Opinion ID: 2485217
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: The Trial Court Properly Granted Class Certification

Text: As with district courts of appeal, this Court reviews a trial court's order on class certification for an abuse of discretion, see Engle, 945 So.2d at 1266, examines a trial court's factual findings for competent, substantial evidence, and reviews conclusions of law de novo, see Sarasota Citizens for Responsible Gov't v. City of Sarasota, 48 So.3d 755 (Fla.2010). It also reviews a district court's application and conclusions of law de novo. See Fayad v. Clarendon Nat'l Ins. Co., 899 So.2d 1082, 1085 (Fla. 2005). A trial court must make its determination as to class certification at an early stage in a cause of action, i.e., certainly before trial, and typically before discovery is completed. Engle, 945 So.2d at 1266. To certify a class, a trial court must engage in an analysis with regard to whether the class representative and putative class members meet the requirements for class certification promulgated in Florida Rule of Civil Procedure 1.220. See Canal Ins. Co. v. Gibraltar Budget Plan, Inc., 41 So.3d 375, 377 (Fla. 4th DCA 2010). Although rule 1.220 does not demand it, and certainly not all situations require it, a trial court may conduct an evidentiary hearing to evaluate the basis for class certification when there may be questions with regard to whether common issues predominate or whether the proposed class representatives provide a superior method for the fair and efficient adjudication of the controversy. See Barton-Malow Co. v. Bauer, 627 So.2d 1233, 1235 (Fla. 2d DCA 1993) (citing Merrill v. S. Methodist Univ., 806 F.2d 600 (5th Cir. 1986)). A trial court should resolve doubts with regard to certification in favor of certification, especially in the early stages of litigation. See Chase Manhattan Mortg. Corp. v. Porcher, 898 So.2d 153, 156 (Fla. 4th DCA 2005). When determining whether to certify a class, a trial court should focus on the prerequisites for class certification and not the merits of a cause of action. See Morgan, 33 So.3d at 63-64. However, if consequential to its consideration of whether to certify a class, a trial court may consider evidence on the merits of the case as it applies to the class certification requirements. See Freedom Life Ins. Co. of Am. v. Wallant, 891 So.2d 1109, 1115 (Fla. 4th DCA 2004) ([W]hen deciding whether to certify a class, the trial court's focus should be on whether the prerequisites for class certification have been established. However . . . the court may still consider evidence on the merits of the case . . . in determining whether the prerequisites for class certification have been established. (citing Eisen v. Carlisle & Jacquelin, 417 U.S. 156, 178, 94 S.Ct. 2140, 40 L.Ed.2d 732 (1974))). Nevertheless, the trial court's consideration of the merits during class certification review must not result in a determination on the merits or a shift in focus from deciding whether a litigant's claim is suited for class certification. See id. (holding that the trial court did not err because it considered the merits of the claim only as they applied to a class certification finding and made no determination on the merits). To obtain class certification, the proponent of class certification carries the burden of pleading and proving the elements required under rule 1.220. See InPhyNet Contr. Servs. v. Soria, 33 So.3d 766, 771 (Fla. 4th DCA 2010). This includes the four elements of rule 1.220(a). See Canal Ins. Co. v. Gibraltar Budget Plan, Inc., 41 So.3d 375, 377 (Fla. 4th DCA 2010). As delineated by rule 1.220(a), the four elements that a party must satisfy to obtain class certification are: (1) the members of the class are so numerous that separate joinder of each member is impracticable [ numerosity ], (2) the claim or defense of the representative party raises questions of law or fact common to the questions of law or fact raised by the claim or defense of each member of the class [ commonality ], (3) the claim or defense of the representative party is typical of the claim or defense of each member of the class [ typicality ], and (4) the representative party can fairly and adequately protect and represent the interests of each member of the class [ adequacy ]. Fla. R. Civ. P. 1.220(a) (emphasis added). In addition, the proponent of class certification must satisfy one of the three subdivisions of rule 1.220(b). See Fla. R. Civ. P. 1.220(b) (stating that a party may maintain a claim or defense on behalf of a class if it satisfies rule 1.220(a) and 1.220(b)). Rule 1.220(b)(3) states that if sections 1.220(b)(1) and 1.220(b)(2) are not satisfied, [3] then a party may satisfy the requisites of 1.220(b) by fulfilling rule 1.220(b)(3). Rule 1.220(b)(3) provides: (3) the claim or defense is not maintainable under either subdivision (b)(1) or (b)(2), but the questions of law or fact common to the claim or defense of the representative party and the claim or defense of each member of the class predominate over any question of law or fact affecting only individual members of the class, and class representation is superior to other available methods for the fair and efficient adjudication of the controversy. The conclusions shall be derived from consideration of all relevant facts and circumstances, including (A) the respective interests of each member of the class in individually controlling the prosecution of separate claims or defenses, (B) the nature and extent of any pending litigation to which any member of the class is a party and in which any question of law or fact controverted in the subject action is to be adjudicated, (C) the desirability or undesirability of concentrating the litigation in the forum where the subject action is instituted, and (D) the difficulties likely to be encountered in the management of the claim or defense on behalf of a class. (Emphasis added.)