Law.com Subscribers SAVE 30%

Call 855-808-4530 or email [email protected] to receive your discount on a new subscription.

The Tyson Foods Ruling

By Pablo Orozco
July 01, 2016

The Supreme Court's recent decision in Bouaphakeo v. Tyson Foods, 577 U.S. ' (2016) was decidedly not the sweeping ruling many practitioners anticipated. Nevertheless, the decision provided useful guidance for class-action litigants regarding the proper use of representative evidence ' i.e., that which requires the trier of fact to draw conclusions about one subset of the class, or even an individual putative class member, based on an analysis of a different part of the class. Likewise, the decision afforded litigants an interesting glimpse into the Court's disposition regarding certification where, by definition, the class includes unharmed members.

With respect to representative evidence, Bouaphakeo marks a clear departure from the recent trend of Supreme Court jurisprudence that tightened class-certification standards. While the Court was reluctant to endorse any hard and fast rules that manifestly favor employees or employers, the Bouaphakeo decision arguably softened the strict stance articulated by Justice Scalia just five years earlier in Dukes v. Wal-Mart. With respect to uninjured class members, Chief Justice Roberts' concurrence provides defendants with a possible roadmap to certification challenges.

This premium content is locked for Entertainment Law & Finance subscribers only

  • Stay current on the latest information, rulings, regulations, and trends
  • Includes practical, must-have information on copyrights, royalties, AI, and more
  • Tap into expert guidance from top entertainment lawyers and experts

For enterprise-wide or corporate acess, please contact Customer Service at [email protected] or 877-256-2473

Read These Next
New York's Latest Cybersecurity Commitment Image

On Aug. 9, 2023, Gov. Kathy Hochul introduced New York's inaugural comprehensive cybersecurity strategy. In sum, the plan aims to update government networks, bolster county-level digital defenses, and regulate critical infrastructure.

The Bankruptcy Hotline Image

Recent cases of importance to your practice.

Law Firms are Reducing Redundant Real Estate by Bringing Support Services Back to the Office Image

A trend analysis of the benefits and challenges of bringing back administrative, word processing and billing services to law offices.

How AI Has Affected PR Image

When we consider how the use of AI affects legal PR and communications, we have to look at it as an industrywide global phenomenon. A recent online conference provided an overview of the latest AI trends in public relations, and specifically, the impact of AI on communications. Here are some of the key points and takeaways from several of the speakers, who provided current best practices, tips, concerns and case studies.

The DOJ's Corporate Enforcement Policy: One Year Later Image

The DOJ's Criminal Division issued three declinations since the issuance of the revised CEP a year ago. Review of these cases gives insight into DOJ's implementation of the new policy in practice.