Document: 457 U.S. 147 102 S.Ct. 2364 72 L.Ed.2d 740 GENERAL TELEPHONE COMPANY OF the SOUTHWEST, Petitionerv.Mariano S. FALCON. No. 81-574. Argued April 26, 1982. Decided June 14, Syllabus After being denied a promotion by petitioner employer, respondent Mexican-American filed charge with Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, alleging that he had been passed over for because of his national origin and petitioner's policy operated against Mexican-Americans as class. Subsequently, received right-to-sue letter from then brought class action in Federal District Court under Title VII Civil Rights Act 1964. Without conducting an evidentiary hearing, certified consisting employees applicants who not hired. As to liability, court held discriminated its practices but hiring practices, respect found practices. Both parties appealed, Appeals, rejecting argument defined too broadly, Court's certification was proper Fifth Circuit's rule permitting any victim racial discrimination employment maintain "across-the-board" attack on all unequal allegedly followed employer pursuant discrimination. On merits, Appeals upheld respondent's claim, findings were insufficient support recovery behalf this vacated Appeals' judgment remanded case further consideration light Texas Dept. Community Affairs v. Burdine, 450 248, 101 1089, 67 207. The claim reinstated approval certification. Held: erred both employment. Pp. 155-161. (a) An individual litigant seeking must meet Rule Procedure 23(a)'s specified "prerequisites numerosity, commonality, typicality, adequacy representation." General Telephone Co. EEOC, 446 318, 330, 100 1698, 1706, 64 319. These requirements effectively "limit claims those fairly encompassed named plaintiff's claim." Ibid. P. 155-157. (b) There can be no disagreement proposition underlying rule—that is definition But allegation such has occurred neither determines whether may maintained accordance 23 nor certified. Here, bridge gap between existence persons have suffered same injury respondent—so share common questions law or fact typical claims—respondent prove much more than validity own claim. Respondent's complaint provided basis concluding adjudication would require decision question concerning failure hire Mexican-Americans. specific presentation identifying members sought represent, it error presume other applicants. 157-159. (c) bifurcated liability demonstrate, might well tried separately. Thus, clear maintenance did advance "the efficiency economy litigation which principal purpose procedure." American Pipe & Construction Utah, 414 538, 553, 94 756, 766, 38 713. 159. (d) error, inherent rule, evaluate carefully legitimacy plea representative 23(a). 160 5th Cir., 647 F.2d 633, reversed remanded. Noyes Thompson Powers, Washington, D. C., petitioner. Frank Hernandez, Dallas, Tex., respondent. Justice STEVENS delivered opinion Court. 1 presented Falcon, complained promote him Mexican-American, properly permitted whom hire. 2 * In 1969 initiated special recruitment training program minorities. Through program, Falcon hired July groundman, within year twice promoted, first lineman lineman-in-charge. He subsequently refused installer-repairman. October 1972 applied job field inspector; application even though granted several white less seniority. 3 thereupon Commission stating belief Southwest, 626 369, 372, n. (CA5 1980). due course and, 1975, commenced 1964, 78 Stat. 253, amended, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e et seq. (1976 ed. Supp.IV), United States Northern Texas. His alleged "a policy, practice, custom, usage of: discriminating [Mexican-Americans] compensation, terms, conditions, privileges employment, . subjecting continuous discrimination."1 Respondent claimed result whites qualification experience lower evaluation scores promoted rapidly. contained factual allegations 4 "on similarly situated, 23(b)(2) Rules Procedure."2 identified "composed are employed, at place business located Irving, Texas, continue adversely affected herein."3 5 responding written interrogatories,4 memorandum favor hourly Mexican future employed Defendant practiced practices." App. 46-47. position supported ruling Circuit Johnson Georgia Highway Express, Inc., 417 1122 (1969), "across board" committed including hired.5 6 Following trial issues, entered separate conclusions hiring, discriminate Pet. Cert. 35a, 37a. reached converse