Earlier this month, a number of prominent business groups, including the National Association of Manufacturers, weighed in supporting a petition for rehearing of a Sixth Circuit panel decision declining to vacate a class certification decision. See Gina Glazer et al. v. Whirlpool Corp., No. 10-4188 (6th Cir 2012).
The case arises from the claims of a proposed class of consumers who alleged that their Whirlpool washing machines were defective. The Chamber of Commerce, NAM, the Business Roundtable, PLAC, DRI, and others submitted amicus briefs in support of rehearing, pointing out several issues with the class certification decision below, and as affirmed by the appellate panel. See 2012 US LEXIS 9002 (6th Cir., May 3, 2012).
For example, the amici pointed out that the class was certified despite the presence of individuals (perhaps 2/3 of the class) who have no Article III standing because they have not been injured.
The panel also failed to conduct or require the rigorous analysis required by the Supreme Court in Dukes, especially with regard to the predominance requirement. A specific issue related to the number of customers who had allegedly complained about the washers. In Dukes, the Supreme Court made clear that a district court may not simply rely on the plaintiffs’ allegations in ruling on class certification; rather, the court must consider, weigh and resolve disputed questions of fact.
The briefs also pointed out that the court ignored the important impact of potential affirmative defenses, such as misuse, on the predominance inquiry.
This is one worth keeping an eye on.