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Nature of Suit Code: 360
Nature of Suit: Other Personal Injury
Cause of Action: 

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United States Court of Appeals

Fifth Circuit

FILED

February 26, 2004

Charles R. Fulbruge III

Clerk

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

FIFTH CIRCUIT

____________

No. 01-31434

____________

ERIC VIZENA, Individually and on behalf of Erica Vizena, on behalf

ofJohn Eric Vizena; PATRICIA VIZENA, Individually and on behalf

of Erica Vizena, on behalf of John Eric Vizena; MICHAEL

ROUGEAU, Individuallyand on behalf of KaitlenRougeau, on behalf

ofJena Rougeau; WENDY ROUGEAU, Individuallyand on behalf of

Kaitlen Rougeau, on behalf ofJena Rougeau; ERIC'S BODY SHOP;

ET AL, 

 

 Plaintiffs - Appellees 

 

 v. 

 

UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD CO., 

 

 Defendant - Appellant 

 

------------------------------------------- 

 

HERBERT ARNOLD; JUDITH ARNOLD, 

 

 Plaintiffs - Respondents 

 

 

 v. 

 

UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD CO., 

 Defendant - Petitioner. 

 

------------------------------------------- 

 

BRYANT CORMIER; SYBIL SMITH; WENDY THIBODEAUX,

 

 Plaintiffs - Respondents, 

 Case: 01-31434 Document: 005177434 Page: 1 Date Filed: 02/26/2004
2

 

 v. 

 

UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD CO.; ET AL, 

 

 Defendants. 

 

UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD CO., 

 

 Defendant - Petitioner. 

 

------------------------------------------- 

 

 

GARY GAUDIN; LINDA GAUDIN, 

 

 Plaintiffs - Respondents, 

 

 v. 

 

UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD CO; ET AL, 

 

 Defendants, 

UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD CO., 

 

 Defendant - Petitioner. 

 

------------------------------------------- 

 

 

HOLLY FONTENOT; JOHN PASTERICK; EVELINE ARDOIN;

JOHN FONTENOT, 

 

 Plaintiffs - Respondents, 

 

 v. 

 

UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD CO.; ET AL, 

 Case: 01-31434 Document: 005177434 Page: 2 Date Filed: 02/26/2004
3

 

 Defendants, 

 

UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD CO., 

 

 

 Defendant - Petitioner. 

 

------------------------------------------- 

 

 

GARY FONTENOT, Etc; ET AL.; 

 

 Plaintiffs, 

NEAL TRAHAN; AMY TRAHAN, on behalf of Brianne Stanford,

 

 Plaintiffs - Respondents, 

 

 v. 

 

UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD CO.; ET AL, 

 

 Defendants, 

UNION PAFICIF RAILROAD CO., 

 

 Defendant - Petitioners. 

------------------------------------------- 

 

 

PATRICK MILLER; GAIL FRYE; DWIGHT COLLINS; APRIL

COLLINS; CLAYTON SCOTT, SR.; ET AL, 

 

 

 Plaintiffs - Respondents, 

 

 

 v. 

 

 Case: 01-31434 Document: 005177434 Page: 3 Date Filed: 02/26/2004
4

UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD CO., 

 

 Defendant - Petitioner. 

------------------------------------------- 

 

WALTER J. ANDREPONT; PATRICK JAMES BERTRAND;

MARY INC., doing business as Manuel Oil Co.; LISA

THIBODEAUX; SAM E. THUMBLIN, JR.; ET AL., 

 

 Plaintiffs - Respondents, 

 v. 

 

UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD CO.; ET AL., 

 

 Defendants, 

 

UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD CO., 

 

 Defendant - Petitioner. 

------------------------------------------- 

 

 

JOHN DANA LATOUR; JUDY LATOUR; DULA JOHNSON 

 

Plaintiffs - Respondents, 

 

 v. 

 

UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD CO; ET AL 

 

 Defendants 

 

UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD CO 

 

 Defendant - Petitioner 

 

------------------------------------------- 

 

LINTON SAM 

 Case: 01-31434 Document: 005177434 Page: 4 Date Filed: 02/26/2004
5

 

 Plaintiffs - Respondents 

 

 v. 

