Curatolo et al v. Atlas Roofing Corporation

Filing 100

OPINION AND ORDER denying Motion to Certify Class, (303) in case 1:13-md-02495-TWT and (92) in case 1:13-cv-04218-TWT. Signed by Judge Thomas W. Thrash, Jr on 6/8/2017. Associated Cases: 1:13-md-02495-TWT, 1:13-cv-04218-TWT(jkl)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF GEORGIA
ATLANTA DIVISION
IN RE ATLAS ROOFING
MDL DOCKET NO. 2495
CORPORATION CHALET SHINGLE 1:13-md-2495-TWT
PRODUCTS LIABILITY
LITIGATION
MICHAEL MAZZA, et al.,
Plaintiffs,
v.

CIVIL ACTION FILE
NO. 1:13-CV-4218-TWT

ATLAS ROOFING CORPORATION,
Defendant.

OPINION AND ORDER

This is a multi-district class action arising out of the marketing and sale of
allegedly defective roofing shingles. It is before the Court on the Plaintiffs Michael
Mazza, Linda Krehlick, and Robert Johnson’s Motion for Class Certification [Doc.
92]. For the reasons set forth below, the Plaintiffs’ Motion for Class Certification
[Doc. 92] is DENIED.

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I. Background
The Plaintiffs and putative class members are purchasers of Atlas Chalet and
Stratford Shingles (“Shingles”).1 The Defendant Atlas Roofing Corporation (“Atlas”)
designed, manufactured, and sold the Shingles.2 Atlas represented and continues to
represent that the Shingles are durable, reliable, free from defects, and compliant with
industry standards and building codes.3 The Plaintiffs allege that the Shingles were
defective at the time of sale due to a flaw in the manufacturing process.4 Specifically,
the manufacturing process “permits moisture to intrude into the Shingles, creating a
gas bubble that expands when the Shingles are exposed to the sun resulting in
cracking, blistering and premature deterioration of the Shingles.”5 The Plaintiffs

1

It should be noted that – for purposes of this lawsuit – Chalet/Stratford
Shingles are indistinguishable. See Primary Mot. for Class Cert. [Doc. 57], Ex. Tab
14, Thomas Dep., at 35 under No. 13-cv-02195-TWT. The differences between the
two Shingles relate to aesthetics, not design. Id.
2

Compl. ¶ 2.

3

Id.

4

Id. ¶ 3. In support of their argument regarding the alleged defects in the
Shingles, the Plaintiffs rely on the expert testimony of both Dean Rutila and Anthony
Mattina. In Dishman v. Atlas Roofing Corp., the Defendant filed a Daubert motion
challenging the admissibility of both Rutila’s and Mattina’s testimony. See Def.’s
Primary Resp. Br. [Doc. 59] under No. 1:13-cv-02195-TWT. The Defendant
incorporates by reference the Defendant’s Response Brief in Dishman v. Atlas
Roofing Corp. See Def.’s Resp. Br., at 3.
5

Compl. ¶ 50.

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further allege that despite Atlas’s knowledge of the defect, Atlas did nothing to correct
the defective design and continued to market and warrant the Shingles as durable.6
Atlas provided four different limited warranties throughout the eleven-year
class period.7 The initial limited warranty was a twenty-five-year warranty, and it
provided that the Shingles were “free from manufacturing defects, which would
reduce the useful life of the product.”8 The warranty was transferrable to future
property owners.9 On January 1, 2002, Atlas began issuing thirty-year limited
warranties.10 The thirty-year warranty provided that the Shingles were “free from
manufacturing defects, which results in leaks.”11 Atlas also limited the number of
transfers of the warranty. For the thirty-year warranty, the coverage could only be
transferred once and the second owner had to provide Atlas notice of the transfer of
coverage.12
6

Id. ¶¶ 52-55.

7

See Primary Mot. for Class Cert., Exs. Tab 23-26. The Plaintiffs
incorporate by reference the background section of Plaintiffs’ Motion for Class
Certification in Dishman v. Atlas Roofing Corp. See Mot. for Class Cert., at 2.
8

See Primary Mot. for Class Cert., Ex. Tab 23.

9

Id.

10

Id.

11

Id., Exs. Tab 24-26.

12

Id.

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The named Plaintiff Michael Mazza, who is a resident of Smyrna, Tennessee,
purchased a home that was built in 2003-2004.13 The Shingles were installed on the
roof at the time of construction.14 In 2013, Mazza experienced leaks in his home and
also noticed that his Shingles were suffering from blistering and cracking.15 That same
year, he filed a warranty claim with Atlas, but it was denied.16 In 2014, Mazza’s
insurer paid to replace his roof due to wind damage.17 Similarly, the named Plaintiff
Linda Krehlik, who is a resident of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, bought a home that was
built in 2005.18 The Shingles were installed at the time of construction.19 In early 2013,
Krehlik observed blistering, cracking, and granule loss on the Shingles.20 In April
2013, Krehlik filed a warranty claim with Atlas, but Atlas denied the claim.21 Later

13

Compl. ¶ 21; Mazza Dep., at 5, 25.

14

Mazza Dep., at 37-38.

15

Id., at 50-52.

16

Compl. ¶ 21; Mazza Dep., at 41, 76.

17

Mazza Dep., at 38-39, 102, 113.

18

Compl. ¶ 22; Krehlik Dep., at 11, 22.

19

Compl. ¶ 22.

20

Id. ¶ 23; Krehlik Dep., at 56-57.

21

Krehlik Dep., at 117, 124; Mot. for Class Cert., Ex. Tab 3.

