Even Henry V probably could not exhort the rule makers to action,1 but reported needs of the procedural system may do so. Surely the class-action rule is one of the most important in the rulebook. Equally surely, it has vocal supporters and opponents. Indeed, it has even attracted international detractors.2 Changing the rule therefore is a project that must be approached carefully and deliberately. Only after much thought should change proceed. Only after further evaluation, and public comment, should a change be adopted. But failing to modify the rule to adapt to evolving litigation conditions might produce greater problems than undertaking change.
The Advisory Committee on Civil Rules has formed a subcommittee to consider whether constructive changes can be made to Rule 23, and this article is designed to introduce the current discussions and invite readers to make suggestions about them.3 This project is in its formative stages, and it seems singularly appropriate for this journal to include a report about the current orientation. The subcommittee has already identified issues that seem to warrant attention, as explained below. During 2015, work will move forward, but the earliest that draft amendments could be published for comment would be the summer of 2016. This article serves as something of an invitation for reactions to the issues described below and also to suggest additional issues that may warrant attention. Because the work is moving forward, the earlier comments are received the more helpful they likely will be.
It should be clear from the outset, however, that there is no assurance that any change will actually be formally proposed. And as the history of past amendment proposals shows, a formal proposal by no means leads automatically to an actual amendment. So it makes sense to begin with the rulemaking background and then introduce the ideas now under consideration.
The 1966 amendment of Rule 23 was the great watershed between the modern rule and the âpre-modernâ class action. As Professor Stephen Yeazell has demonstrated,4 the modern class action is a lineal descendent of the medieval group litigation in England. In England, that sort of litigation was often an in-court expression of an existing social reality. Thus, the citizens of the Village of X might seek relief collectively against the lord. In somewhat the same vein, the American Supreme Court in 1853 recognized a class action on behalf of some 1500 travelling preachers of the southern branch of the Methodist Episcopal Church against 3800 travelling preachers of the northern branch of the church in a dispute over church property resulting from disputes about slavery.5
Although there was an Equity Rule that dealt with class actions, there were not many cases. Nonetheless, Rule 23 was included in the original Federal Rules of Civil Procedure to carry forward the old equity practice.6 Original Rule 23 did so by embracing âjural relationshipsâ to distinguish among three types of class actions â the âtrueâ class action, involving a âjointâ or âcommonâ right, as in the case involving the Methodist Episcopal preachers, a âhybridâ class action, where the rights were âseveralâ rather than âjoint,â but the action sought an adjudication regarding specific property. Finally, there was a âspuriousâ class action, involving a right that was âseveralâ but presenting a common question and seeking common relief. In such instances, class members could elect to join the case, but unless they did the decree would not bind them.
Many were unhappy with the operation of original Rule 23. Professor Zechariah Chaffee, for example, criticized it in 1950 on the ground that he had as much trouble telling a âcommonâ from a âseveralâ right as telling whether some ties are green or blue. On balance, he concluded, âthe situation is so tangled and bewildering that I sometimes wonder whether the world would be any the worse off if the class-suit device had been left buried in the learned obscurity of Calvert on Parties to Suits in Equity.â7
Unhappiness with the original version of Rule 23 contributed to the decision to develop a revised rule in the 1960s. That effort produced the 1966 amendments, which abandoned the focus of the original rule on the sorts of legal categories that frustrated Professor Chaffee and emphasized a more functional attitude.8 Although there was some controversy within the Advisory Committee about the proposed changes, it is not clear now whether the drafters foresaw â or could have foreseen â the variety of ways in which the rule would be used in subsequent decades.9 As Professor Arthur Miller, who was present during the deliberations leading up to the 1966 amendments, explained:
The Committee obviously could not predict the great growth in complicated federal and state substantive law that would take place in such fields as race, gender, disability, and age discrimination; consumer protection; fraud; products liability; environmental protection; and pension litigation, let alone the exponential increase in class actions and multiparty/multi-claim practice that would flow from the expansion of those legal subjects.10
But it does seem that the drafters soon realized that new Rule 23 could have major importance, and that changing it could raise major issues. So they resolved to refrain from considering further changes for a quarter century thereafter.11
Almost immediately, the rule was embraced by some and used in a significant number of cases. As Professor Miller (soon to become Reporter to the Advisory Committee) explained in 1979, some classes were certified on the basis of ârather conclusory assertions of compliance with Rule 23(a) and (b),â and âthe procedure fell victim to overuse by its champions and misuse by some who sought to exploit it for reasons external to the merits of the case.â12 Decisions curtailing use of class actions followed. By the late 1980s, some were predicting that the class action would soon pass from the scene.13 But at the same time, concern with mass torts prompted some to try to adapt class actions so they could provide solutions to those problems. If it had a near-death experience in the late 1980s, the class action surely returned in the 1990s, and the rulemakers focused on it again.
