Opinion ID: 2092103
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Alleged Abuse of Class Action Process.

Text: Finally, the defendants argue that the plaintiffs have abused the class action process by soliciting potential class members to participate in the litigation, by soliciting funds from those class members, and by misrepresenting the status, purpose and effect of the litigation. The record reflects that two letters of solicitation were sent before the action was certified by the trial court. Iowa Rule of Civil Procedure 42.7 provides for notice, but only after certification. The matter of communication between class representatives and potential members of the class prior to the filing of the suit is discussed in 2 Newburg on Class Actions § 2715, at 1176: Before commencing a class action, a potential class representative may properly solicit additional class representatives to join in the filing of the class complaint.... A class representative may also wish to communicate with other potential members of the class for prelitigation discovery purposes, or to seek contributions for the expenses inherent in class litigation. Effective citizen advocacy requires organization, preparation, and financial support, at least to the extent of assuming ultimate responsibility for out-of-pocket litigation expenses and costs. We have examined the letters in question and conclude that they are not proscribed by any of our class action rules, and the district court did not abuse its discretion in rejecting this argument. We find no basis for reversal. AFFIRMED.