Opinion ID: 1760838
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Comprehension of the Duties and Responsibilities of Class Representative

Text: Advance America asserts that McGinnis is an inadequate representative because she does not comprehend the nature and extent of her responsibilities and duties as a class representative. Advance America states that McGinnis has shown little interest in the case, and that she has not discharged any duties as a class representative. Advance America also notes that, while McGinnis attended the class-certification hearing, she did not testify. Advance America also states that McGinnis lacks the finances to serve as class representative. Finally, Advance America states that McGinnis's failure to disclose information in a request for admission demonstrates that she is an inadequate representative. McGinnis testified in her deposition that she felt qualified to be class representative. She stated that she took care of her home, paid her bills, and took care of her grandchild, so she thought she could manage being class representative. She stated that she understood that, as class representative, it was her responsibility to make sure that all members of the class received notice of the suit. McGinnis testified that she was not aware of all of her duties and responsibilities as class representative, but that she intended to learn more about them from her attorneys. As for understanding her financial obligation, McGinnis testified in her deposition testimony that she was willing to spend money for litigation and would even mortgage her house to pursue the lawsuit, if necessary. As for her failure to disclose information, in Request for Admission No. 28, Advance America requested that McGinnis admit: as a condition of entering into a Customer Agreement with Advance America/Servicing, on or about January 3, 2007, you wrote a check to Advance America Servicing on which payment was stopped. McGinnis denied this allegation, but she later admitted it in her deposition. McGinnis states that the basis of her denial in the request for admission was that the request was poorly worded. She explains that she did not stop payment on a check as a condition of entering into a customer agreement, but that she stopped payment later after she sought and received advice of counsel. Thus, she claims that her denial was appropriate and her subsequent testimony was truthful. A review of McGinnis's deposition testimony reveals that she satisfactorily comprehends her duties and responsibilities as class representative. McGinnis admitted that she was not aware of all her duties and responsibilities, but she demonstrated a willingness to consult with her attorneys and follow their instructions. She also testified that she was willing and able to finance the costs of litigation. As for her failure to disclose information in a request for admission, it appears that McGinnis may not have understood the question. In sum, we conclude that Advance America has failed to demonstrate that McGinnis cannot adequately represent the class because (1) her untreated mental illness renders her incapable of making decisions in the best interests of the class, (2) McGinnis is not familiar with the basic facts of the lawsuit, and (3) McGinnis does not comprehend the nature and extent of her responsibilities and duties as a class representative. Therefore, we hold that the third element of the adequacy requirement has been satisfied.