Summary
In Gordon (supra), the existence of a common issue, whether 1988 and 1989 year model Lincoln Continentals were defectively designed, did not satisfy the predominance test where individual issues pertaining to about 60,000 members of the putative class would become the focus of the litigation.
Summary of this case from Geiger v. American Tobacco CompanyOpinion
April 1, 1999
Appeal from the Supreme Court, New York County (Lewis Friedman, J.).
Plaintiffs failed to meet their burden of establishing that common issues of law would predominate in a nationwide class action suit alleging breach of implied warranty of merchantability ( see, Ackerman v. Price Waterhouse, 252 A.D.2d 179, 194). Certification of a New York class was properly denied since questions affecting individual members of the putative class predominate over common issues of law or fact (CPLR 901 [a]; Small v. Lorillard Tobacco Co., 252 A.D.2d 1, 8). Plaintiffs point to a common issue, whether the vehicles were defectively designed. However, the existence of a common issue does not by itself suffice to establish the predominance of issues common to the putative class necessary to justify a class action ( Small v. Lorillard Tobacco Co., supra, at 10). To establish breach of an implied warranty of merchantability, plaintiffs must prove that their vehicles are not fit for their ordinary purpose (UCC 2-314 ), a matter indeterminable herein except by inquiries directed to each member of the class ( see, Feinstein v. Firestone Tire Rubber Co., 535 F. Supp. 595, 604). Given the enormity of the potential class, possibly numbering as many as 60,000 persons, the necessity of conducting such individual inquiries would become the predominant focus of the litigation, rendering the litigation extremely difficult if not impossible to manage, and an inefficacious means of adjudicating any underlying common issue respecting defective design ( Small v. Lorillard Tobacco Co., supra, at 10).
Similarly, defendant's contractual liability for breach of express warranty is individual in nature, especially in view, of the different kinds of warranties covering various components and in view of plaintiffs' claims that the vehicles manifested various defects ( see, Sirica v. Cellular Tel. Co., 231 A.D.2d 470).
Concur — Ellerin, P. J., Tom, Wallach and Saxe, JJ.