Opinion ID: 1912068
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Class Action Claims

Text: [14-17] The right of a party to sue as representative of a class may be determined on a motion for summary judgment. [12] In determining whether a class action is properly brought, considerable discretion is vested in the trial court. [13] Class actions are authorized under Neb. Rev.Stat. § 25-319 (Reissue 1995), which provides: When the question is one of a common or general interest of many persons, or when the parties are very numerous, and it may be impracticable to bring them all before the court, one or more may sue or defend for the benefit of all. In order to justify class action treatment, there must exist both a question of common or general interest and numerous parties so as to make it impracticable to bring all the parties before the court. [14] Class certification may be denied even if a named plaintiff meets all of the technical requirements of § 25-319. [15] [18] Because her breach of contract claim against State Farm is without merit as a matter of law, Mary lacks commonality with members of the purported class on whose behalf she sought to litigate similar breach of contract claims. The district court did not err in concluding that because Mary could not maintain her individual cause of action against State Farm, she was unqualified to represent the purported class. [16]