LAW 7098 :
Class Actions & Other Comp Lit

This course in advanced civil procedure covers legal doctrines that apply in complex litgation in the United States, and in particular class actions and multidistrict litigation. Class action are a form of lawsuit often used to resolve the most significant legal issues in society, ranging from large-scale consumer protection claims, to investor and shareholder claims, to civil rights claims. Class action are uniqure in that a single plaintiff or group of plaintiffs (and their counsel) are allowed to litigate on behalf of an entire class of similarly situated persons and, in some casses, reach a resolution of claims with out the participation, or even the consent, of all affected persons. These types of suits pose a tension between efficiency and Due process, with the concerns over abuse of judicial process and lawyer misconduct. The focus on several legislative and judicial reform efforts, these cases pose some of the most sophisticated lawyering issues faced by practitioners handling the most complex cases. This course will provide an introduction to the practice of this advanced form of litigation and provide real working experince. Guest speakers will include judges and attorneys who have litigated complex matters. Your performance will be graded on a number of factors including class participation, written assignments drafting pleadings, and take home examination. 3.00 credit(s).