ARTICLE
7 May 2026

Class Action Decisions Published March 2026

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Shook, Hardy & Bacon

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Shook, Hardy & Bacon has long been recognized as one of the premier litigation firms in the country. For more than a century, the firm has defended companies in their most substantial national and international products liability, mass tort and complex litigation matters.

The firm has leveraged its complex product liability litigation expertise to expand into several other practice areas and advance its mission of “being the best in the world at providing creative and practical solutions at unsurpassed value.” As a result, the firm has built nationally recognized practices in areas such as intellectual property, environmental and toxic tort, employment litigation, commercial litigation, government enforcement and compliance, and public policy.

This issue examines three significant federal appellate court decisions that shape class action litigation: the Fourth Circuit's analysis of ERISA claims and Rule 23(b)(1) certification requirements...
United States Litigation, Mediation & Arbitration
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Highlights from this issue include:

  • ERISA and Rule 23(b)(1). The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit held that ERISA claims brought in the context of a defined contribution plan were individualized monetary claims, and thus certification under Rule 23(b)(1) was not appropriate because that subdivision does not require notice or the ability of class members to opt out.
  • Pro se Prisoners. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit reiterated that a pro se prisoner plaintiff cannot bring a class action on behalf of other prisoners because only experienced counsel with significant resources could provide the level of support necessary to prosecute such a massive suit.
  • Incentive Awards. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit held that district courts are permitted to approve incentive awards in class action settlements. The only circuit that disallows incentive awards is the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.

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