Hammered by the hammer clause: Does it mean what it says?

A clause requiring a firm's consent before any settlement can be made in a class action litigation is called a "pride," "consent" or "hammer" clause. It was designed to allow a law firm the option of refusing a settlement in order to clear its good name at trial. While the hammer clause appears unfair on its face, there are no cases that so held. In fact, there are only three cases that discuss the clause: 1. Transit Casualty co. v. Spink Corp. (1979), 2. Commercial Union Assurance Cos. (1980), and 3. Security Insurance Co. of Hartford v. Schipporeit (1995). Each case is discussed.