from Albright College. Mr. Boni is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania, the Supreme Court of the United States, the United States Courts of Appeals for the Second, Third, Sixth and Ninth Circuits, and the United States District Courts for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Northern District of California, and Eastern District of Michigan.
Experience
Mr. Boni has served as lead counsel in a number of complex matters, including Authors Guild, et al. v. Google Inc., No. 05-CV-8136-JES (S.D.N.Y.) ($125 million copyright infringement class action settlement pending concerning the Google Book Search program); In re Literary Works in Electronic Databases Copyright Litig., MDL No. 1379 (S.D.N.Y.) ($18 million copyright class action settlement approved and on appeal); Random House, Inc. v. Rosetta Books, LLC, et al., No. 01-Civ-1728 (S.D.N.Y.) (successful defense against copyright infringement claims brought by Random House against e-book publisher Rosetta Books); In re Pillar Point Partners Antitrust and Patent Litig., MDL No. 1202 (D. Ariz.) ($50 million antitrust class action settlement); In re Western States Wholesale Natural Gas Antitrust Litig., MDL No. 1566 (D. Nev.) ($25 million antitrust class action settlement); Mikhail, et al. v. Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., No. BC 278163 (Superior Ct. Cal.) ($32 million consumer class action settlement); Anderson v. Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., BC 299977 (Cal. Sup. Ct., L.A. County) (consumer class action settled); In re Yahoo! Litig., CV06-2737-CAS (C.D. Cal.) (class action settlement pending on behalf of Yahoo's advertising customers for alleged unfair business practices); Next Proteins International v. Radonsky, et al., No. BC 304799 (Superior Ct. Cal.) (consumer class action settled); In re RF Tags Antitrust Litig., No. 02-CV-3730 (D.N.J.) ($4.6 million antitrust class action settlement); Pilkington, et al. v. U.S.Search.com, No. BC 234858 (Superior Ct. Cal.) ($1 million consumer class action settlement); True Communication, Inc., d/b/a Metrodate.com v. The Gator Corporation, No. CIV 430620 (Superior Ct. Cal.) (unfair competition class action settled); Miller v. Pep Boys, Inc., et al., No. 0201-41489 (C.C.P. Phila. Cy.) (consumer class action settled); Kleeman v. Verizon Communications Inc., et al. ($24 million consumer class action settled); In re Rio Hair Naturalizer Products Liability Litig., MDL No. 1055 (E.D. Mich.) ($4.5 million product liability class action settlement); In re AMC Shareholder Derivative Litig., No. 12855 (Del. Chancery) ($2.2 million settlement); Winigrad v. Franklin Electronics, (Superior Ct. N.J.) (consumer class action settled); Pacillo v. Philips Electronics, (Superior Ct. N.J.) (consumer class action settled).
In its opinion granting final settlement approval in Rio, the court stated that "the work of [lead counsel] and the manner in which they conducted themselves exhibited the very highest level of professionalism and competence in our legal system." 1996 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 20440, *57 (E.D. Mich. December 20, 1996).
Mr. Boni recently served on the Executive Committee in In re: OSB Antitrust Litig., Master File No. 06-CV-00826 (E.D. Pa.) ($120 million antitrust class action settlement), and on Plaintiff’s Executive Committee in In re: Sovereign Bancorp, Inc. Shareholders Litig., Nov. Term 2008, Case 2587 (Phila. C.C.P.) (shareholder class and derivative action settlement pending approval). He presently serves on the Executive Committee of In re: Payment Card Interchange Fee and Merchant Discount Antitrust Litig., No. 05-md-1720 (E.D.N.Y.)
In addition, Mr. Boni has played an integral role in the presentation of other complex matters, including: In re Relafen Antitrust Litig., Master File No. 01-12239 (D. Mass.) ($175 million antitrust class action settlement); In re Disposable Contact Lens Antitrust Litig., MDL Docket No. 1030 (M.D. Fla.) ($75 million antitrust class action settlement); Schwab v. America Online, Inc., No. 96 CH 13732 (Cook County, Ill.) (consumer class action settlement); In re: Intelligent Electronics, Inc. Securities Litig., Master File No. 92-CV-1905 (E.D. Pa.) ($10 million securities class action settlement); In re Lockheed Securities Litig., Master File No. CV89-6745-TJH (Bx) (C.D. Ca.) ($17 million securities class action settlement); In re Orion Securities Litig., Civil Action No. 91-3304 DT (JRx) (E.D.N.Y.); In re Budd Pension Plan Litig., Master File No. 91-4082 (E.D. Pa.) (ERISA class action settled); In re: Toys "R" Us Antitrust Litig., MDL Docket No. 1211 (E.D.N.Y.) (antitrust class action settlement); First Eastern Corporation, et al. v. Mainwaring, et al., Civil Action No. 92-CV-1176 (RLB) (E.D. Pa.).
Mr. Boni was named one of Pennsylvania's "Super Lawyers" in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009.
Personal
Mr. Boni is a past Chair of the Board of Directors of the Anti-Defamation League (Metropolitan Philadelphia Board), and is a member of the Board of Directors of Community Legal Services in Philadelphia and serves on that Board's Leadership Council.
Law.com article on Michael Boni
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