Helmer et al v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., The

Filing 148

ORDER granting 138 Motion to Provide Notice to Potential Class Members. by Judge R. Brooke Jackson on 9/8/14. (Attachments: # 1 Notice of Class Action, # 2 Transmittal Letter to Contractors)(jdyne, )

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLORADO
Honorable R. Brooke Jackson
Civil Action No. 12-cv-00685-RBJ
DAVID HELMER, FELICIA MUFTIC, and MICHAEL MUFTIC, on behalf of themselves and
all others similarly situated,
Plaintiffs,
v.
THE GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER CO., an Ohio corporation,
Defendant.

ORDER

This case is before the Court on the plaintiffs’ motion to provide notice to potential class
members. ECF No. 138. The parties have conferred on a proposed notice and notice plan, but
defendant Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. (“Goodyear”) still objects to certain portions of the
notice and plan. See ECF No. 146. Plaintiffs contend that Goodyear has no standing to object at
this stage of the proceedings, and they also offer substantive reasons why Goodyear’s objections
are misplaced. The issue is fully briefed and ripe for review by this Court. For the reasons
stated below, I grant plaintiff’s motion [ECF No. 138], with certain modifications, and attach a
copy of the notice to this order.
I.

Standard for Class Notice
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23(c)(2)(B) sets out the requirements for notice to

classes certified under Rule 23(b)(3). The rule states that
the court must direct to class members the best notice that is practicable under the
circumstances, including individual notice to all members who can be identified
through reasonable effort. The notice must clearly and concisely state in plain,
easily understood language:

(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
(v)
(vi)
(vii)

the nature of the action
the definition of the class certified;
the class claims, issues, or defenses;
that a class member may enter an appearance through an attorney if the
member so desires;
that the court will exclude from the class any member who requests
exclusion;
the time and manner for requesting exclusion; and
the binding effect of a class judgment on members under Rule 23(c)(3).

Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(c)(2)(B).
II.

Goodyear’s Standing to Object
As a threshold matter, plaintiffs contend that Goodyear has no standing to object to their

proposed notice to the class. I am not convinced by plaintiffs’ citations that Goodyear lacks
standing to object to the content of the notice. None of the cases cited is a controlling authority,
and it seems fair and prudent to let the defendant offer its own suggestions about how the notice
meets (or fails to meet) Rule 23’s requirements. Therefore, I conclude that Goodyear’s
objections may be considered for their persuasive value.
III.

Disputed Language
a. Effect of Opting-Out
Goodyear wants failure to opt out to preclude all class members from bringing any future

claims related to deficiencies in Entran 3, not simply any claims based on a theory of strict
liability for design defect. ECF No. 146 at 2. Goodyear bases this position on the plaintiffs’
earlier voluntary dismissal of all non-strict liability for design defect claims. But such a broad
definition of the scope of the class would sweep in more claims than were certified for
determination as a class action. The class was certified to determine liability for design defect.
The voluntary dismissal occurred before certification. Therefore, plaintiffs’ language more
accurately describes the effect of remaining in the litigation.

b. “Do Nothing” Box
Goodyear and plaintiffs disagree about how to describe what rights class members are
giving up by remaining in the litigation. This appears to be a rehashing of the same arguments
addressed above. Again, because plaintiff’s language is more specifically tailored to the
purposes for which the class was certified—i.e. to determine liability for design defect—the
Court adopts plaintiff’s proposed modification to the notice.
c. Issue to Be Determined at Trial
Again, Goodyear objects to the plaintiff’s description of the issues to be determined at
trial. And again, plaintiffs’ language is more accurate. The class was certified to determine
strict liability for design defect. ECF No. 122 at 20. As causation is an element of that liability,
general principles of causation will be addressed at trial. Of course, individual damage trials
might involve more individualized inquiries into causation, but that topic need not be addressed
in this notice.
d. The “Inevitable Failure” Theory
I agree with plaintiffs that an accurate notice—one that alerts potential class members of
their claims—must inform those members that they are members of the class even if their Entran
3 has not yet manifested any defect. I can also sympathize with Goodyear that using the phrase
“inevitable failure” goes beyond the plaintiffs’ theory into the realm of argument. Therefore I
have crafted my own language in the notice attached to this Order.
e. The Image
I do not understand Goodyear’s objection to the photograph included in the proposed
notice. If anything, the image will assist potential class members in identifying Entran 3 if it is

present in their homes. That Goodyear has not offered up any alternative images reinforces my
conclusion here. Therefore, the photograph is retained in the final notice.
f. Internet Banner Advertisements
Finally, Goodyear objects to the use of online banner advertisements in the notice plan.
Specifically, Goodyear believes that the fact that the advertisements will be visible to an
estimated 41 million viewers will give the misleading impression that Entran 3 is causing
widespread damage. I disagree, and even if Goodyear’s fears are well-founded I fail to see how
that would affect the accuracy of the notice or the due process interests of alerting all potential
class members. Potential class members will either have damage in their home that might be the
result of Entran 3 or they will not. And the opinions of people who are not potential class
members, provided they are not also potential jurors, are irrelevant to this litigation. Therefore
the banner advertisements proposed by the notice plan will be permitted by the Court. I will
note, however, that the potential exists for an advertisement targeting 41 million consumers to
cause undue harm to Goodyear’s image. Therefore the internet advertisement should not identify
Goodyear. After all, it appears that Goodyear’s name appears nowhere on the Entran 3 tubing
and that potential class members need not be informed of Goodyear’s connection to the product
in order to determine their membership in the class.
IV.

Conclusion
Therefore plaintiff’s motion [ECF No. 138] is GRANTED. The Court-approved notice

and email to contractors are attached to this order. The Court finds that this notice is the best
practical way of providing the notice as required by Rule 23 and the due process requirements
associated with class action litigation. Class Members will have until December 5, 2014 to opt
out.

Any member of the Class who wishes to be excluded from the Class must send a written
request for exclusion to the Class Counsel so that it is received before the close of the opt out
period. Members of the Class may not exclude themselves by filing requests for exclusion as a
group or class, but must individually and personally file a request for exclusion with Class
Counsel.
Any member of the Class who fails properly and timely to seek exclusion from the Class
shall be bound by all the terms and provisions of the Class, whether or not such person objected
to the Class and whether or not such person made a claim upon, or participated in, the Class.
Any person or entity that does not elect to be excluded from the Class may, but need not,
enter an appearance through his or her own attorney. Class members who do not enter an
appearance through their own attorneys will be represented by Class Counsel.
All members of the Class who do not properly request exclusion from the Class are
enjoined from proceeding against Goodyear for any claim of “strict liability for design defect”
for which the Court certified the Class.
Moreover, plaintiff’s proposed notice plan is approved as revised and is attached to this
Order. Plaintiffs may immediately begin implementing the notice plan according to their
proposed schedule.
DATED this day 8th of September, 2014.

BY THE COURT:

___________________________________
R. Brooke Jackson
United States District Judge