Class Certification Standards and Daubert Analysis in Flux

Obtaining or Defeating Certification in Light of Circuit Courts' Differing Standards

Recording of a 90-minute CLE webinar/teleconference with Q&A


Conducted on Thursday, July 8, 2010
Recorded event now available


This CLE webinar will provide practitioners with a thorough review of the differing standards that courts apply to class certification motions, the scrutiny courts will give to expert testimony in support of certification, and the impact of the Dukes v. Wal-Mart ruling on Rule 23 class certification standards.

Description

The Ninth Circuit’s ruling in Dukes v. Wal-Mart has resulted in the largest class action ever certified. The court’s ruling further deepens an already wide circuit split on the Rule 23(b)(2) requirements of cohesiveness of class and predominance of injunctive relief.

The Dukes ruling diverges from the growing trend requiring expert testimony at the class certification stage to satisfy Daubert requirements. The Dukes analysis is also quite different than the Seventh Circuit's ruling in Am. Honda Motor decided just weeks earlier.

Dukes may lead to more class actions seeking money damages under Rule 23(b)(2) which does not require a showing that the class action is superior or that common questions predominate. In any event, this case is certain to lead to further battles over the scope of class certification law.

Listen as our authoritative panel of attorneys explains the different standards of review for class certification, the impact of the Dukes and Am. Honda cases, and strategies for obtaining and defeating class certification.

Outline

  1. Trends and developments in Rule 23 certification standards
    1. Divergent circuit court standards
    2. Impact of Dukes v. Wal-Mart
    3. Obtaining class certification — plaintiff strategies
    4. Challenging class certification — defense strategies
  2. Intersection of Daubert and class certification
    1. Divergent circuit court standards
    2. Impact of Dukes v. Wal-Mart
    3. Using Daubert motions to defeat certification — defense strategies
    4. Defending Daubert challenges at class certification stage — plaintiff strategies

Benefits

The panel will review these and other key questions:

  • How are the federal courts currently responding to class certification motions?
  • What are the applicable standards for review of expert testimony in class certification proceedings?
  • Is the Dukes case a game changer for plaintiffs or can defendants use it to their advantage?
  • Will the Dukes case result in more class actions seeking monetary damages but invoking Rule 23(b)(2)?

Faculty

Matthew Shors, Partner
O'Melveny & Myers, Washington, D.C.

He focuses his practice on the defense of class actions, mass torts, and other aggregate proceedings, both at trial and on appeal. He has represented pharmaceutical manufacturers, energy companies, automobile manufacturers, transportation companies, health-care entities, insurance companies, and telecommunications companies in hundreds of purported state, nationwide, and international proceedings.

Todd L. Nunn, Partner
K&L Gates, Seattle

His practice emphasizes electronic discovery and document production and class action defense. His class action defense experience includes defense of numerous nationwide and statewide consumer protection class actions. He has also defended government regulation, products liability, environmental, employment and securities class actions.

Steven G. Pearl, Principal
The Pearl Law Firm, Encino, Calif.

He is an attorney and mediator in Los Angeles, focusing on wage and hour class action litigation and mediation. He is a co-author of "California Wage and Hour Law and Litigation," published by Continuing Education of the Bar (CEB). He authors the California Wage and Hour Law Blog (www.CAWageandHourLaw.blogspot.com) and the Mediation and Negotiation Blog (www.MediationandNegotiation.blogspot.com).

Ordering

Online CLE - Audio Recording

Includes audio streaming of full program plus handouts (available 24 hours after live seminar).

CLE: Pre-approved for participatory or non-traditional/alternate format credit in: CA, HI*, NY*, WV*. Pre-approved for self-study credit in: AK, AZ, GA, MO, MT, TX, VT, WA.
Upon request, also available in: CO, CT*, FL, ID, KY, LA*, ME, NC, ND, NE, NH, NM, NV, OR*, SC, TN, UT, WI, WY. If you are applying for credit in one of these states, make sure to select those states when placing your order.
(*Indicates that Strafford must report attendance.)

Online CLE Audio $149.00
Available 24 hours after the live event

How does this work?


Recorded Event

Includes full event recording plus handouts (available after live seminar).

CLE: Pre-approved for self-study credit in: AK, AZ, CA, CT, GA, HI, MO, MT, NY, TX, VT, WA, WV. Upon request, self-study credit is also available in: CO, FL, ID, KY, ME, ND, NE, NH, NM, NV, OR, UT, WI, WY. If you are applying for self-study credit in one of these states, contact Strafford CLE at 1-800-926-7926 ext. 35 or CLE@straffordpub.com.

Webinar Download (Slide Presentation with Audio) $49.00
Available three business days after the live event

How does this work?

DVD (Slide Presentation with Audio) $49.00 plus $9.45 S&H
Available ten business days after the live event

MP3 Download (Audio with Slide PDFs) $49.00
Available 24 hours after the live event

How does this work?

CD (Audio with Slide PDFs) $49.00 plus $9.45 S&H
Available ten business days after the live event

Webinar/Teleconference

Strafford webinars/teleconferences offer several options for participation: online viewing of speaker-controlled PowerPoint presentations with audio via computer speakers or via phone; or audio only via telephone (download speaker handouts prior to the program).  Please note that our webinars do not feature videos of the presenters.

Program Materials

Requires Adobe Reader 8 or later. Download Acrobat FREE.

Program Materials

Requires Adobe Reader 8 or later. Download Acrobat FREE.

or call 1-800-926-7926

Can't Attend the Live Program?

CLE Credit

Strafford's live seminars qualify for CLE in every state that accredits webinars. They offer you a high quality, cost effective, and convenient CLE option, with no lost travel time or expenses.

More Details >

or call 1-800-926-7926

Customer Reviews

The seminar covered an important subject with major policy implications and the speakers addressed it completely with professionalism and thorough knowledge.

Allyn Z. Lite

Lite DePalma Greenberg, LLC

I was impressed with the examples and the practical applications of the concepts.

Connie Sue Martin

Bullivant Houser Bailey

The speakers were very clear, engaging and thorough.

Eric LaMons

Wilk Auslander LLP

The program provided good legal references, good bullet points and good scope.

Tim Thomas

Kolesar & Leatham

I liked the substance of the program and the ease of participating.

Paul L. Hammann

First American Title Insurance Company

or call 1-800-926-7926

Class Action Law Advisory Board

Thomas Allen

Partner

Reed Smith

Steve Berman

Partner

Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro

Brian Boyle

Partner

O'Melveny & Myers

H. Douglas Hinson

Partner

Alston & Bird

Daniel R. Karon

Partner

Goldman Scarlato & Karon

Robert S. Kitchenoff

Partner

Weinstein Kitchenoff & Asher

Neal R. Marder

Partner

Winston & Strawn

Michael McCluggage

Partner

Edwards Wildman Palmer

W. Ray Persons

Partner

King & Spalding

William B. Rubenstein

Professor

Harvard Law School

or call 1-800-926-7926

Our Guarantee

Strafford webinars and teleconferences are backed by our 100% Unconditional Money-Back Guarantee: if you are not satisfied with any of our products, simply let us know and get a full refund. For more information regarding complaints and refunds, please contact us at 1-800-926-7926 ext 10.