The Class Action Playbook

by Anderson, Brian; Trask, Andrew

• ISBN13: 9780199933785
• ISBN10: 0199933782
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2012-09-14
• Publisher: Lexis Nexis

Summary

The Class Action Playbook is a unique and strategic "how to" guide for practitioners seeking to bring or defend a class action. Every important issue is addressed, including the initial shape of the proposed action, choice of forum, case-management schedules, pre-certification discovery and motions activity, briefing and argument of the class-certification motion, class notice, preparation for trial, class settlements, and the binding effects of class-action judgments. Experienced practitioners Brian Anderson and Andrew Trask analyze what decisions the plaintiff and defendant must make at each stage of a proposed class action, and the considerations that might drive different strategies at each stage. The authors explain the importance of every issue, the choices available to each side, and the factors each side should consider in choosing the best path to follow. The Class Action Playbook also contains a CD-ROM appendix of high-quality example documents used by plaintiffs and defendants in the litigation of each stage of a class action.

Author Biography

Brian Anderson is a partner in the Washington, DC office of O'Melveny Myers LLP. Over the past fifteen years, he has defended over 400 aggregated actions and class actions in state and federal courts in 39 states and the District of Columbia. Andrew Trask is counsel in the London office of McGuireWoods LLP. He has defended more than 100 class actions, involving all stages of the litigation process. He maintains the Class Action Countermeasures blog at classactioncountermeasures.com

