Judge Slams ‘Hold-Up Artist’ in $1.5 Billion Anthropic Pact (1)

A federal judge ordered a third-party law firm to inform prospective clients that opting out of a record $1.5 billion class action settlement with Anthropic PBC could leave them empty handed, doubling down on his position that the firm was committing fraud by tricking authors into leaving the deal.

Judge William Alsup said ClaimsHero’s advertising tactics aimed at luring authors out of the settlement was a “bait-and-switch” that could dupe plaintiffs into believing they’ll receive a cash award, when they’re actually opting out to join a potential separate lawsuit. During the nearly four-hour hearing in San Francisco, Alsup reiterated his ...