Moen

*848 Appellants (hereafter, Retirees) are retired employees of the University of California (University) who worked at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (Livermore). They claim that during their employment, the University promised to provide them with University-sponsored group health insurance in their retirement, and this promise constitutes an implied contract term that the University subsequently impaired. After initially certifying a class of such retirees, *404 the trial court decertified the class. We agree with Retirees that the trial court's decertification order relied on erroneous legal standards, and we reverse. *849 BACKGROUND

Livermore is a facility owned by the federal government. From 1952 to 2007, the federal government contracted with the University to manage and operate Livermore, and individuals working at Livermore during this period were University employees. In 1961, the Regents of the University (Regents) authorized the University to provide a group health insurance program for employees and retirees, and Retirees allege the University told employees their health insurance benefits would continue in retirement. Retirees and other Livermore employees…