Hanson Bridgett Prevails for Golden Gate Bridge Highway & Transportation District and Bay Area Toll Authority

On October 5, 2023, a litigation team led by Hanson Bridgett partner Alexandra Atencio secured the dismissal of a putative class-action lawsuit on behalf of long-time clients the Golden Gate Bridge Highway &  Transportation District (District) and the Bay Area Toll Authority (BATA).

“The dismissal is a testament to the collaboration and resilience that so many of our attorneys put forth throughout the lengthy duration of this case,” said Atencio. “We are thrilled about this victory for our clients, and I am thankful for the assistance, hard work, and sacrifice from all who contributed to this great win.”

The case, dating back to 2017, involves the electronic toll collection system used on Bay Area toll bridges. The plaintiffs filed a putative class action alleging that the agencies collected and used personally identifiable information in violation of state law. The court denied the plaintiffs’ motion for class certification, finding that the claims lacked merit as a matter of law. However, one of the plaintiffs continued to pursue her remaining individual claims. Because the plaintiff lacked a viable legal theory to pursue at trial, the court vacated the October 9 trial date and stated it will issue judgment in the agencies’ favor. This is a decisive victory for the toll agencies after a protracted litigation process that lasted nearly six years.

The Hanson Bridgett team assisting Atencio included associates, David Casarrubias and Thomas Rivera, and law clerk, Jake Zarone.