Complex Litigation: Dueling Class Actions

Vol. 21 Nat'l L.J. B18 (April 26, 1999)

U of Texas Law, Legal Studies Research Paper

5 Pages Posted: 20 Jun 2013

Date Written: April 26, 1999

Abstract

Commentary and analysis of the problem of multiple, conflicting class actions in state and federal courts, and judicial approaches to dealing with the phenomenon. The article focuses on the problem of copy-cat or repetitive class actions and the strategic reasons for the propagation of competing class actions. Dueling class actions come into existence when a class litigation filed in one forum is copied or duplicated by the same or other attorneys in another federal or state forum. This situation raises serious problems relating to a race to judgment, res judicata effects of a class judgment or settlement, and adequacy of representation. In addition, the possibility of the Rule 23(b)(3) opt-out class engenders novel opportunities for attorneys to attempt to configure new class actions consisting of opt-out claimants from an existing class action. The federal courts have been in the vanguard of devising innovative ways to deal with duplicative or copy-cat litigation in federal and state courts. The article surveys procedural mechanisms such as MDL procedure (the multidistrict litigation statute, 28 U.S.C. § 1407); the federal Anti-Injunction Act (28 U.S.C. § 2283), and the All Writs statute (28 U.S.C. 1651),a s well as a variety of judicial decisions from federal and state court attempting to manage, regulate, or repudiate attempts at duplicative litigation.

Keywords: Rule 23, class actions, dueling class actions, copy-car class actions, Anti-Injunction Act, All Writs Act, MDL statute, 28 U.S.C. 1407

Suggested Citation

Mullenix, Linda S., Complex Litigation: Dueling Class Actions (April 26, 1999). Vol. 21 Nat'l L.J. B18 (April 26, 1999), U of Texas Law, Legal Studies Research Paper, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2281264

Linda S. Mullenix (Contact Author)

University of Texas School of Law ( email )

727 East Dean Keeton Street
Austin, TX 78705
United States
512-232-1375 (Phone)

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