In March 1991, the Judicial Conference approved a recommendation of its Ad Hoc Committee on Asbestos Litigation and requested that the Advisory Committee study whether changes to Rule 23 should be made to accommodate the needs of mass tort litigation.14 Beginning in 1991, the Advisory Committee ended its quarter-century abstinence and resumed consideration of Rule 23. At first, there was some consideration of a comprehensive rethinking of the rule like the one done in 1966.
But the actual proposals that emerged were less aggressive. After five years of work, the Advisory Committee produced a preliminary draft of proposed amendments to the rule.15 Rather than fundamentally rework the 1966 format, the package included several recommended revisions of that format:
(1) Revising the list of criteria for certifying a class under Rule 23(b)(3) to include, among others, the âmaturityâ of related litigation and consideration âwhether the probable relief to individual class members justifies the costs and burdens of class litigation.â16
(2) Adding a new Rule 23(b)(4), which would permit the parties to submit a proposed settlement of a Rule 23(b)(3) class action to the court for approval and permit the court to approve it as a binding class-action settlement even though the requirements of Rule 23(b)(3) might not be met for purposes of trial.17 This proposal was prompted in part by rulings of the Third Circuit that class actions could not be certified for settlement unless they could also be certified for trial.
(3) Modifying the timing requirement for certification decisions under Rule 23(c) so that it directed that the decision be made âwhen practicableâ rather than âas soon as practicable.â18
(4) Modifying the settlement approval provisions of Rule 23(e) to require the court to hold a hearing on whether to approve a proposed class settlement.19
(5) Adding Rule 23(f), permitting immediate appellate review of a decision whether to certify a class, at the discretion of the court of appeals.20
There was a great deal of public comment on these proposals. Much of it was critical. Eventually Judge Paul Niemeyer, then Chair of the Advisory Committee, had the commentary bound as a four-volume set of records on this rule-amendment episode. Meanwhile, other events moved forward. In particular, the Supreme Court granted certiorari in Amchem Products, Inc. v. Windsor 21 and decided the case, approving some differences in certification standards for settlement and litigation classes. After reviewing the public commentary and considering the possible impact of the Amchem decision, the Advisory Committee decided to recommend adoption only of the addition of new Rule 23(f), and that new rule provision went into effect on Dec. 1, 1998. This history may be cloudy or unknown to many who are concerned about the contemporary operation of class actions, but it is relevant to the question whether further changes to the rule should be pursued now.
Beginning in 2000, the Advisory Committee turned its attention to a somewhat different sort of Rule 23 amendments from the ones included in the 1996 package â procedural revision of the certification and settlement-approval process rather than substantive revision of the certification criteria.22 As in the 1991-96 period, this consideration of options included review of an extensive array of possibilities and gradual winnowing of the list of possible amendment ideas.
