Wilkinson
Wilkinson v. Federal Bureau of Investigation
Opinion
lead Opinion
Tashima, J.
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER
This is an action brought by the National Committee Against Repressive Legislation 1 (“NCARL”); its former executive director, Frank Wilkinson; and several members of NCARL. NCARL describes itself as an unincorporated association dedicated to the preservation of First Amendment rights and to the eradication of repressive laws and practices throughout the United States. The defendants are various officers and *152 agencies of the United States. In this action, plaintiffs claim that their constitutional and other rights were violated by defendants’ efforts to disrupt, discredit, and interfere with NCARL’s activities.
This matter is now before the Court on plaintiffs’ motion for class certification under Fed.R.Civ.P. 23(b)(3). 2 Named plaintiffs request the certification of a plaintiff class consisting of all individuals who have been sustaining members of NCARL for at least one year since 1960. The class members’ claims are that their constitutional and other rights were invaded when defendants (1) disrupted and discredited NCARL’s activities, and (2) obtained information about the class members’ activities, including their contributions to NCARL.