Wis. Stat. § 803.08 — WI Code / Chapter 803 / Section 803.08
Class actions.
Status: in_force

(1) Prerequisites. One or more members of a class may sue or be sued as representative parties on behalf of all members only if the court finds all of the following:

(a) The class is so numerous that joinder of all members is impracticable.

(b) There are questions of law or fact common to the class.

(c) The claims or defenses of the representative parties are typical of the claims or defenses of the class.

(d) The representative parties will fairly and adequately protect the interests of the class.

(2) Types of class actions. A class action may be maintained if sub. (1) is satisfied and if the court finds that any of the following are satisfied:

(a) Prosecuting separate actions by or against individual class members would create a risk of either of the following:

1. Inconsistent or varying adjudications with respect to individual class members that would establish incompatible standards of conduct for the party opposing the class.

2. Adjudications with respect to individual class members that, as a practical matter, would be dispositive of the interests of the other members not parties to the individual adjudications or would substantially impair or impede their ability to protect their interests.

(b) The party opposing the class has acted or refused to act on grounds that apply generally to the class, so that final injunctive relief or corresponding declaratory relief is appropriate respecting the class as a whole.

(c) The court finds that the questions of law or fact common to class members predominate over any questions affecting only individual members, and that a class action is superior to other available methods for fairly and efficiently adjudicating the controversy. The matters pertinent to these findings include all of the following:

1. The class members’ interests in individually controlling the prosecution or defense of separate actions.

2. The extent and nature of any litigation concerning the controversy already begun by or against class members.

3. The desirability or undesirability of concentrating the litigation of the claims in the particular forum.

4. The likely difficulties in managing a class action.

(3) Certification order.

(a) Time to issue. At an early practicable time after a person sues or is sued as a class representative, the court must determine by order whether to certify the action as a class action.

(b) Defining the class; appointing class counsel. An order that certifies a class action must define the class and the class claims, issues, or defenses, and must appoint class counsel under sub. (12) .

(c) Altering or amending the order. An order that grants or denies class certification may be altered or amended before final judgment.

(4) Notice.

(a) For sub. (2) (a) or (b) classes. For any class certified under sub. (2) (a) or (b) , the court may direct appropriate notice to the class.

(b) For sub. (2) (c) classes. For any class certified under sub. (2) (c) , the court must direct to class members the best notice that is practicable under the circumstances, including individual notice to all members who can be identified through reasonable effort. The notice must clearly and concisely state in plain, easily understood language, all of the following:

1. The nature of the action.

2. The definition of the class certified.

3. The class claims, issues, or defenses.

4. That a class member may enter an appearance through an attorney if the member so desires.

5. That the court will exclude from the class any member who requests exclusion.

6. The time and manner for requesting exclusion.

7. The binding effect of a class judgment on members under sub. (5) .

(5) Judgment. Whether or not favorable to the class, the judgment in a class action must do one of the following:

(a) For any class certified under sub. (2) (a) or (b) , include and describe those whom the court finds to be class members.

(b) For any class certified under sub. (2) (c) , include and specify or describe those to whom the notice under sub. (4) was directed, who have not requested exclusion, and whom the court finds to be class members.

(6) Particular issues. Notwithstanding ss. 805.05 (2) and 805.09 (2) , when appropriate, an action may be brought or maintained as a class action with respect to particular issues.

(7) Subclasses. When appropriate, a class may be divided into subclasses that are each treated as a class under this rule.

(8) Conducting the action.

(a) In general. In conducting an action under this section, the court may issue orders that do any of the following:

1. Determine the course of proceedings or prescribe measures to prevent undue repetition or complication in presenting evidence or argument.

2. Require — to protect class members and fairly conduct the action — giving appropriate notice to some or all class members of any of the following:

a. Any step in the action.

b. The proposed extent of the judgment.

c. The members’ opportunity to signify whether they consider the representation fair and adequate, to intervene and present claims or defenses, or to otherwise come into the action.

3. Impose conditions on the representative parties or on intervenors.

4. Require that the pleadings be amended to eliminate allegations about representation of absent persons and that the action proceed accordingly.

5. Deal with similar procedural matters.

(b) Combining and amending orders. An order under sub. (8) (a) may be altered or amended from time to time and may be combined with an order under s. 802.10 .

(9) Settlement, voluntary dismissal, or compromise. The claims, issues, or defenses of a certified class may be settled, voluntarily dismissed, or compromised only with the court’s approval. All of the following procedures apply to a proposed settlement, voluntary dismissal, or compromise:

(a) The court must direct notice in a reasonable manner to all class members who would be bound by the proposal.

(b) If the proposal would bind class members, the court may approve it only after a hearing and on finding that it is fair, reasonable, and adequate.

(c) The parties seeking approval must file a statement identifying any agreement made in connection with the proposal.

(d) If the class action was previously certified under sub. (2) (c) , the court may refuse to approve a settlement unless it affords a new opportunity to request exclusion to individual class members who had an earlier opportunity to request exclusion but did not do so.

(e) Any class member may object to the proposal if it requires court approval under sub. (9) ; the objection may be withdrawn only with the court’s approval.

(10) Disposition of residual funds.

(a) In this subsection:

1. “Residual funds” means funds that remain after the payment of all approved class member claims, expenses, litigation costs, attorney fees, and other court-approved disbursements in an action under this section.

2. “WisTAF” means the Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation, Inc.

(b)

1. Any order entering a judgment or approving a proposed compromise of a class action that establishes a process for identifying and compensating members of the class shall provide for disbursement of any residual funds. In class actions in which residual funds remain, not less than 50 percent of the residual funds shall be disbursed to WisTAF to support direct delivery of legal services to persons of limited means in non-criminal matters. The circuit court may disburse the balance of any residual funds beyond the minimum percentage to WisTAF for purposes that have a direct or indirect relationship to the objectives of the underlying litigation or otherwise promote the substantive or procedural interests of members of the certified class.

2. This subsection does not prohibit the trial court from approving a settlement that does not create residual funds.

(11) Interlocutory appeal of class certification.