Unlike the 1996-98 experience, in this amendment package most of the proposed changes went forward and became effective in 2003.23 Because these rule changes were adopted, they are likely more familiar to contemporary readers than the proposals that were not adopted, so a brief recounting should suffice:
(1) Timing and Content of Certification Decision: Rule 23(c) was amended to direct that the certification decision be made â[a]t an early practicable time,â and that the certification order define the class, and the class claims and defenses. It also was amended to direct that the notice of certification to Rule 23(b)(3) classes âclearly and concisely state, in plain, easily understood languageâ at least seven specific things that had not all been spelled out in the prior rule.
(2) Settlement Approval Criteria and Procedures: Until 2003, Rule 23(e) was almost entirely devoid of specifics on how a court was to decide whether to approve a proposed class-action settlement. Amended Rule 23(e) contains a standard for judicial approval â that the proposed settlement is âfair, reasonable, and adequate.â It also adds a number of specifics â that the parties must identify any âside agreementsâ made in connection with the proposed settlement, that any class member may object, but may withdraw an objection only with the courtâs approval, and that the court may refuse to approve the settlement unless a second opt-out is permitted in a Rule 23(b)(3) class action if the original time to opt out has expired.
(3) Class Counsel: It had long been recognized that class counsel play an extremely prominent role in the conduct and success of class actions. But there were no provisions in the rule explicitly about counsel, although courts had considered their capacity under the Rule 23(a)(4) adequacy prong. In 2003, Rule 23(g) was added, providing a standard for appointment, and authorizing consideration of any other pertinent matters, and permitting appointment of interim class counsel before class certification. The rule also articulates the duty of class counsel to âfairly and adequately represent the interests of the class.â
(4) Attorneyâs Fees: By 2003, it had also long been recognized that attorneyâs fee awards played an important role in the functioning and fairness of class actions in general and class-action settlements in particular. But as with class counsel, there had been no rule provision addressed to this important issue. Rule 23(h) was added in 2003 to guide these decisions. Among other things, it requires that class members be given notice of the motion for attorneyâs fees, provides that a class member may object, and directs that the court must hold a hearing and make findings of fact and state conclusions of law in connection with its resolution of fee award matters.
In sum, 2003 could be viewed as a âproceduralâ watershed for Rule 23 in that an array of specifics about how class-action matters should be handled were added to the rule. Often the rule provisions built on prior judicial experience with class actions. Certainly the amendments were not designed primarily to change judicial practice.
Many possible subjects for Rule 23 amendments have been examined over the years, but few rule changes have actually been adopted. Concerns about the use of class actions, and the smooth functioning of these cases, continue. Moreover, the law keeps evolving. The Supreme Court has decided a remarkable number of class-action cases in recent years.24 In 2005, Congress passed the Class Action Fairness Act. In the wake of these developments, some believe class actions are in decline,25 but others seem to see them as a threat to the economy. In some quarters, concerns about predatory class settlement objectors have emerged.26 Meanwhile, more than a decade has passed since the 2003 amendments to Rule 23 went into effect.
Altogether, these developments â and others â suggested that it would make sense for the Advisory Committee to return its attention to Rule 23. In 2011, the Advisory Committee appointed a Rule 23 Subcommittee. In 2011-12, it made a preliminary survey of possible issues for rule reform. Beginning in early 2014, the Subcommittee returned to its list and reconsidered the importance of the items originally identified.27
The experience of the last two decades shows that reforming Rule 23 is a challenging and time-consuming process. The process of winnowing (and expanding) the list of topics to address as possible candidates for rule changes is ongoing and almost certain to evolve. But enough winnowing has already occurred to make it useful to identify the candidates that presently seem to be âfront-burnerâ subjects:
(1) Refining Settlement Review Criteria: Only since 2003 has the rule contained any specifics about how judges should evaluate proposed class settlements. Now it says that the courts should focus on whether a proposed settlement is âfair, reasonable, and adequate.â28 That set of criteria was largely based on existing case law.
In the view of some, that existing case law has shortcomings. For example, the American Law Institute Principles of Aggregate Litigation report:
The current case law on the criteria for evaluating settlements is in disarray. Courts articulate a wide range of factors to consider, but rarely discuss the significance to be given to each factor, let alone why a particular factor is probative. . . .