 

UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD CO 

 

 Defendant - Petitioner 

 

-------------------------------------------

DEBRA HARDY, on behalf of Kristen Hardy, on behalf of Leola

Poulard, on behalf of Shaun Hardy; GARY HARDY, on behalf of

Kristen Hardy, on behalf of Shaun Hardy, on behalf of Leola Poulard

 

 Plaintiffs - Respondents 

 

 v. 

 

UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD CO; ET AL 

 

Defendants 

 

UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD CO 

 

 Defendant - Petitioner 

 

-------------------------------------------

 

LADONNA SHEREE SNOW; TERRANCE PAUL HEBERT;

TAMMIE G BERTRAND; CARL A BERTRAND; AMOS D

GRAHAM; ET AL 

 

 Plaintiffs - Respondents 

 

 v. 

 

UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD CO; ET AL 

 

 Defendants 

 

UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD CO 

 

 Case: 01-31434 Document: 005177434 Page: 5 Date Filed: 02/26/2004
6

 Defendant - Petitioner 

 

------------------------------------------- 

ALRISTELLE K THOMAS; STEVE CEASER; TIFFANY C

ROBINSON; QUITIN DOYLE; J L PITRE; ET AL 

 

 Plaintiffs - Respondents 

 

 v. 

 

UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD CO; ET AL 

 

 Defendants 

 

UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD CO 

 

 

 Defendant - Petitioner 

------------------------------------------- 

BECKY BRUNET; RAMOND MALVEAUX; KIMBERLY

WALKER, Individually and on behalf of Caroline Elizabeth Walker,

on behalf of Ty Robert Walker; CHAD WAYNE DAIGLE,

Individually and on behalf of Jacoby Daigle, on behalf of Colby

Goodley;GENORAGOODLEY,Individuallyand onbehalfofJacoby

Daigle, on behalf of Colby Goodley; 

 

 Plaintiffs - Respondents 

 

 v. 

 

UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD CO

 Defendant - Petitioner 

-------------------------------------------

EBONY WILLIS; ETHEL WILLIS; ROZENA EDWARDS; JAMAL

WILLIS; LARRY EDWARDS 

 

 Plaintiffs - Respondents 

 

 Case: 01-31434 Document: 005177434 Page: 6 Date Filed: 02/26/2004
7

 v. 

 

UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD CO; ET AL 

 

 Defendants 

 

UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD CO 

 

 Defendant - Petitioner 

------------------------------------------- 

 

ACADIANA AMUSEMENTS INC 

 

 Plaintiff - Respondent

 v. 

 

UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD CO; ET AL 

 

 Defendants 

 

UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD CO 

 

 Defendant - Petitioner 

------------------------------------------- 

 

SCOTTPERRODIN;LYNDAPERRODIN; STEVIE BERTRAND;

TINA BERTRAND 

 

 Plaintiffs - Respondents 

 

 v. 

 

UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD CO; ET AL 

 

 Defendants 

 

UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD CO 

 

 Defendant - Petitioner 

 

 Case: 01-31434 Document: 005177434 Page: 7 Date Filed: 02/26/2004
8

------------------------------------------- 

 

MANZY THOMAS; MARGIE THOMAS; LLOYD H ANTOINE,

Individually and on behalf of Alex Antoine, on behalf of Anthony

Antoine; DENISE ANTOINE, Individually and on behalf of Alex

Antoine, on behalf of Anthony Antoine; ANTOINE FARMS 

 

 Plaintiffs - Respondents 

 

 v. 

 

UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD CO 

 

 Defendant - Petitioner 

------------------------------------------- 

 

JOSHUA WEST;HERMAN LAWRENCE,JR;TODD GUILLORY

 

 Plaintiffs - Respondents 

 

 v. 

 

UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD CO 

 

 Defendant - Petitioner 

 

------------------------------------------- 

 

ELLA EDWARDS; RAUNDEA GUILLORY, Individually and on

behalf ofRondessio Guillory, onbehalfofFitzgerald Guillory;ANNIE

JACK; JOHNNY TILLMAN; LOLA WILSON 

 

 Plaintiffs - Respondents 

 

 v. 

