Harding v. Tambrands Inc.

165 F.R.D. 623, 1996 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 4677, 1996 WL 138057
CourtDistrict Court, D. Kansas
DecidedMarch 15, 1996
DocketCivil Action Nos. 94-1195-FGT, 95-1316-FGT
StatusPublished
Cited by39 cases

This text of 165 F.R.D. 623 (Harding v. Tambrands Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Kansas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Harding v. Tambrands Inc., 165 F.R.D. 623, 1996 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 4677, 1996 WL 138057 (D. Kan. 1996).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

THEIS, District Judge.

This matter is before the court on the plaintiffs’ motion for class certification (Doc. [626]*62631, filed in Case No. 94-1195). These two cases were originally filed as one civil action by both of the plaintiffs listed above against both the defendants. Upon various objections of the defendants, the parties agreed to sever the case into two separate civil actions. The motion for class certification was filed and briefed prior to the severance.

The plaintiffs seek the certification of two classes of plaintiffs pursuant to both Rule 23(b)(3) and Rule 23(b)(2) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Plaintiffs seek to certify a class of all residents or domiciliaries of the United States who suffered damages from Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) caused by using tampon products containing viscose rayon manufactured after February 1985 by defendant Tambrands Inc. (the Tampax class). Similarly, plaintiffs seek to certify a class of all residents or domiciliaries of the United States who suffered damages from TSS caused by using tampon products containing viscose rayon manufactured after February 1985 by defendant Playtex Family Products Corp. (the Playtex class).

The plaintiffs assert that prior to February 1985, the defendants became aware that tampon products containing viscose rayon posed a greater risk for TSS than tampon products made of 100% cotton. Plaintiffs assert that the defendants had actual knowledge that an all cotton tampon would provide the lowest risk of TSS. Plaintiffs allege that the defendants engaged in fraudulent conduct, made false statements of material fact and failed to disclose material facts regarding the alleged link between viscose rayon and TSS risk. Plaintiffs further assert that any applicable statutes of limitations have been tolled by the defendants’ acts of fraudulent concealment or, alternatively, that the defendants are es-topped from relying on the statute of limitations.

The plaintiffs’ complaints contain claims based on fraud and deceit, negligent misrepresentation, violation of state consumer protection statutes, breach of express warranty, breach of implied warranty, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence and strict liability. Plaintiffs seek actual and punitive damages. Plaintiffs also seek equitable relief in the form of the creation of a court-supervised medical monitoring program to monitor the health of the plaintiff class members and a fund to pay for medical costs. Doc. 1 in Case No. 94-1195; Doc. 2 in Case No. 95-1316.1

The determination of class certification is committed to the broad discretion of the trial court. Boughton v. Cotter Corp., 65 F.3d 823, 826 (10th Cir.1995). In deciding whether to certify a class, the court must perform a “rigorous analysis” of whether the class satisfies the requirements of Fed.R.Civ.P. 23. National Union Fire Ins. Co. v. Midland Bancor, Inc., 158 F.R.D. 681 (D.Kan.1994). The court may not inquire, however, into the merits of the underlying case. Adamson v. Bowen, 855 F.2d 668, 676 (10th Cir.1988).

Rule 23 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure governs the certification of class actions. Plaintiffs have the burden of proving that all four requirements of Rule 23(a) and one requirement of Rule 23(b) are met. Reed v. Bowen, 849 F.2d 1307, 1309 (10th Cir.1988).

All class actions must satisfy the prerequisites of Rule 23(a):

One or more members of a class may sue or be sued as representative parties on behalf of all only if (1) the class is so numerous that joinder of all members is impracticable, (2) there are questions of law or fact common to the class, (3) the claims or defenses of the representative [627]*627parties are typical of the claims or defenses of the class, and (4) the representative parties will fairly and adequately protect the interests of the class.

Fed.R.Civ.P. 23(a).

The class action must also satisfy one of the provisions of Rule 23(b). The plaintiffs seek certification under Rule 23(b)(3), but alternatively seek certification of their medical monitoring claim under Rule 23(b)(2). Those provisions provide:

An action may be maintained as a class action if the prerequisites of subdivision (a) are satisfied, and in addition:

(2) the party opposing the class has acted or refused to act on grounds generally applicable to the class, thereby making appropriate final injunctive relief or corresponding declaratory relief with respect to the class as a whole; or
(3) the court finds that the questions of law or fact common to the members of the class predominate over any questions affecting only individual members, and that a class action is superior to other available methods for the fair and efficient adjudication of the controversy. The matters pertinent to the findings include: (A) the interest of members of the class in individually controlling the prosecution or defense of separate actions; (B) the extent and nature of any litigation concerning the controversy already commenced by or against members of the class; (C) the desirability or undesirability of concentrating the litigation of the claims in the particular forum; (D) the difficulties likely to be encountered in the management of a class action.

Fed.R.Civ.P. 23(b)(2)-(3).2

Alternatively, if the court were to deny certification of the cases as a whole, the plaintiffs seek certification as to individual issues pursuant to Rule 23(c)(4):

When appropriate (A) an action may be brought or maintained as a class action with respect to particular issues, ... and the provisions of this rule shall then be construed and applied accordingly.

Fed.R.Civ.P. 23(c)(4)(A).

I. Requirements of Rule 23(a)

A Numerosity

While both defendants take issue with plaintiffs’ estimates of the size of the potential classes (between 14,275 and 69,000 in the Tampax class; 6,500 to 32,000 in the Playtex class), neither defendant seriously disputes that the numerosity requirement has been satisfied.

B. Commonality

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Bluebook (online)
165 F.R.D. 623, 1996 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 4677, 1996 WL 138057, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/harding-v-tambrands-inc-ksd-1996.