Many of these criteria may have questionable probative value in various circumstances. For instance, although a court might give weight to the fact that counsel for the class or the defendant favors the settlement, the court should keep in mind that the lawyers who negotiated the settlement will rarely offer anything less than a strong favorable endorsement.29
To remedy this problem, the ALI Principles propose that a court approving a proposed settlement must make findings on several âmandatoryâ topics:
(1) the class representatives and class counsel have been and currently are adequately representing the class;
(2) the relief afforded to the class (taking into account any ancillary agreement that may be part of the settlement) is fair and reasonable given the costs, risks, probability of success, and delays of trial and appeal;
(3) class members are treated equitably (relative to each other) based on their facts and circumstances and are not disadvantaged by the settlement considered as a whole; and
(4) the settlement was negotiated at armâs length and was not the product of collusion.30
These Principles do not make any other consideration irrelevant to settlement approval, but do direct that a court may not approve a settlement unless it can make the findings listed above.31
As it moves forward, the Advisory Committee will need to consider whether more precise criteria would improve the handling of settlement review â either by ensuring that certain essential matters are always addressed or assuring that other inappropriate matters are not emphasized. It will also need to consider whether there is a genuine need for a rule that attempts to do these things, and whether adopting such a rule could produce negative consequences.
(2) Settlement Class Certification: In 1996, a preliminary draft of a new Rule 23(b)(4) was published to enable certification only for settlement purposes of a Rule 23(b)(3) class action that could not meet the requirements for litigation certification. Some argue that the certification requirements for litigation should not be relaxed at all for settlement certification.32 Clearly the Supreme Courtâs Amchem decision says that there are differences between certifying a settlement and a litigation class. But the Courtâs opinion also said that the Rule 23(b)(3) predominance requirement should apply in the settlement-review setting. In partial dissent, Justice Stephen Breyer said he was bewildered by how the predominance prong of the rule should work when settlement was proposed, given that the issues before the court were fairness, reasonableness, and adequacy.33
Since 1997, an abiding question has existed about whether the Amchem standards for settlement certification unduly cramped settlement opportunities. Some see the increased resort to MDL processes as proving that settling class actions has become too difficult.34 If that is a troubling trend, is it time to revisit something like the 1996 Rule 23(b)(4) proposal for a settlement-certification rule provision?
The ALI Principles of Aggregate Litigation propose that settlement certification depend on satisfying the standards for approval of the proposed settlement and that (1) âsignificantâ common issues exist; (2) the class is sufficiently numerous to warrant classwide treatment; and (3) the class definition is sufficient to ascertain who is included in the class.35 The drafters explain this proposal:
For many years, courts and commentators have debated whether the strict requirements for certifying a class action for litigation purposes should apply in the context of a case in which certification is sought solely for purposes of achieving a classwide settlement. ⌠Some states ⌠have adopted rules that exempt settlement classes from the stringent requirements for certifying a litigation class. This Section does not require a settlement class to satisfy all of the same criteria as a class certified for purposes of litigation. For example, settlement classes should not be subject to a rigorous evidentiary showing that, in a contested trial, common issues would outweigh individualized issues. So long as there is sufficient commonality to establish the case is generally cohesive, the propriety of a settlement need not depend on satisfaction of a âpredominanceâ requirement.36
Is this proposal a promising response to a real problem? It does seem contrary to the language in the Amchem opinion about the role of the predominance factor in the settlement context, at least in a Rule 23(b)(3) class action. Its emphasis on the importance of finding the settlement proposal satisfactory appears at a tension with the Amchem Courtâs view that Rule 23(e) review is no substitute for scrutiny under Rule 23(a) and (b).37 Would that be an appropriate change in the rule? Or would it be too broad an invitation to courts to implement what the Amchem Court called âa grand-scale compensation scheme,â which it said was âa matter for legislative consideration.â38 Would it be preferable instead to weaken or remove predominance from the Rule 23(b)(3) calculus rather than superseding more of Rules 23(a) and (b) in instances in which the court is satisfied with the proposed settlement under the standards of Rule 23(e)?
