The Law Of Class Actions And Other Aggregate Litigation

The third edition of this casebook reflects the many developments that have occurred in aggregate litigation since 2013 while continuing to treat the subject as a coherent whole. This edition includes a short, systematic introduction to the range of different aggregation techniques and then pays detailed attention to class actions, multidistrict litigation (MDL), parens-patriae suits, bankruptcy, and arbitration. In particular, this edition features a new chapter devoted to MDL, in which topics range from selecting the transferee court, choosing what law should apply, and exploring the judicial role in examining MDL's effect on settlement and leadership selection. As before, the casebook does more than just present the law--it considers multiple perspectives on policy, litigation strategy, judicial practice, financial considerations, and empirical findings. The book fills three gaps in the market for teaching materials on the U.S. civil justice system. First, it treats "aggregate litigation" as a cohesive field of law that encompasses all devices for processing claims en masse. Second, the book confronts forthrightly the reality of our civil justice system as one geared toward settlement, not trial. From this vantage point, the casebook sees the processes for aggregate litigation as vehicles through which to achieve comprehensive, or broadly encompassing, resolution of related civil claims. Third, the book frames the legitimacy of preclusion in aggregate litigation by drawing, among other things, on conceptions of legitimacy in other settings, such as private contract and public legislation. In so doing, the casebook encourages students to see cross-cutting connections with their other courses on such topics as contracts, corporations, and administrative law.

The second edition of this casebook treats the subject of aggregate litigation as a coherent whole. The new authors have preserved the original focus while updating, revising and enriching the discussions of particular topics. The materials on class actions have been tightened and reorganized, reflecting recent judicial decisions that have made class actions harder to certify, and the materials on other procedural devices, including consolidations and arbitration, have been strengthened. The discussions contain more information about litigation strategies, judicial practices, financial considerations, and empirical findings. As before, this book fills three gaps in the market for teaching materials on the U.S. civil justice system. First, it establishes aggregate litigation as a cohesive field of procedural law, one that encompasses all devices for processing claims en masse, including class actions, multi-district litigations and other forms of consolidation, aggregate settlements, parens patriae lawsuits, bankruptcy reorganizations, and private arbitrations. Second, the casebook confronts forthrightly the reality of our civil justice system as one geared toward settlement, not the rare event of trial. From this vantage point, the casebook sees the processes for aggregate litigation as vehicles through which to achieve comprehensive, or broadly encompassing, resolution of related civil claims. Third, the casebook frames the legitimacy of preclusion in aggregate litigation by drawing, among other things, on aspects of private contract and public legislation. In so doing, the casebook encourages students to see cross-cutting connections with their other courses on such topics as contracts, corporations, and administrative law.

The Principles aim to help judges, legislators, and others make aggregation decisions correctly, and to improve the management of cases in which aggregation is allowed. In addition to formal aggregation in litigated settings, such as with class actions, the work addresses a broader array of cases that are bundled together and settled or tried to test the value of related claims.

This casebook focuses on one of the most important & dynamic areas of modern federal civil practice -- aggregate-party litigation, particularly class actions. Examples of such litigation include path-breaking cases involving Agent Orange, breast implants, tobacco, & contraceptive devices. In addition to class actions, the text addresses joinder, consolidation, intervention, impleader, interpleader, multi-district litigation, & bankruptcy, among other topics. It includes rich theoretical materials, as well as practical discussions useful for a student contemplating a professional focus in class actions.

International authors describe class action procedure in this concise, comparative, and empirical perspective on aggregate litigation.

Covers all of the major topics of class action law and practice, such as commencement of a class action, requirements for class certification, class action discovery, notice to class members, "opt-out" rights, Seventh Amendment and due process issues, class settlements, remedies, appellate review, issue and claim preclusion, and ethical and policy issues. Also contains a special focus on securities, mass tort, and employment discrimination class actions, defendant class actions and shareholder derivative suits. Explores the latest cutting-edge issues in multi-party litigation and discusses numerous ground-breaking court decisions.

In class actions, attorneys effectively hire clients rather than act as their agent. Lawyer-financed, lawyer-controlled, and lawyer-settled, this entrepreneurial litigation invites lawyers to act in their own interest. John Coffee’s goal is to save class action, not discard it, and to make private enforcement of law more democratically accountable.

Presenting twenty-two years of multidistrict litigation data, this book exposes a systematic lack of checks and balances in our courts.