Overka v. American Airlines, Inc.

265 F.R.D. 14, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 12300, 2010 WL 517407
CourtDistrict Court, D. Massachusetts
DecidedFebruary 4, 2010
DocketCivil Action No. 08-10686-WGY
StatusPublished
Cited by21 cases

This text of 265 F.R.D. 14 (Overka v. American Airlines, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Massachusetts primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Overka v. American Airlines, Inc., 265 F.R.D. 14, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 12300, 2010 WL 517407 (D. Mass. 2010).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

YOUNG, District Judge.

I. INTRODUCTION

The named plaintiffs bring a putative class action against American Airlines, Inc., (“American”) on behalf of skycaps working at Logan Airport in Boston, Massachusetts, and at other airports served by American [17]*17throughout the United States, who were affected by American’s imposition of a $2 per bag charge for curbside check-in services (the “Skycaps”). On behalf of the alleged nationwide class, the Skycaps bring common law claims of tortious interference with contractual or advantageous relationship and unjust enrichment. Am. Compl. Counts 3, 4. The Skycaps’ motion for certification of a nationwide class is presently before the Court.

II. BACKGROUND

Traditionally, the Skycaps earned their living primarily from passengers’ tips. Am. Compl. ¶ 34. In 2005, American implemented a $2 per bag fee for the Skycaps’ services at the majority of its terminals in the United States. Id. ¶¶ 35-36. Many passengers were unaware that the fee was not a tip to the Skycaps, id. ¶ 40, but rather revenue retained by American, id. ¶38. After the implementation of the charge, few passengers tipped on top of the fee and, as a result, the Skycaps’ compensation fell dramatically. Id. ¶ 39. The Skycaps claim that American’s actions constitute tortious interference with the Skycaps’ prospective business relationships and unjust enrichment.1

In 2007, this Court presided over a jury trial on nearly identical claims brought against American by ten skycaps, nine from Massachusetts and one from Missouri. DiFiore v. American Airlines, Inc., No. 07-10070. The jury found that American’s $2 per bag charge violated the Massachusetts Tips Law, constituted tortious interference with advantageous relationships under the common law, and awarded damages to the named Massachusetts skycaps. DiFiore, No. 07-10070, Jury Verdict, Apr. 7, 2008. The jury, however, did not award recovery to the Missouri plaintiff, who, unlike the Massachusetts skycaps did not have a statutory claim. Id. In the DiFiore case, the skycaps similarly moved for certification of a nationwide class and a Massachusetts subclass. DiFiore, No. 07-10070, Pls.’ Mot. for Class Certification [Doc. No. 44], The Court denied certification of the Massachusetts subclass for lack of numerosity. DiFiore, No. 07-10070, Class Certification Hr’g Tr. 4:19, June 26, 2007. The Court also denied certification of the nationwide class as unmanageable in light of differences in the laws of the thirty-four jurisdictions. DiFiore, No. 07-10070, Class Certification Hr’g Tr. 7:23-25, Sept. 11, 2007.

III. ANALYSIS

A. Framework for analysis

The Court has substantial discretion in ruling on class certification. Reiter v. Sonotone Corp., 442 U.S. 330, 345, 99 S.Ct. 2326, 60 L.Ed.2d 931 (1979); McCuin v. Sec’y of Health and Human Servs., 817 F.2d 161, 167 (1st Cir.1987). The prerequisites of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23, however, must be met. Rule 23(a) states that the class will be certified only if:

(1) the class is so numerous that joinder of all members is impractical [numerosity requirement]; (2) there are questions of law or fact common to the class [commonality requirement]; (3) the claims or defenses of the representative parties are typical of the claims or defenses of the class [typicality requirement]; and (4) the representative parties will fairly and adequately protect the interests of the class [adequacy requirement].

Fed.R.Civ.P. 23(a). In addition, a party seeking certification must show that the action is maintainable under the Rule 23(b)(1), (2), or (3). Rule 23(b)(3) requires that (1) “the questions of law or fact common to class members predominate over any questions affecting only individual members” and that (2) a class action is “superior to other available methods for fairly and efficiently adjudicating the controversy.” Fed.R.Civ.P. 23(b)(3).

B. Rule 23(a)

1. Numerosity

“Numerosity is established if the size of a proposed class, even if inexactly determined, is sufficiently large as to make joinder impracticable, given the relevant cir[18]*18cumstances.” In re Relafen Antitrust Litig., 221 F.R.D. 260, 266 (D.Mass.2004). “[District courts may draw reasonable inferences from the facts presented to find the requisite numerosity.” McCuin, 817 F.2d at 167.

The Skycaps claim that American instituted the $2 charge at the majority of airports where American has terminals. Am. Compl. ¶ 36. Citing to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s website, the Skycaps assert that American operates at more than eighty-five airports in the United States. See Mem. in Supp. Mot. for Class Certification at 6, Ex. 2 [Doc. No. 32]. The Skycaps further propose that a minimum of five skycaps work for American at each airport and thus, arrive at several hundred potential members for the class. Id. American does not contest these calculations.

Under these circumstances, it seems impracticable to join all affected skycaps. Thus, the numerosity requirement is satisfied.

2. Commonality

The commonality threshold is relatively easy to meet. In re Relafen Antitrust Litig., 231 F.R.D. 52, 69 (D.Mass.2005). Rule 23(a)(2) does not require that all issues be common for the class. Payne v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., 216 F.R.D. 21, 25 (D.Mass.2003) (Gertner, J.); Margaret Hall Foundation, Inc. v. Atlantic Financial Mgmt., Inc., 1987 WL 15884, at *2 (D.Mass. 1987) (Skinner, J.).

The present case arises out of the $2 curbside check-in fee that was implemented uniformly in the majority of American’s terminals nationwide and affected skycaps working throughout the country in a similar way. Where, as here, implementation of the common scheme is alleged, the commonality requirement usually is satisfied. Armstrong v. Davis, 275 F.3d 849, 868 (9th Cir.2001) (“Commonality is satisfied where the lawsuit challenges a system-wide practice or policy that affects all of the putative class members.”); Green v. Wolf Corp., 406 F.2d 291, 300 (2d Cir.1968); Singer v. AT & T Corp., 185 F.R.D. 681, 688 (S.D.Fla.1998) (listing eases).

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Bluebook (online)
265 F.R.D. 14, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 12300, 2010 WL 517407, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/overka-v-american-airlines-inc-mad-2010.