The 1996 Rule 23(b)(4) proposal was limited to settlement certification under Rule 23(b)(3). If more aggressive action is warranted to facilitate settlement certification in those cases, should it be extended to classes certified under Rules 23(b)(1) and (2)? As to âmandatoryâ class certification such as that authorized in âlimited fundâ situations covered by Rule 23(b)(1)(B), it may be argued that predominance of common questions has no role to play in deciding whether class-action treatment is warranted, and that this treatment is not suitable for purposes of settlement in situations in which it would not be justified for purposes of full litigation.39 But it may be that Rule 23(b)(2) class actions for injunctive relief are peculiarly suited to settlement class certification, as an injunction limited to some in the class seems inherently inadequate, and Rule 23(b)(1)(A) class certification may raise similar issues. So a related issue is whether, should some provision for settlement class certification go forward, it should include cases relying on Rule 23(b)(1) or (2).
(3) Cy Pres Provisions: Cy pres provisions in class-action settlements have provoked much interest and also produced some uneasiness among judges. Chief Justice John Roberts recently observed, while concurring in denial of certiorari in the case before the Court, that the Supreme Court âmay need to clarify the limits on the use of such remedies.â40 Perhaps a clarifying rule provision would be an alternative route for dealing with the topic.
The drafters of the ALI Principles of Aggregate Litigation included a section about cy pres treatment among their proposals.41 The proposal seeks to limit use of this technique, and would direct that if class members can be identified with reasonable effort and the amount of money is sufficient to make individual distributions to them economically viable, distributions must be made to them, not to others.42 Recognizing that after such distributions there is often a residue of settlement funds, the proposal further directs that this residue must be also distributed to class members unless the amounts involved would be too small to make individual distributions economically viable.43 Only when individual distributions to class members are not economically viable may the court authorize distributions to others.
The âpremiseâ of the ALI proposal is that the settlement funds are âpresumptively the property of the class members.â44 So distributing the money to others should only be considered when delivering the money to the class is not economically viable. Returning the residue to the defendant (a âreversionâ) is viewed as unwise because it âwould undermine the deterrence function of class actions and the underlying substantive-law basis of the recovery by rewarding the alleged wrongdoer simply because distribution to the class would not be viable.â45
This ALI proposal has been adopted by some courts.46 But the rule currently says nothing about cy pres arrangements. Should it be revised to address that possibility? If so, should that be limited to settlement class actions? For some time, a related notion of âfluid recoveryâ was urged in some cases,47 and it may be that such a provision could be adopted in a litigated class action in which some class members could not be identified.
Many questions might arise were such a rule provision under consideration. Should the availability of such measures depend on a legal basis from outside the rules? The law of some states may explicitly authorize cy pres measures.48 If distribution of a residue to someone other than class members is contemplated, should the class be entitled to notice of this possibility? To whom should the court be authorized to distribute the funds? Often the proposal is that the money be paid to individuals or organizations that further the interests asserted in the underlying suit. But in some instances it might be argued that remaining funds could appropriately be delivered to âpublic interestâ organizations whatever their particular focus.49 Would that be a desirable feature of a rule provision?
(4) The Role of Objectors: Class members are entitled to notice of a proposed settlement50 and to object to the proposal.51 If they object, âthe objection may be withdrawn only with the courtâs approval.â52 At least on occasion, there seem to be concerns that objectors seek to extract tribute by delaying consummation of the proposed settlement rather than raising genuine objections to the settlement proposal.53 How often this behavior occurs is uncertain. But there certainly are examples of objectors who make genuine objections to the merits of proposed settlements rather than seeking to profit from obstruction.
One goal of the provision requiring court approval for withdrawing an objection was to enable the court to exercise some control over the behavior of objectors. It is uncertain whether that provision achieved its objective.
