Stammco, L.L.C. v. United Tel. Co. of Ohio

*232Kennedy, J.

I. Introduction

{¶ 1} In this opinion, we address a single proposition of law of appellants, United Telephone Company of Ohio (“UTO”) and Sprint Corporation.1

{¶ 2} UTO appeals from a judgment of the Sixth District Court of Appeals holding that the trial court abused its discretion in denying certification of plaintiffs’ class-action lawsuit. We accepted for review the following proposition of law: “A trial court does not abuse its discretion by evaluating the merits of the plaintiffs’ claims when denying class certification.”

{¶ 3} We hold that a trial court must conduct a rigorous…