 

UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD CO 

 

 Defendant-Petitioner 

------------------------------------------- 

 

PHILIP THOMAS; FREDERICK THOMAS; TRACY ELLISON;

 Case: 01-31434 Document: 005177434 Page: 8 Date Filed: 02/26/2004
9

HILARY THOMAS; GEORGE THOMAS; ET AL 

 

 Plaintiffs - Respondents 

 

 v. 

 

UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD CO

 Defendant - Petitioner 

 

------------------------------------------- 

 

PERRY L JONES, SR, Individually and on behalf of D'Andrea

Broussard, on behalf of Laci Broussard, on behalf of Tia Broussard,

on behalf of Perry Jones, Jr, on behalf of Sharon Nicks; KENYA

JONES, Individually and on behalf of D'Andrea Broussard, on behalf

of Laci Broussard, on behalf of Tia Broussard, on behalf of Perry

Jones, Jr, on behalf of Sharon Nicks; LAMIKAA MEEKS; RETINA

SHANTELL MEEKS; MARIE SCOTT; ET AL 

 

 Plaintiffs - Respondents 

 

 v. 

 

UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD CO; ET AL 

 

 Defendants 

 

UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD CO

 Defendant - Petitioner 

 

------------------------------------------- 

 

HILDA FRANK; FRANCIS FRANK, JR, Individually and on behalf

of Frankie H Frank, on behalf of Francine Frank, on behalf of Franko

H Frank; FRANCIS FRANK, III; FRANDON FRANK; CURLEY

FRANK; ET AL 

 

 Plaintiffs - Respondents 

 

 v. 

 

 Case: 01-31434 Document: 005177434 Page: 9 Date Filed: 02/26/2004
10

UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD CO; ET AL 

 

 Defendants

 

UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD CO 

 

 Defendant - Petitioner 

 

------------------------------------------- 

 

PAUL LANDRY; ROSE LANDRY, Individually and on behalf of

Keith Carrier; RAMONA LEMELLE, on behalf of Aaron Lemelle 

 

 Plaintiffs - Respondents 

 

 v. 

 

UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD CO; ET AL 

 

 Defendants 

 

UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD CO 

 

 Defendant - Petitioner 

 

------------------------------------------- 

 

CHARLOTTE FONTENOT; CLARENCE FONTENOT; PEGGY

FONTENOT; RICHARD FONTENOT; ADRIAN LEDAY; ET AL

 

 Plaintiffs - Respondents 

 

 v. 

 

UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD CO; ET AL 

 

 Defendants 

 

UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD CO 

 

 Defendant - Petitioner 

 

------------------------------------------- 

 Case: 01-31434 Document: 005177434 Page: 10 Date Filed: 02/26/2004
11

 

PAUL DUPLANTIS; KAREN DUPLANTIS 

 

 Plaintiffs - Respondents 

 

 

 v. 

UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD CO; ET AL 

 

 Defendants 

 

 

UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD CO 

 

 Defendant - Petitioner 

 

------------------------------------------- 

 

RODERICK ABNEY; LESTER ADAMS; M ANDERSON;

RICHARD ANDERSON; RICHARD P ANDERSON, JR; ET AL 

 

 Plaintiffs - Respondents 

 

 v. 

 

UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD CO; ET AL 

 

 Defendants 

 

UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD CO 

 

 Defendant - Petitioner 

 

------------------------------------------- 

 

BERVICK ALLISON; VIRGINIA ALLISON; MARCEL

AUTHORLEE; COLANDRA AUTHORLEE 

 

 Plaintiffs - Respondents 

 

 v. 

 Case: 01-31434 Document: 005177434 Page: 11 Date Filed: 02/26/2004
12

 

UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD CO; ET AL 

 

 Defendants 

 

UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD CO 

 

 Defendant - Petitioner 

------------------------------------------- 

 

BRIDGET WATSON; JARVOUS WATSON; CAROLYN

THOMAS, individually and on behalf of Sharon Thomas, on behalf of

Karen Thomas; SANDRA WILSON, individually and on behalf of

Darrin Wilson; ELTRAY MAE COSTON, individually and on behalf

of Jareika Guillory, on behalf of Keramyzhia Guillory; ET AL 

 

 Plaintiffs - Respondents 

 

 v. 