In part, it may be that some objectors escape it by noticing an appeal when the court approves the settlement despite their objections, and then withdrawing their appeal for a payoff. Given the amount of time it takes to dispose of an appeal â compared to the time needed to review and approve a proposed settlement â it may be that this tactic is effective.
Some have urged that district courts counter this sort of behavior by imposing a bond requirement on objectors who appeal. But it seems difficult to support such measures under current law, which permits only limited recovery of costs on appeal.54 It may be that rule revisions to the Appellate and Civil Rules might create a requirement of court approval for withdrawing an appeal once filed (analogous to the existing requirement of approval to withdraw an objection in the district court), but it may be that such a provision should enable the district judge (more familiar with the case) to pass on the request to withdraw the appeal, as the district judge can already pass on the request to withdraw an objection. It might also be that requiring some disclosure of âside agreementsâ in connection with withdrawal of an objection or appeal comparable to that required of the settling parties55 would be desirable. But such provisions might themselves introduce further delays in situations in which delay should be avoided, and might also call for delicate treatment of the respective roles of district judges and courts of appeals.
So there remain questions about whether problems caused by objectors justify addressing such complications, and how rule changes could best address these problems if they are serious enough.
(5) Mootness and Rule 68 Offers of Judgment: It has long been true that a defendant could attempt to moot a proposed class action by offering the named plaintiff an amount that exceeded his or her individual prospective recovery.56 Until 2003, Rule 23(e) was interpreted to require court approval for a dismissal of any action filed as a class action.57 As amended in 2003, however, the rule now requires court approval only for the settlement of a âcertified class.â58 Although a proposal for a classwide settlement would therefore require court approval, a proposal for an âindividualâ settlement would not. And in 2013 the Supreme Court held (by a 5-4 margin) that a Rule 68 offer could moot a proposed collective action under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), although it said that class actions are different.59
For defendants facing claimants with small individual claims that they assert on behalf of potentially large putative classes, making a Rule 68 offer to moot the case may be an inviting method to pick off a putative class action before it becomes a full-fledged class action. In the Seventh Circuit, it seems that class-action plaintiffs who seek to forestall that sort of thing must file âout-of-the-chuteâ class-certification motions.60 But judges in other circuits have not welcomed such âout-of-the-chuteâ class-certification motions. Consider the views of a district judge in Alabama asked to defer ruling on such a premature certification motion:
[T]his might be compelling if this Court were situated in the Seventh Circuit, if the law of the Seventh Circuit governed this proceeding, or if the Seventh Circuit approach constituted either a majority rule or one as to which the Eleventh Circuit had expressed favor. This is not the case. In fact, the Seventh Circuit acknowledged the uniqueness of its formulation of the mootness rule in pick-off situations ⌠.61
Whether these issues are serious enough to justify a rule amendment is not certain. At least some courts of appeals seem unreceptive to arguments based on the Supreme Courtâs FLSA decision.62 If rule amendments are worth considering to address the âpick-offâ problem, it might be debated what they should be. One possibility would be to restore to Rule 23(e) the requirement previously recognized that even individual settlements require court approval. Another might be to change Rule 68 to make it inapplicable to class actions (and derivative actions) since the court-approval requirement would prevent using the rule to settle with the class. But Rule 68 does not itself speak to mootness; indeed, it precludes filing the offer in court unless it is accepted and then directs immediate entry of judgment, something ill-suited to the class-action settlement setting. It may be that these problems will cure themselves in the relatively near future.
