Opinion ID: 1399337
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Exclusion of Some Claims

Text: Op-Tech argues that Appellees' plan to sacrifice the personal-injury and property-damage claims of class members in order to achieve certification is disingenuous and does not cure the defects in the certification order. In this regard, Teris argues that the amended and substituted order's provision excluding from the class [a]ny person believing they suffered a permanent personal injury, or permanent diminution in the value of their real property renders the class-certification order inconsistent, deficient, and that it should be voided. In support of their argument, Op-Tech relies on Thompson v. American Tobacco Co., 189 F.R.D. 544 (D.Minn. 1999), a case where certification was denied after the named plaintiffs reserved certain personal injury and damages claims. Appellees counter that they have never proposed to represent anyone with a personal-injury claim, and more importantly, know of no one who claims to have suffered a personal injury as a result of the event at Teris. There is no merit to Op-Tech's argument. Simply because this proposed class defines its members in a way that does not include people with personal injuries or permanent injuries does not render it inconsistent. Such people may pursue their own claims or be part of another class, which based on the hearing before the circuit court, appears to be the case. We reiterate that Rule 23 gives the trial court discretion to manage the class as it deems fit.