HB534--CLASSACTIONS
SPONSOR: Diehl
ThisbillamendsMissouriSupremeCourtRule52.08,relatedto
classactionlawsuits. Thebillspecifiesthatasearlyas
practicable,afterapersonsuesorissued,thecourtmust
determinewhethertocertifyanactionasaclassactionandthe
courtmustmakespecificfindingsandconclusionstosupportits
decisiontocertify. Thecertifyingordermustdefinetheclass
andtheclassclaims,issues,ordefenses,andmustappointclass
counsel.
Thebillmodifiesthecurrentnoticeprovisionsandprovides
methodsbywhichnoticeforanycertifiedclassorforpurposesof
asettlementmustbeprovidedandtheinformationthenoticemust
include. Thebillalsoprovidesfactorsthecourtmustconsider,
aswellasfactorsitmayconsider,whenappointingclasscounsel.
Thecourtmayappointinterimcounselpriortodeterminingwhether
tocertifyanactionasaclassaction.
Thebillallowsactionstobebroughtormaintainedwithrespectto
particularissuesorclassestobedividedintosubclasses,when
appropriate. Thebillrequiresthecourttoholdahearingprior
toapprovingasettlementproposaliftheproposalwouldbindclass
members,andpartiesseekingapprovaloftheproposalmustfilea
statementidentifyinganyagreementmadeinconnectionwiththe
proposal. Thebillsetsproceduresfordeterminingattorneys'fees
andnontaxablecosts.
ThisbillissimilartoSB47(2025).