Opinion ID: 2788912
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Whether a Joint or Common Interest Exists Among Class Members

Text: [¶29] “Generally, a common interest exists if one class member’s failure to collect would increase the recovery of the remaining members, or if the defendant’s total liability does not depend on how the recovery of the claim is distributed among the class members.” Klagues , 2002 ND 59, ¶ 11, 643 N.W.2d 45. “A joint and common interest under N.D.R.Civ.P. 23(c)(1)(A) is not the same as a common question of law or fact under N.D.R.Civ.P. 23(c)(1)(E).” Id. Nor is a joint and common interest under N.D.R.Civ.P. 23(c)(1)(A) satisfied by a mere showing a common interest in recovery or a common nucleus of facts. Id. at ¶ 12. In Klagues , we determined the trial court erred in finding a joint and common interest existed under N.D.R.Civ.P. 23(c)(1)(A) because there was no indication in the record that the failure of one potential class member to collect from the defendant would increase the other class members’ recovery. Id. On the contrary, in Klagues , each potential class member had an individualized amount they claimed was owed to them, based on the defendant’s alleged breach of contract. Id. [¶30] Here, the district court found no common or joint interest among the purported class members existed, explaining: The failure of one or more class member to collect will not increase Baker’s recovery, or the recovery of any other class member. Further, the total liability of the defendants will depend upon the individual recovery of each class member, and the distribution of the recovery among class members will be individualized according to the specific facts of each transaction. Recovery in this case, like the proposed class in Klagues , would be determined by each individual’s claim, rather than sharing recovery from a fixed pool of money. Therefore, the district court correctly applied the law and made findings within its range of discretion. The district court did not abuse its discretion deciding that no common or joint interest existed between class members and that this factor did not favor certification.