LAW 836 - Class Actions:Complex Litigation

College of Law
3 credit(s) Irregularly

Class action is the most controversial procedural device. After studying the technical issues (prerequisites, certification, notice, opt out, settlement, res judicata) and its specific applications (consumer, antitrust, security, discrimination, mass tort) in concrete cases (tobacco, asbestos, Wal-Mart), you will be able to better understand the political and social implications behind class actions. Although class actions may bring social change and right injustices, it may also be improperly used to harass and blackmail defendants into settling non-meritorious claims. The course also deals with non-class aggregation, like joinder, impleader, interpleader, intervention, consolidation, transfers, and bankruptcy. It is also an excellent opportunity to review civil procedure concepts.