OFF THE PRESS

In 1985, the United States Supreme Court ruling in Phillips Petroleum Co. v. Shutts opened the door for state courts to entertain multi-state and nationwide class actions that had traditionally been filed in federal forums. The following decade witnessed a significant increase in the number of multi-state class actions being adjudicated in the state courts. The American Bar Association's release of the "The Law of Class Action: Fifty-State Survey 2015-2016" offers an examination of class action law in each of the 50 states.

The book serves as a valuable tool for both in-house and outside counsels who confront the prospect of litigating class actions in state forums with which they may have little or no experience and must make informed recommendations on removal. Succinct summaries are prepared by litigators from each of the respective states and address changes in rules and statutes as well as significant case law. The summaries in the book provide a thorough and thoughtful understanding of the workings of the relevant state class action rules and case law that will be extremely useful to practitioners and parties alike.

"The Law of Class Action" is the collaboration of the ABA Section of Litigation, cochaired by Fabrice Vincent and Dennis Egan. The Fifty-State Survey was prepared by attorneys in the various states.

"The Law of Class Action: Fifty-State Survey 20152016" costs $149.95 and can be ordered online at www.shop.americanbar.org or by calling 800-285-2221.

Published: Fri, Dec 02, 2016