Lynne A. Carnegie, on Behalf of Herself and All Others Similarly Situated v. Household International, Inc.

POSNER, Circuit Judge.

We have consolidated for decision petitions, filed by two groups of defendants in a consumer-finance class action litigation, for leave to appeal an order by'the district court certifying a plaintiff class. Fed.R.Civ.P. 23(f) authorizes us to entertain such interlocutory appeals. The rule does not state criteria for the exercise of this discretionary authority. But the case law teaches that the more novel the issue presented by the appeal and so the less likely that the district court’s resolution of it will stand, the more important the resolution of the issue is either…