Class Action

Microsoft/Vista Class Action Defense Cases–Kelley v. Microsoft: Washington Federal Court Grants Microsoft Motion To Decertify Class Action Because Rule 23(b)(3)’s Predominance Requirement No Longer Met

By Michael J. Hassen

Though District Court Initially Granted Class Action Treatment in Class Action Challenging Microsoft’s Marketing of “Vista Capable” PCs, Motion to Decertify Class Action Granted because Plaintiffs could not Establish Causation Element on a Class-Wide Basis Washington Federal Court Holds

Plaintiffs filed a putative nationwide class action against Microsoft alleging inter alia violations of Washington’s Consumer Protection Act or similar state consumer protection statutes and for unjust enrichment; the class action complaint “challenge[d] various aspects of Microsoft’s marketing of its Windows Vista…operating system.” Kelley v. Microsoft Corp., ___ F.Supp.2d ___ (W.D. Wash. February 18, 2009) [Slip Opn., at 2-3]. According to the allegations underlying the class action, nearly a year before releasing Vista, Microsoft authorized PC manufacturers to place stickers on their computers indicating that they were “Windows Vista Capable”; the class action complained that “a large number” of these computers were in fact capable of operating only the “Basic” version of Vista, not the Premium, Business or Ultimate versions of Vista. Id., at 2. The class action additionally alleged that Microsoft’s “Express Upgrade Guarantee Program” permitted customers to upgrade from Windows XP only to Vista Basic, id. The gravamen of the class action complaint is that “Basic cannot fairly be called ‘The Real Vista.’” Id. Defense attorneys countered that “Basic provides customers with a number of benefits over XP and is part of the Vista line.” Id. The district court certified the litigation as a class action, and Microsoft subsequently moved to decertify the class and for summary judgment, id., at 1. The district court granted the motion to decertify the litigation as a class action but denied summary judgment.

The federal court began by noting that “a district court may revisit its decision to certify a class in order to address developments that arise during the course of litigation.” Kelley, at 4 (citations omitted). Indeed, “[a] court’s power to revisit certification is ‘a vital ingredient in the flexibility of courts to realize the full potential benefits from the judicious use of the class action device.’” Id., at 5 (citation omitted). Microsoft’s motion for class decertification centered on Rule 23(b)(3)’s predominance requirement, id. “Courts have recognized that consumer fraud cases may present unique considerations when determining predominance” and “courts have decertified classes when it becomes apparent that the predominance factor can no longer be satisfied.” Id. (citations omitted). Defense attorneys argued that plaintiffs cannot establish on a class-wide basis the “causation” element of the complaint’s consumer fraud claim. Id., at 8. The district court agreed.

Full post as published by Class Action Defense Blog on March 03, 2009 (boomark / email).