about class, finding Irving facility Id., 39a-40a.6 7 various post-trial proceedings, ordered furnish list during period January 1, 1973, 18, 1976. give notice advising them they entitled some form recovery. Evidence taken responded notice, backpay ultimately awarded 13 persons, addition Falcon. total entire amounted $67,925.49, plus costs interest.7 8 appealed. rejected contention should operations New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas.8 hand, also broadly. For, across-the-board permissible "an employee complaining one practice represent another if plaintiff suffer essentially injury. case, based origin." F.2d, 375.9 relied Payne Travenol Laboratories, 565 895 (1978), cert. denied, 439 835, 99 118, 58 131, stated: 9 "Plaintiffs' 'across board' aggrieved discriminatory plaintiffs demonstrated sufficient nexus enable suffering different motivated policies." 900, quoted 375. 10 disparate treatment promotion,10 relating impact class.11 decided 207, we directed opinion. Southwest 1036, 1752, 68 234. portion addressing portions approving 633 (1981). With merits remaining open reconsideration remand, certiorari decide II 11 class-action device designed exception usual conducted only." Califano Yamasaki, 442 682, 700-701, 2545, 2557-2558, 61 176. Class relief "peculiarly appropriate" when "issues involved whole" "turn applicable manner each member class." 701, S.Ct., 2557. For cases, saves resources courts issue potentially affecting every [class member] litigated economical fashion 23." 12 authorizes sue name secure individuals forbidden Act. See 2000e-5(f)(1). exercising enforcement power, seek groups without complying strictures 23. Northwest VII, however, contains authorization suits private parties. prerequisites representation" 1706. claims." We repeatedly part 'possess interest injury' members." East Motor Freight System, Inc. Rodriguez, 431 395, 403, 97 1891, 1896, 52 453 (quoting Schlesinger Reservists Committee Stop War, 418 208, 216, 2925, 2929-2930, 41 706.) Freight, three city drivers, trucking company's black drivers ethnic grounds transfers desirable line-driver jobs. "plainly declaring action." U.S., 1896. Because time qualified positions, "they could were, therefore, simply eligible injury." 403-404, 1897. 14 Our holding limited; noted only later appeared otherwise inappropriate representatives." 406, 12, 1898, 12. recognized theory behind noting our awareness "that often their very nature suits, involving classwide wrongs," "[c]ommon typically present." 405, 1898. breath, reiterated "careful attention Fed.Rule Civ.Proc. remains nonetheless indispensable" "mere alleges does itself ensure party lawsuit will adequate real victims discrimination." 405-406, 15 cannot disagree discrimination.12 defines Conceptually, there wide individual's grounds, unsupported company discrimination, individual, claims.13 gap, Even evidence deserving advanced conclusion origin, necessarily justify additional inferences (1) (2) pervades division, (3) reflected way manifested demonstrate tenuous character presumption "fairly encompassed" 16 represent,14 If attack, potential companywide action. find nothing statute indicate Congress intended authorize wholesale expansion litigation.15 17 predictable course. Instead raising fact, approaches entirely different. attempted sustain proving intentional through statistical impact. Ironically, conceptually borne closer typicality commonality relationship sustained It do not, course, judge propriety hindsight. Coopers Lybrand Livesay, 437 463, 98 2454, 57 351, determination generally involves considerations 'enmeshed legal issues comprising cause action.' " 469, 2458 Mercantile Nat. Bank Langdeau, 371 555, 558, 83 520, 522, 523). Sometimes plain enough pleadings determine interests absent sometimes necessary probe before coming rest question. after order entered, free modify subsequent developments litigation.16 order, particularly sent "is inherently tentative." 11, 11. This flexibility enhances usefulness device; actual, presumed, conformance 23(a) remains, indispensable. III 18 need apply actions noticed panel announced rule. specially concurring 1125-1127, Judge Godbold emphasized "more precise pleadings," id., 1125, "without reasonable specificity define representation adequate, know how defend," 1126. termed "most significant" unfairness bound framing overbroad. And pointed out "tacit assumption" "all surely win manna fall 1127. concerns mind, reiterate today action, like satisfied, rigorous analysis, satisfied. 