Erin Green Comite

Courts have recognized Ms. Comite’s professionalism and competence.  As court-appointed co-lead counsel in First Choice Federal Credit Union v. The Wendy’s Co., No. 16-cv-00506 (W.D. Pa.), Ms. Comite represented a class of financial institutions that incurred losses arising out of a data breach and achieved a $50 million settlement—one of the largest data breach settlements reached on behalf of financial institutions.  In granting final approval to the settlement, U.S. Magistrate Judge Maureen Kelly commended Ms. Comite and her co-counsel, stating: “it’s apparent to the Court that there was substantial and significant high-level work performed by counsel for the plaintiffs” and “as involved as this case was, if every case I had was as well-organized and professionally presented as this case has been, my life would be much easier.”  Wendy’s, ECF No. 194, Nov. 6, 2019, Hrg. Tr. at 27-28, 32.

While Ms. Comite is experienced in all aspects of complex pre-trial litigation, she is particularly accomplished in achieving favorable results in discovery disputes.  In Hohider v. United Parcel Service, Inc., No.2:04-cv-00363 (W.D. Pa.), Ms. Comite spearheaded a nearly year-long investigation into every facet of UPS’s preservation methods, requiring intensive, full-time efforts by a team of attorneys and paralegals well beyond that required in the normal course of pre-trial litigation.  Ms. Comite assisted in devising the plan of investigation in weekly conference calls with the Special Master, coordinated the review of over 30,000 documents that uncovered a blatant trail of deception and prepared dozens of briefs to describe the spoliation and its ramifications on the case to the Special Master.  In reaction to UPS’s flagrant discovery abuses brought to light through the investigation, the Court conditioned the parties’ settlement of the three individual ADA cases on UPS adopting and implementing preservation practices that passed the approval of the Special Master.

Ms. Comite also was recently the sole trial counsel in a four-day jury trial in federal court of a prisoner civil rights case brought pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §1983 for violation of constitutional rights under the First Amendment and was awarded Special Recognition by the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut for her dedication and service as appointed pro bono counsel, providing guidance, expertise, and quality legal services to her client in the interest of justice, and without the promise of compensation.  Ms. Comite’s appellate victories in consumer class actions include White v. Beech-Nut Nutrition Co., No. 23-220-CV, 2024 WL 194699 (2d Cir. Jan. 18, 2024) (on brief) (achieving reversal of dismissal on primary jurisdiction grounds); Nunez v. Saks Inc., 771 F. App’x 401 (9th Cir. May 30, 2019) (oral argument and on brief) (achieving reversal of dismissal); Chavez v. Nestle USA, Inc., 511 F. App’x 606 (9th Cir. 2013) (on brief) (achieving a reversal of dismissal); and In re Nutella Mktg. & Sales Practices Litig., 589 F. App’x 53 (3d Cir. 2014) (on brief) (defending settlement from professional objectors).

Prior to entering law school, Ms. Comite served in the White House as Assistant to the Special Counsel to President Clinton.  In that capacity, she handled matters related to the White House’s response to investigations, including four independent counsel investigations, a Justice Department task force investigation, two major oversight investigations by the House of Representatives and the Senate, and several other congressional oversight investigations.

In addition, Ms. Comite supports Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, Special Olympics, and the American Heart Association.