Wash. Mut. Bank v. Superior Court of Orange Cty.

Opinion

BAXTER, J.

The trial court certified this case as a nationwide class action without determining the force and effect of contractual agreements that, according to the defendant, would require the application of different states’ laws in the action. The Court of Appeal found certification was proper because the defendant had failed to show that the contractually selected laws would lead to different results. We conclude the certification order must be vacated, for it was based upon an incomplete and erroneous analysis of factors relevant to certification.

Factual and Procedural Background

Am…