Opinion ID: 1747844
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Adequacy of Class Representatives

Text: Ballard and Cain next contend that Martin and Spencer were inadequate representatives to protect the interests of the class members and that Martin's class counsel was likewise inadequate. [4] This issue is decided by our recent case of USA Check Cashers of Little Rock, Inc. v. Island, 349 Ark. 71, 76 S.W.3d 243 (2002). As we said in that case, we review a trial court's grant of class certification under an abuse-of-discretion standard. See USA Check Cashers, supra . Rule 23(a) of the Arkansas Rules of Civil Procedure has as one of the four prerequisites to a class action: (4) the representative parties will fairly and adequately protect the interests of the class. Ark. R. Civ. P. 23(a)(4). See also BPS Inc. v. Richardson, 341 Ark. 834, 20 S.W.3d 403 (2000). This court has previously interpreted that subsection to require three elements: (1) the representative counsel must be qualified, experienced, and generally able to conduct the litigation; (2) that there be no evidence of collusion or conflicting interest between the representative and the class; and (3) the representative must display some minimal level of interest in the action, familiarity with the practices challenged, and ability to assist in decision making as to the conduct of the litigation. Mega Life & Health Ins. Co. v. Jacola, 330 Ark. 261, 275, 954 S.W.2d 898, 904 (1997). In a similar vein, this court has held that the element of adequacy is met if the class representative displays a minimal level of interest in the action, familiarity with the challenged practices, and the ability to assist in litigation decisions. See Direct Gen. Ins. Co. v. Lane, 328 Ark. 476, 944 S.W.2d 528 (1997). Martin testified at the fairness hearing that she was pleased with the legal representation provided to her and that her attorneys had kept her informed of what was going on in the case. She also stated that her goal in suing the defendants was to put an end to the check-cashing practices of the Westark appellees. She testified that she talks to her attorneys regularly and is kept abreast of the proceedings. Based on this testimony, we fail to discern any abuse of discretion in the trial court's finding that Martin is an adequate class representative. Furthermore, the allegation that the law firm of Orr, Scholtens, Willhite & Averitt is inadequate class counsel is meritless. These attorneys are currently handling a raft of cases against Arkansas check-cashing businesses. They have extensive class-action experience, and there is nothing to suggest that they are inadequate counsel for the class in this case. This court has held that absent a showing to the contrary, we presume that the class representative's counsel will vigorously and competently pursue the litigation. See Mega Life & Health Ins. Co. v. Jacola, supra (citing Herbert B. Newberg, Newberg on Class Actions, §§ 3.24, 3.42 (3d ed.1992)). We affirm the trial court on this point.