 

UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD CO; ET AL 

 

 Defendants 

 

UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD CO 

 

 Defendant - Petitioner 

 

 ----------------------------------------- 

 

JOHN PATRICK HIGGINS, Dr; CAROL MCCAULEY HIGGINS;

MARY CAROLINE HIGGINS; MARY CHRISTINA HIGGINS 

 

 Plaintiffs - Respondents 

 

 v. 

 

UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD CO; ET AL 

 

 Defendants 

 

 Case: 01-31434 Document: 005177434 Page: 12 Date Filed: 02/26/2004
13

UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD CO 

 

 Defendant - Petitioner 

 

------------------------------------------- 

 

MARILYN TATTERSON, individually and on behalf of Gary

Tatterson, Jr; JOSEPH BRYANT BENNETT; LYNETTE

BROADWAY BESHEARS; LINDA FAYE WILLIAMS 

 

 Plaintiffs - Respondents 

 

 v. 

 

UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD CO; ET AL 

 

 Defendants 

 

UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD CO 

 

 Defendant - Petitioner 

 

-------------------------------------------

 

RUSSELL QUEBEDEAUX 

 

 Plaintiff - Respondent 

 

 v. 

 

UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD CO 

 

 Defendant - Petitioner 

 

------------------------------------------- 

 

FAQUETAIGUE GRAVITY DRAINAGE, district No 1 St Landry

Parish 

 

 Plaintiff - Respondent 

 

 v. 

 

 Case: 01-31434 Document: 005177434 Page: 13 Date Filed: 02/26/2004
14

UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD CO 

 

 Defendant - Petitioner 

------------------------------------------- 

 

KIMBERLY YOLAND WOODS, individually and on behalf of

Quentin Jermaine Ceasar, Jr; QUENTIN JERMAINE CEASAR 

 

 Plaintiffs - Respondents 

 

 v. 

 

UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD CO 

 

 Defendant - Petitioner 

 

-------------------------------------------

 

STATE FARM FIRE & CASUALTY CO 

 

 Plaintiff - Respondent 

 

 v. 

 

UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD CO 

 

 Defendant - Petitioner 

------------------------------------------- 

FLORENCE L JONES; DELLA SANDERS IRELAND; AMY

LOUISE SANDERS 

 

 Plaintiffs - Respondents 

 

 v. 

 

UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD CO; ET AL 

 

 Defendants 

 

UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD CO 

 

 Case: 01-31434 Document: 005177434 Page: 14 Date Filed: 02/26/2004
15

 Defendant - Petitioner 

 

------------------------------------------- 

 

RONALD GIBSON, individually and on behalf of Michael Ryan

Gibson, on behalf of Malik Gibson; STEPHANIE VERNON

GIBSON, individually and o n behalf of Michael Ryan Gibson, on

behalf of Malik Gibson; ZANN STACY, individually and on behalf of

Zaelyn Stacy 

 

 Plaintiffs - Respondents 

 v. 

 

UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD CO; ET AL 

 

 Defendants 

 

UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD CO 

 

Defendant - Petitioner 

 

------------------------------------------- 

 

SCOTT FISHER 

 Plaintiff - Respondent 

 

 v. 

 

UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD CO 

 

 Defendant - Petitioner 

 

------------------------------------------- 

 

PAUL SOILEAU 

 Plaintiff - Respondent 

 

 v. 

 

UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD CO 

 Case: 01-31434 Document: 005177434 Page: 15 Date Filed: 02/26/2004
16

 

Defendant - Petitioner 

 

------------------------------------------- 

 

RILEY HOWARD ANDRUS, JR 

 

 Plaintiff - Respondent 

 

 v. 

 

UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD CO 

 

 Defendant - Petitioner 

 

------------------------------------------- 

 

PATRICIA ANN EDWARDS, individually and on behalf of Williams

Edwards, on behalf of Malcolm Edwards, on behalf of Patricia

Sanchez Edwards, on behalf of Wesley Edwards, Jr; WESLEY

EDWARDS, SR, individually and on behalf of Williams Edwards, on

behalf of Malcolm Edwards, on behalf of Patricia Sanchez Edwards,

on behalf of Wesley Edwards, Jr 

 

 Plaintiffs - Respondents 

 

 v. 

