Last week the Fifth Circuit issued a short opinion that made an important point that does not arise often in class certification decisions. Class certification failed because the plaintiffs’ proposed theory of liability would benefit only some class members and disadvantage others, who would be overpaid if the plaintiffs’ theory were correct. For that reason
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Auto Insurance Total Loss Class Action: Ninth Circuit Affirms Denial of Class Certification
Numerous class action suits have been filed against auto insurers regarding the valuation of vehicles that are total losses. These cases typically allege that insurers are undervaluing vehicles in some common way or in violation of a state regulation. The Ninth Circuit recently affirmed the denial of class certification in a published decision that I…
Recent First Circuit Opinion Addresses Strategies for Litigating Predominance in Class Action Litigation
By Kevin Daly
On August 30, 2021, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit issued a decision in Bais Yaakov of Spring Valley v. ACT, Inc. that addresses how plaintiffs can satisfy the predominance requirement in federal class actions. (The opinion (“Op.”) is available here). The decision held that on the facts of this case,…
TransUnion v. Ramirez: New Standing Decision Presents Strategic Considerations for Class Action Defendants
Last Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a new decision on the requirement that plaintiffs have “standing” to sue in federal court. More specifically, the Court addressed what is required for a plaintiff to demonstrate “concrete harm.” Following this decision, defendants in class actions will have significant strategic decisions to make about whether and when…
Are Incentive Awards for Named Plaintiffs in Class Actions Allowed? Not According to the Eleventh Circuit
A recent decision by the Eleventh Circuit struck down a practice that is commonplace in class action settlements—providing a modest incentive award to a named plaintiff. In Johnson v. NPAS Solutions, LLC, No. 18-12344, 2020 WL 5553312 (11th Cir. Sept. 17, 2020), the district court, as part of the final approval of a class…
Upcoming Webinar on COVID-19 Business Interruption Insurance Class Actions
Over the last several weeks, numerous putative class actions have been filed against insurers seeking coverage for business interruption claims arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. On May 21, 2020, I will be a panelist, along with Robert M. Cooper of Boies Schiller Flexner LLP and Mark P. Rapazzini of Heffler Claims Group, in a Perrin…
Does Bristol-Myers Squibb Apply to Class Actions? D.C. and Seventh Circuit Issue New Decisions
This week the D.C. Circuit and Seventh Circuit issued decisions addressing a question that has been hotly debated by class action lawyers on the plaintiffs’ and defense sides: whether the Supreme Court’s decision on personal jurisdiction in Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. v. Superior Court of California, 137 S. Ct. 1773 (2017) (blog post)…
Supreme Court Decision on ERISA Statute of Limitations May Help Defendants Defeat Class Certification
Believe it or not, the Supreme Court of the United States just decided whether “to have ‘actual knowledge’ of a piece of information, one must in fact be aware of it.” The Court said “yes,” and it was unanimous. Most non-lawyers (and even some lawyers) would probably be surprised that this issue was even being…
Tendering Full Relief to Moot a Class Action: It’s Still Possible in Illinois
When a business is sued in a proposed class action and there is only a small amount at stake on the named plaintiff’s claim, often one of the first thoughts that comes to mind is: can’t we just pay the full value of the named plaintiff’s claim and make the case go away? As you…
Superiority and Mootness of Injunctive Relief Claim Addressed in Recent Denial of Class Certification
A recent decision by a Washington federal district court caught my eye because it involved a circumstance I often see—a new development in the law results in a class action lawsuit being filed before the defendant has an opportunity to change its practices in response to the change (or clarification) in the law. This decision…