Editor’s note: This article is part of The American Lawyer’s State of Litigation special section, along with an analysis of President Donald Trump’s federal court nominations.
This year has seen significant developments in the field of class action litigation. Last year’s Bristol-Myers decision has created a growing split as to the viability of a large number of nationwide class actions. The D.C. Circuit issued its long-awaited decision in the ACA International case, significantly altering the landscape for Telephone Consumer Protection Act litigation. Spokeo’s impact on standing challenges continues to wind its way through courts across the country. The U.S. Supreme Court and appellate courts have also issued significant decisions on related topics, including the judicial approval of nationwide class action settlements, the tolling of statutes of limitations during the pendency of class actions, and state court jurisdiction over securities class actions. This article highlights at a high level the year’s most noteworthy developments in this field and offers insights for their likely impact for litigants and practitioners.