(6) Issues Classes: Rule 23(c)(4) says that â[w]hen appropriate, an action may be brought or maintained as a class action with respect to particular issues.â Rule 23(b)(3), on the other hand, says that a class action may be certified only when common issues predominate. For some time, it appeared that a conflict existed among the courts of appeals on whether Rule 23(b)(3) classes could be certified under Rule 23(c)(4) without satisfying the predominance requirement. The Fifth Circuit declared in a footnote in its Castano decision: âA district court cannot manufacture predominance through the nimble use of subdivision (c)(4).â63 The Second Circuit declared in 2006 that it disagreed, and that (c) (4) may be used to certify a class as to some but not all issues.64 More recently, some commentators have argued that actually the Fifth Circuit has embraced issue classes.65
Whether this is an occasion for seriously considering a rule change is uncertain. On the one hand, one might say there is almost an inherent tension between Rule 23(b)(3) and (c)(4). On the other hand, if the courts have reached agreement on how to implement these rule provisions as currently written, it would seem a rule change would be worth considering only to change that treatment. A rule change could attempt to clarify either: (a) that (c)(4) may only be used for a class action that already satisfies Rules 23(a) and (b); or (b) that despite the predominance requirement of (b)(3) a class could be certified under (c)(4) âwhen appropriate.â In either event, one might favor addressing something that may be uncertain under the current rule â what does the court do after resolving the issue for which the class was certified? It is unclear what sort of judgment would then be appropriate, but not obvious how the court would be expected to resolve all other issues involving individual class members so that a full judgment could be entered.
The ALI Aggregate Litigation Principles generally favor discretion to employ issue classes,66 but add that interlocutory appeals should be authorized for the district courtâs decision of those common issues.67 Current Rule 23 does not have such a provision. So another possibility â if the rule should be amended to facilitate the use of issues classes, and possibly even if current practice adequately fosters use of (c)(4) certification â might be a rule amendment to provide for immediate appellate review. But an abiding question is whether any amendments should be seriously considered to deal with issues classes.
(7) Notice to Class Members: The Supreme Courtâs 1974 Eisen decision68 declared that the rule requires notice by first class mail to all Rule 23(b) (3) class members who can be identified with reasonable effort. Except in the settlement context, however, the rule calls for no notice at all to class members in Rule 23(b)(1) or (b)(2) classes. In 2001, a proposal to require some efforts to give notice of class certification in (b)(1) and (b)(2) class actions was published for comment. It was not included in the eventual amendment package, however. During the public comment period, opposition was expressed on the ground that the cost of giving notice would deter lawyers from taking public interest cases.
Viewed from the 21st century perspective, a legal requirement for âsnail mailâ notice seems antique. Certainly most Americans rely heavily on other means of communication that are faster and cheaper. Indeed, it may be that the concerns expressed in 2001 about the cost of notice in (b) (1) and (b)(2) cases might no longer be troubling. The notion that first-class mail must still be used surely does look troubling, if it is still seriously embraced.
So the questions include: (a) whether the rule should be changed on manner of giving notice; (b) whether notice requirements should be broadened to include all class actions; and (c) what substitute methods of notice should be accepted or adopted. In addition, such issues might include consideration of online methods for class members to use to submit claims, either to a settlement fund or in connection with an adjudication of liability (perhaps in an issues class).
Nearly 40 years ago, Professor Abram Chayes observed: âI think it unlikely that the class action will ever be taught to behave in accordance with the precepts of the traditional model of litigation.â69 It may be that the Advisory Committeeâs subsequent experience with Rule 23 somewhat confirms that prediction. But that does not mean that rule changes should or will emerge to address the issues listed above. In addressing that question, the Advisory Committee continues to seek guidance, and that guidance could include identifying other issues that might profitably be addressed by changing the rule. Although Henry V was exhorting his troops to do battle,70 the Advisory Committee is only interested in making improvements in the rules that will produce improvements in practice. The question whether there are promising avenues for rule amendments â either along the lines sketched above or otherwise â remains very much open.
Richard Marcus is the Distinguished Professor of Law, Horace O. Coil Chair in Litigation, at the University of California- Hastings College of Law. He is a lead author of the West casebooks Complex Litigation (5th ed. 2010) and Civil Procedure: A Modern Approach (6th ed. 2013). He is also an author of several volumes of the Federal Practice & Procedure treatise (known as Wright & Miller) and serves on a variety of committees dealing with practice issues. Since 1996, he has served as Associate Reporter to the Advisory Committee on Civil Rules of the Judicial Conference of the United States.
