Harriss

Harriss v. Pan American World Airways, Inc.

Good Law

15 Empl. Prac. Dec. (CCH) 8011·15 Fair Empl. Prac. Cas. (BNA) 1640·23 Fed. R. Serv. 2d 1335·74 F.R.D. 24·1977 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 17725

United States District Court, Northern District of CaliforniaJanuary 24, 1977Nos. C-74-1884, C-72-0838, C-76-0512, C-74-1270, C-76-0079, C-74-2558 and C-74-0224 WWSCalifornia10,466 words

Opinion

lead Opinion

Schwarzer, J.

OPINION AND ORDERS DETERMINING WHETHER ACTIONS MAY BE MAINTAINED AS CLASS ACTIONS

INTRODUCTION

Motions are pending before the Court in seven different actions brought under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. § 2000e et seq.) for class action determinations under Rule 23(c)(1), Fed.R. Civ.P. 1 All of the motions raised common issues involving the application of Rule 23 to Title VII litigation. For that reason, judicial economy warrants consolidated treatment. We therefore begin with a discussion of the general principles governing the maintainability of Title VII actions as class actions relevant to all of the motions. Next, we shall deal separately with the motions made in each of the actions in the light of these general principles and of the discussion in connection with the other motions.

The Court recognizes that few, if any, hard and fast rules exist with respect to Title VII class actions and, in addition, that the subject presents a moving target as new decisions issue constantly. Nonetheless, analysis of the rule, the statute, the case law and the underlying policies permits a distillation of controlling principles and relevant factors for making the…

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Parties

Ute R. HARRISS and Margaret A. Feather
Plaintiff
PAN AMERICAN WORLD AIRWAYS, INC. Albert PRICE v. LUCKY STORES, INC., Jesse Shelmire-Intervenors Linda L. MATHISON, on behalf of herself and others similarly situated v. FOREMOST-McKESSON, INC., a Maryland Corporation Patricia J. GROHAL, Individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated v. STAUFFER CHEMICAL COMPANY, INC. Cassandra JACKSON, also known
Defendant

Judges

Schwarzer

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