Opinion ID: 2339712
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: The Adequacy of the District Court's Analysis of the Parties' Pleadings and the Statutory Requirements for Class Certification

Text: Taranto asserts that at least five errors in the class certification order demonstrate that the district court failed to consider adequately the arguments and the factual record. These errors include a purported misstatement of Taranto's argument relating to the K.S.A. 2010 Supp. 60-223(b)(3) superiority requirement; the failure to address certain authority and an argument that the potential damages could be excessive; the absence of any comprehensive, all-inclusive fax number list; a reference to a special master when none was involved with the case; and the adoption by the trial court of written findings submitted by the plaintiff. In general, this court will not reverse on mere technical errors. Appellate courts disregard all mere technical errors and irregularities that have not prejudicially affected the substantial rights of the complaining party when the record shows that substantial justice was done by the order of the trial court. See Ward, 292 Kan. 541, Syl. ¶ 6, 256 P.3d 801 (if there is no reasonable probability that error did or will affect outcome of trial in light of entire record, error is harmless). The appellate courts are to render judgment `without regard to technical errors and irregularities in the proceedings of the trial court.' State v. Denney, 258 Kan. 437, 444, 905 P.2d 657 (1995) (quoting K.S.A. 60-2105). We are also disinclined to inquire into the mental processes of a factfinder, so long as the conclusions are legally sustainable. See Kelly v. Kansas City, Kansas Community College, 231 Kan. 751, 757, 648 P.2d 225 (1982) (citing United States v. Morgan, 313 U.S. 409, 422, 61 S.Ct. 999, 85 L.Ed. 1429 [1941]). A district court is under no requirement to address explicitly every legal authority raised by a party, especially out-of-jurisdiction authority that is not binding on Kansas courts. In addition, our appellate courts have upheld the practice of adopting proposed findings submitted by a party and have ruled that such adoption does not constitute inherent error. See Stone v. City of Kiowa, 263 Kan. 502, 506, 950 P.2d 1305 (1997); Ortiz v. Biscanin, 34 Kan.App.2d 445, 455, 122 P.3d 365 (2004). The errors asserted by Taranto are technical in nature and do not undermine the district court's determination that class certification is appropriate in this case. The decision of the district court is affirmed, and we remand with instructions to modify the class definition to clarify the parties consistent with the foregoing discussion.