Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_06-cv-01947/USCOURTS-caed-2_06-cv-01947-10/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 370
Nature of Suit: Other Fraud
Cause of Action: 28:1332 Diversity-Injunctive &amp; Declaratory Relief

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

RICHARD A. BRISTOW, for

himself and a class of 

others similarly situated,

NO. CIV. S-06-1947 LKK/GGH

Plaintiff,

v.

LYCOMING ENGINES, a O R D E R

Division of Avco Corporation;

AVCO CORPORATION,

Defendants.

 /

I. Background

On June 15, 2007, the court denied a motion for class

certification filed by the original plaintiff in this action,

Richard Bristow. Because Mr. Bristow’s corporation, Romeo Bravo,

was the legal owner of the airplane with the crankshaft at issue,

the court denied the motion for lack of typicality of the proposed

class representative. The court indicated that if Romeo Bravo were

substituted for plaintiff, it would certify the Unfair Competition

Law Class, and therefore granted plaintiff leave to amend in order

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 The court incorporates by reference the standard and

analysis sections set forth in its June 15, 2007 order and only

addresses the new issues presented by the newly-introduced proposed

class representatives.

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to substitute new class representatives. The court also noted,

however, that with respect to the Consumers Legal Remedies Act

(“CLRA”) Consumer Subclass, only an individual, rather than a

corporation, would have standing to sue.

In this renewed motion, plaintiffs’ counsel have substituted

Romeo Bravo for Richard Bristow and have added two new plaintiffs:

Ronald Brown and Dana Pope. Mr. Brown took and holds title to his

aircraft as an individual. Decl. of Ronald Brown ¶ 2. He

purchased and uses his plane primarily for personal and family use.

Id. He has not replaced his Lycoming crankshaft. Id. Mr. Pope

also took and holds title to his aircraft as an individual, and he

also purchased and uses his aircraft primarily for personal and

family use. Decl. of Dana Pope ¶ 1. Mr. Pope replaced his

Lycoming crankshaft in November 2006. Id. ¶ 2.

II. Analysis1

A. UCL Class

Defendants do not challenge the sufficiency of Romeo Bravo LLC

as class representative for the UCL class. Because all the

requirements of class certification are now satisfied in light of

the substitution of Romeo Bravo for Richard Bristow, the court

hereby certifies the UCL Class and appoints Romeo Bravo LLC as the

class representative.

As defined by plaintiffs, the UCL Class includes the

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following: All persons or entities residing in California who: (1)

before February 21, 2006 purchased an aircraft that is or was

subject to Lycoming Mandatory Service Bulletin 569A; (2) either

currently own that aircraft or sold that aircraft on or after

February 21, 2006. Employees, officers, directors, legal

representatives, heirs, successors, and assignees of defendants are

excluded.

B. CLRA Consumer Subclass

With respect to the CLRA Consumer Subclass, defendants

challenge the typicality and adequacy of Mr. Brown and Mr. Pope as

class representatives. Specifically, defendants argue that because

Mr. Brown’s aircraft was stolen in 1993, and an engine log book was

also stolen or destroyed, Mr. Brown’s aircraft could have suffered

some unknown damage that would make him an atypical representative.

As the court stated in its June 15, 2007 order, however, “[t]he

injury to the proposed class materializes in one of two forms:

either owners will suffer diminished resale value if they opt to

sell their planes prior to replacing the crankshaft, or they will

bear the extra costs associated with replacing the crankshaft as

part of their compliance with the [Airworthiness Directive].”

Order at 9. 

Accordingly, the theft of Mr. Brown’s plane does not change

the injury that he suffered with respect to crankshaft replacement,

even if, as defendants speculate, there might have been aircraft

misuse during the theft. Furthermore, crankshaft replacement is

the legally relevant issue for determining whether Mr. Brown is

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 Defendants also argue that aircraft maintenance records from

May 3, 2001 to November 5, 2003 are missing. As explained in Mr.

Brown’s subsequent declaration, however, there is no gap in the

maintenance records. Rather, he stopped flying the plane during

this period of time and resumed making flights on March 7, 2004.

Brown Decl. ¶ 5.

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similarly situated to other class members and therefore a typical

class representative.

As this is defendants’ only substantive criticism of the new

plaintiffs,2

 the court hereby certifies the CLRA Consumer Subclass

and appoints Mr. Brown and Mr. Pope as the class representatives.

The CLRA Consumer Subclass includes the following: All persons

residing in California who: (1) before February 21, 2006 purchased

an aircraft which is used primarily for personal, family, or

household purposes that is or was subject to Lycoming Mandatory

Service Bulletin 569A; (2) either currently own that aircraft or

sold that aircraft on or after February 21, 2006. Employees,

officers, directors, legal representatives, heirs, successors, and

assignees of defendants are excluded.

III. Conclusion

The court hereby orders as follows:

1. The motion for class certification is GRANTED.

2. The court appoints Romeo Bravo LLC as the class

representative for the UCL Class.

3. The court appoints Ronald J. Brown and Dana Pope as the

class representatives for the CLRA Consumer Subclass.

4. The court appoints class counsel Levy, Ram & Olson LLP

(Liaison Counsel); Mills Law Firm (Co-Lead Class Counsel); Climaco,

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Lefkowitz, Peca, Wilcox & Garofoli, Co., L.P. (Co-Lead Class

Counsel); Seeger Weiss LLP (Class Counsel); Roda Nast P.C. (Class

Counsel); Bailey Law Group (Class Counsel); and the Vernon Law Firm

(Class Counsel).

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: September 11, 2007.

 

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