Opinion ID: 769834
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Mary Dorflinger

Text: 19 The district court denied Mary Dorflinger's motion to intervene as class representative on grounds that her claims were atypical and she was not an adequate representative. See Baffa, 185 F.R.D. at 177. The court found that Dorflinger was a sophisticated broker who had access to more information than other investors in the putative class. See id. In addition she bought Rickel stock after the value had drastically declined amidst reports of financial difficulty. See id. Appellants argue that the court erred in using the timing, circumstances, and investment strategy associated with Dorflinger's purchase of Rickel stock to label her an atypical plaintiff. On the contrary, appellants maintain that Dorflinger's claims are typical because like the other purchasers of Rickel stock, she relied on the integrity of the market and the accuracy of Rickel's financial disclosures in making investment decisions. 20 We conclude that the district court did not abuse its discretion when it denied Dorflinger's motion to intervene as class representative. While it is settled that the mere existence of individualized factual questions with respect to the class representative's claim will not bar class certification, class certification is inappropriate where a putative class representative is subject to unique defenses which threaten to become the focus of the litigation. Gary Plastic Packaging Corp. v. Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc., 903 F.2d 176, 180 (2d Cir. 1990) (internal citation omitted). The district court's rejection of Dorflinger is proper in light of the danger that absent class members will suffer if their representative is preoccupied with defenses unique to [her]. Id. While perhaps no one facet of Dorflinger's claim renders it atypical, her status as a professional broker and the defenses to which she is subject convince us that it was within the district court's discretion to reject Mary Dorflinger as a class representative. Accordingly, we affirm the district court's decision as to Dorflinger.