 

UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD CO 

 

 Defendant - Petitioner 

Appeal from the United States District Court 

for the Western District of Louisiana

Before EMILIO M. GARZA, DEMOSS, and CLEMENT Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:

 Case: 01-31434 Document: 005177434 Page: 16 Date Filed: 02/26/2004
17

UnionPacificRailroadCompany(“UnionPacific”) appealsthe district court’s order certifying

a class action under Rule 23 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Union Pacific argues that the

district court erred in certifying the class and in admitting the testimony of two expert witnesses.

 “The district court maintains great discretion in certifying and managing an action. We will

reverse a district court’s decision to certify a class only upon a showing that the court abused its

discretion, or that it applied incorrect legal standards in reaching its decision.” Berger v. Compaq

Computer Corp., 257 F.3d 475, 478 (5t h Cir. 2001). “Implicit in this deferential standard is a

recognition of the essentially factual basis of the certification inquiry and of the district court’s

inherent power to manage and control pending legislation.” Allison v. Citgo Petroleum Corp., 151

F.3d 402, 408 (5th Cir. 1998). An action may proceed only if the party seeking certification

demonstrates that all four requirements of Rule 23(a) are met, and that at l east one of three

requirements of Rule 23(b) are met. See FED.RCIV. P. 23 (a-b); Amchem Products Inc. v. Windsor,

521 U.S. 591, 614, 117 S. Ct. 2231 (1997) (“In addition to satisfying Rule 23(a)’s prerequisites,

partiesseeking class certification must show that the action is maintainable under Rule 23(b)(1), (2),

or (3)”). If the requirements of Rule 23 are not met then a class should not be certified. See FED.

R CIV. P. 23(b); Amchem, 521 U.S. at 614.

“When because of absence offindings offact or conclusions of law, an appellate court cannot

determine whether the record supports the trial court decision, it should remand the action for entry

of findings of fact and conclusions of law.” Complaint of Ithaca Corp., 582 F.2d 3, 4 (5th Cir.

1978); cf. Westwego Citizensfor Better Government v. City of Westwego, 872 F.2d 1201, 1204 (5th

Cir. 1989) (“Because we find that the district court failed to explain its reasoning with sufficient

particularity, we must remand this case to the district court so that it may make the specific findings

 Case: 01-31434 Document: 005177434 Page: 17 Date Filed: 02/26/2004
1

 As a plaintiff’s request for class certification must fail if any one of Rule 23's requirements

is not met, in an order denying class certification the district court need only detail, with sufficient

specificity, why the plaintiff failed to satisfy any one of Rule 23's requirements. However, if the

plaintiff failed to satisfy more than one of Rule 23's requirements, prudence would suggest that the

district court detail why the plaintiff failed to meet each of those requirements. 

18

of fact and conclusions of law necessary to support a judgment.”). In a recent unpublished opinion

we found a district court’s order certifying a class action “inadequate for review” because “it provided

no factual findings or legal analysis.” See Bell v. City of Dallas, Texas, 81 Fed. Appx. 490, 491 (5th

Cir. 2003) (unpublished). We vacated the order and remanded the case. See id.

In this case, the district court certified a class without any findings of fact, legal analysis, or

even a cursory reference to Rule 23's requirements. Considering the deferential review provided a

district court’s decision to certify a class and the burden on the plaintiff to meet each of the

requirements of Rule 23, it is improper for a district court to certify a class action without first

demonstrating that the plaintiff has satisfied each of the requirements of Rule 23. See General

Telephone Co. of Southwest v. Falcon, 457 U.S. 147, 161, 102 S.Ct. 2364 (a “class action[] may only

be certified if the trial court is satisfied, after a rigorous analysis, that the prerequisites of [Rule 23]

have been satisfied”); Castano v. American Tobacco Co., 84 F.3d 734, 740 (5th Cir. 1996) (“A

district court must conduct a rigorous analysis of the rule 23 prerequisites before certifying a class.”).

Thus, we hold that when certifying a class a district court must detail with sufficient specificity how

the plaintiff has met the requirements of Rule 23.1 Accordingly we VACATE the certification order,

and REMAND the case to the district court for appropriate findings.

 Case: 01-31434 Document: 005177434 Page: 18 Date Filed: 02/26/2004