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	p. xi
Preface to the Second Edition	p. xiii
The Strategic Approach to Class-Action Litigation	p. xv
What Class Actions are and Why They Exist	p. 1
The Tradition of Single-Plaintiff Lawsuits	p. 2
The Limitations of Single-Plaintiff Lawsuits	p. 3
Methods of Aggregating Parties	p. 4
Joinder (Rule 20)	p. 5
Intervention (Rule 24)	p. 7
Consolidation (Rule 42)	p. 8
Multi-District Litigation	p. 9
Other Forms of Aggregation	p. 10
Class Actions	p. 12
Benefits of the Class-Action Device	p. 13
Costs of the Class-Action Device	p. 16
Class Certification Requirements	p. 21
Numerosity	p. 23
Feasibility of Joinder	p. 23
Ascertainability	p. 25
Commonality	p. 28
Typicality	p. 29
Adequacy of Representation	p. 33
Rule 23(b)(1) Classes	p. 37
Rule 23(b)(1)(a) "Incompatible Result" Classes	p. 37
Rule 23(b)(1)(b) "Limited Fund" Classes	p. 39
Rule 23(b)(2) Injunction Classes	p. 40
Hybrid Classes	p. 42
Rule 23(b)(3) Damages Classes	p. 43
Predominance of Common Issues	p. 43
Superiority	p. 49
Class Counsel	p. 55
Constructing a Class Action Lawsuit	p. 59
Types of Class Actions	p. 60
Securities	p. 61
Labor/Employment	p. 64
Product Liability	p. 66
Consumer Fraud	p. 67
Antitrust	p. 67
Environmental	p. 69
Civil Rights	p. 70
Statutory Violations	p. 70
Defendant Class Actions	p. 72
Identifying a Potential Class Action	p. 73
Forum Considerations	p. 76
Selecting Appropriate Defendants	p. 82
Identifying Class Representatives	p. 84
Drafting the Complaint	p. 87
Selecting Claims	p. 88
Selecting Remedies	p. 89
Defining the Proposed Class	p. 91
Pleading	p. 93
Working with Other Plaintiff's Counsel	p. 93
Pre-Certification Steps	p. 95
Plaintiff's Opening Moves	p. 97
Media Coverage	p. 98
Generating External Pressure on Defendants	p. 100
Defendant's Response to Complaint	p. 101
Invoking Arbitration	p. 102
Removal	p. 104
Diversity Jurisdiction/Class Action Fairness Act	p. 105
Federal Question Jurisdiction	p. 107
Appeals	p. 109
Consolidation	p. 110
Motion to Dismiss	p. 110
Standing	p. 113
Personal Jurisdiction	p. 113
Pleading Deficiencies	p. 114
Substantive Legal Problems	p. 115
Early Challenge to Class Certification	p. 116
Answer	p. 119
Offer of Judgment	p. 120
Motion for Sanctions	p. 122
Amending the Complaint	p. 123
Case Management Orders	p. 124
Timing	p. 124
Discovery Procedures	p. 125
Motions Practice	p. 127
Appointment of Lead Counsel	p. 127
Pre-Certification Discovery	p. 129
Initial Disclosures	p. 130
Protective Orders	p. 130
Plaintiff's Discovery	p. 131
Interrogatories	p. 132
Document Requests	p. 134
Requests for Admission	p. 135
Depositions	p. 135
Defendant's Discovery	p. 139
Interrogatories	p. 139
Document Requests	p. 140
Requests for Admission	p. 140
Depositions	p. 140
Expert Witnesses	p. 142
Pre-Certification Summary Judgment Motion	p. 144
The Class Certification Motion	p. 147
Plaintiff's Certification Motion	p. 150
Themes	p. 151
Arguments in Support of Certification	p. 155
Numerosity	p. 155
Commonality	p. 155
Typicality	p. 156
Adequacy	p. 157
Availability of Rule 23(b)(1)	p. 158
Availability of Rule 23(b)(2)	p. 158
Availability of Rule 23(b)(3)	p. 159
Predominance	p. 159
Superiority	p. 161
Adequacy of Counsel	p. 162
Packaging the Presentation	p. 163
Defendant's Certification Opposition	p. 165
Themes	p. 166
Arguments Against Certification	p. 168
Numerosity	p. 168
Commonality	p. 169
Typicality	p. 170
Adequacy	p. 171
Predominance	p. 173
Superiority	p. 175
Injunctive Relief	p. 177
Packaging the Presentation	p. 177
Plaintiff's Certification Reply	p. 179
The Certification Hearing	p. 180
Post-Certification Steps	p. 183
Interlocutory Appeal	p. 184
Rule 23(f) Standards for Granting Interlocutory Appeal	p. 184
Grounds for Appeal	p. 185
How Appellate Courts Review Certification Orders	p. 191
Stays	p. 192
Packaging the Rule 23(f) Petition	p. 192
Packaging the Rule 23(f) Petition Response	p. 193
Class Notice	p. 194
When/Why Notice Required	p. 194
Timing of Notice	p. 196
Form of Notice	p. 197
Content of Notice	p. 202
Cost of Notice	p. 206
Trial Preparation	p. 209
Trial Structure	p. 211
Unitary Class Trial	p. 211
Bifurcated Trial	p. 212
Pre-Trial Discovery	p. 214
Jury vs. Bench Trial	p. 215
Post-Certification Summary Judgment	p. 217
Decertification Motion	p. 218
In Limine Motions	p. 219
Jury Instructions/Verdict Forms	p. 219
Press Issues	p. 221
The Trial	p. 221
Post-Trial Motions	p. 224
Settling Class Actions	p. 227
Legal Background	p. 230
Rule 23(e)	p. 230
Class Action Fairness Act (CAFA)	p. 234
Types of Settlements	p. 236
Claims-made ("Reverter") Settlements	p. 237
Cy Pres Funds	p. 238
Coupons	p. 240
Injunctions/Consent Decrees	p. 243
Therapeutic Relief	p. 244
Named-Plaintiff Settlements	p. 245
Class-wide Settlement Steps	p. 246
Mediation	p. 248
Drafting the Settlement Agreement	p. 249
Preliminary Approval Order	p. 254
Class Settlement Notice	p. 256
Opt-Outs/Objections	p. 258
Final Approval Hearing	p. 262
Settlement Implementation	p. 263
Attorneys' Fees	p. 263
Determining Reasonable Fee	p. 264
Lodestar	p. 264
Percentage of Common Fund	p. 265
Negotiation of Fees	p. 266
Court Approval of Fees	p. 266
Class Action Judgments	p. 267
Enforcing Preclusion	p. 269
Res Judicata	p. 270
Collateral Estoppel	p. 270
Using Comity to Protect Denials of Class Certification	p. 271
Challenging Preclusion	p. 272
Due Process	p. 273
Adequacy of Representation	p. 273
Limiting Collateral Exposure	p. 275
Government Actions	p. 275
Opt-Out Suits	p. 276
International Class Action Practice	p. 277
Multi-National Class Actions Litigation Teams	p. 279
Types of Multi-National Class Actions	p. 279
Cross-Border Class Actions	p. 279
Alien Tort Claims Act	p. 280
Prudential Challenges	p. 282
Political Question Doctrine	p. 282
Act of State Doctrine	p. 283
Comity	p. 284
Procedural Challenges	p. 285
Jurisdiction	p. 285
Service of Process	p. 286
Forum non conveniens	p. 286
Certifying a Multi-National Class	p. 288
Enforcing Foreign Judgments	p. 289
Aggregated Litigation Devices in Other Countries	p. 290
The Canadian Model	p. 291
The Australian Model	p. 295
The Opt-In Model	p. 296
The Ombudsman/Consumer Association Model	p. 298
Mass Joinder Proceedings/Quasi-Class Actions	p. 299
The "Test Case" Model	p. 300
Table of Cases	p. 301
Index	p. 315
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