19 affirming reversed, proceedings consistent 20 so ordered. 21 Chief BURGER, dissenting part. 22 I agree insofar states general principles determining However, my view remand since record case. reverse instructions dismiss notes, judicial allowing time. 176 (1979). stressed strict indispensable cases. System 1897-1898, (1977). means limited 'fairly claims.' Ante, 2370, quoting 319 (1980). 24 inspector Mexican-American. To successful advances "disparate treatment" theory, convince better was, but, instead, reasons. success depends comparative qualifications analysis credibility reasons decisions made decisions. unsuccessful jobs petitioner, contrast, "adverse impact" theory. Its statistics patterns.* 25 clearly shows claim; seeks ante, 153, 9. bare 157; supra, 1897-1898. Accordingly, 26 Moreover, while judge's certify normally evaluated hindsight, 160, what show, reason us stage these lengthy proceed actually presented. concludes failed consider reverse, look evidence. show 7.7% 1976 relevant labor force 5.2% Company 381, Petitioner's unchallenged numbers greater percentage smaller force. 373, 4. negates representative. 27 Like many already gone years, draining litigants. Rather promoting economy, multiplication endless litigation. Since succeed, 14. paragraph VI complaint, alleged: "The established transfer, promotional, seniority system, design, intent, preserve, effect continuing preserving, Defendant's custom limiting promotional opportunities 15. 13. provides, part: "(a) Prerequisites Action. One sued numerous joinder impracticable, defenses (4) adequately protect "(b) Actions Maintainable. subdivision addition: "(2) opposing acted act thereby making appropriate final injunctive corresponding declaratory whole. ." 13-14. continued: "There rights are, be, limited, classified, ways deprive and/or tend equal affect status origin. impracticable. A sought. said represented Plaintiff. Plaintiff." Interrogatory "Identify fac[t] purported 26. answered interrogatory follows: facts evaluations made, subjective rather objective recommendations raises promotions handled, surrounding Company. call 34. pretrial February 2, 1976, provided, Plaintiff up Division company, division. "Plaintiff hold negotiations see possibility granting Plaintiff, MARIANO FALCON." 48a-49a. motions decertify trial. accelerate affirmative-action plan taking steps actively recruit facility. 41a-45a. $1,040.33. large award, $28,827.50, attorney's fees. Most remainder resulted keeping applications active 90 days; most considered, refusal extend disappointed interval days. 463 F.Supp. 315 (1978). abused discretion divisions management broader difficult. 376 "While similarities sex, race dispositive met, extremely important factor determination, outweigh somewhat here, showed alliance type similarity location, function considerations." 375-376 (citations omitted). explain function, unidentified determination. proffered whites, respondent, subjective. prima facie test set forth McDonnell Douglas Corp. Green, 411 792, 802, 93 1817, 1824, 36 668, rebutted erroneous. holding, earlier Burdine Affairs, 608 563 yet announced. disposed number contentions raised parties, reserved others pending remand. Among latter objection computing awards. 7, supra. comparing employ, Dallas-Fort Worth 39a. allowed years 1973 pertaining period, suggested impact, claims. 380-382. Hall Werthan Bag Corp., 251 184, 186 (MD Tenn.1966). merge. serve guideposts particular circumstances interrelated protected absence. Those therefore merge adequacy-of-representation requirement, although requirement competency counsel conflicts interest. address conflict enlargement pool decrease chances promotion. 331, 1706-1707, ("In litigation, arise, example, will, relief, compete fringe benefits Under 23, classes"); 404-405, 453. 4, used biased testing procedure incumbent employees, applicant prejudiced satisfy Significant proof conceivably fashion, decisionmaking processes. regard noteworthy prohibits abstract mere identifiable establish standing litigate possible employer. "As soon practicable commencement shall maintained. conditional, altered amended merits." 23(c)(1). determined inspector. Thus person challenged prejudice Mexican-Americans,

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