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that year, Krehlik had the Shingles replaced with a different type of shingle.22 Finally,
the named Plaintiff Robert Johnson, who is a resident of Arlington, Tennessee, bought
his home – which had the Shingles installed on the roof – in 2006.23 In 2013, Johnson
observed that the Shingles were cracking.24 Based on the deterioration of the Shingles,
Johnson filed a warranty claim with Atlas.25 Atlas denied his warranty claim, citing
foot traffic on the roof as the true cause of the cracking.26 Ultimately, Johnson’s
insurer paid for his roof to replaced.27
On August 28, 2013, the named Plaintiffs filed suit in the United States District
Court for the Middle District of Tennessee28 on behalf of themselves and others

22

Krehlik Dep., at 31-32.

23

Compl. ¶ 24; Johnson Dep., at 22-23, 27-28.

24

Compl. ¶ 25; Johnson Dep., at 60.

25

Compl. ¶ 25.

26

Id.

27

See Mot. for Class Cert., at 3.

28

“[I]n multidistrict litigation under 28 U.S.C. § 1407, the transferee court
applies the state law that the transferor court would have applied.” In re Conagra
Peanut Butter Prods. Liab. Litig., 251 F.R.D. 689, 693 (N.D. Ga. 2008); see also In
re Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Implants Prods. Liab. Litig., 97 F.3d 1050, 1055
(8th Cir. 1996) (“When considering questions of state law, however, the transferee
court must apply the state law that would have applied to the individual cases had they
not been transferred for consolidation.”). Here, both parties agree that Tennessee law
governs the Plaintiffs’ state law claims.
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similarly situated in the state of Tennessee.29 They seek to bring their suit as a class
action. Because similar consumer class actions were filed in other states, the Judicial
Panel on Multidistrict Litigation transferred all related class actions pending in federal
court to this Court for coordinated or consolidated pretrial proceedings.30
After the Motion to Dismiss stage, the Plaintiffs’ remaining claims in this class
action are for Breach of Express Warranty (Count I), Breach of Implied Warranties
of Merchantability and Fitness for a Particular Purpose (Count II), and Fraudulent
Concealment (Count V).31 The Plaintiffs seek both damages and equitable relief.32 As
damages, the Plaintiffs seek the cost of replacing the Shingles. They propose two
methods for calculating the replacement costs. First, they state that a common formula
that calculates replacement costs on a square foot basis could be employed, allowing
class members to recover by merely showing the size of their roofs.33 This method

29

See [Doc. 1] under No. 1:13-cv-04218-TWT.

30

See Transfer Order [Doc. 1] under No. 1:13-md-02495-TWT.

31

See Order granting in part and denying in part the Defendant’s Motion
to Dismiss [Doc. 78] under No. 1:13-cv-04218-TWT.
32

The Plaintiffs’ request for declaratory relief was labeled Count VI.

33

See Primary Mot. for Class Cert., Ex. Tab 21, at 7 (stating that “[s]hingle
replacement for most homes will cost $2.85 to $3.35 per square feet of roof area, with
this square foot cost modified up or down based on a standard location adjustment
factors that account for variations in local labor and material costs.”).
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accounts for the fact that “each class member’s damages are the cost of removing the
defective shingles, the cost of the replacement shingles plus all associated labor costs
with this remediation.”34 In the alternative, they propose that individual class members
can prove their actual replacement costs through a claims process.35
II. Class Certification Standard
To maintain a case as a class action, the party seeking class certification must
satisfy each of the prerequisites of Rule 23(a) and at least one of the provisions of
Rule 23(b).36 Rule 23(a) sets forth the four prerequisites to maintain any claim as a
class action:
One or more members of a class may sue or be sued as representative
parties on behalf of all members only if: (1) the class is so numerous that
joinder of all members is impracticable; (2) there are questions of law or
fact common to the class; (3) the claims or defenses of the representative
parties are typical of the claims or defenses of the class; and (4) the
representative parties will fairly and adequately protect the interests of
the class.37

34

Mot. for Class Cert., at 21.

35

Id.

36

Klay v. Humana, Inc., 382 F.3d 1241, 1250 (11th Cir. 2004), abrogated
in part on other grounds by Bridge v. Phoenix Bond & Indem. Co., 553 U.S. 639
(2008).
37

FED. R. CIV. P. 23(a).

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These prerequisites are commonly referred to as: (1) numerosity, (2) commonality, (3)
typicality, and (4) adequacy of representation.38 Failure to establish any one of the
four factors precludes certification. In addition, under Rule 23(b), the individual
plaintiffs must convince the Court that: (1) prosecuting separate actions by or against
individual members of the class would create a risk of prejudice to the party opposing
the class or to those members of the class not parties to the subject litigation; (2) the
party opposing the class has refused to act on grounds that apply generally to the class,
necessitating final injunctive or declaratory relief; or (3) questions of law or fact
common to the members of the class predominate over any questions affecting only
individual members and that a class action is superior to other available methods for
fair and efficient adjudication of the controversy.39

The party seeking class

certification bears the burden of proving that these requirements are satisfied.40

38

Cooper v. Southern Co., 390 F.3d 695, 711 n.6 (11th Cir. 2004),
overruled in part on other grounds by Ash v. Tyson Foods, Inc., 546 U.S. 454, 457-58
(2006).
39

FED. R. CIV. P. 23(b).

40

General Tel. Co. of Sw. v. Falcon, 457 U.S. 147, 161 (1982); Valley
Drug Co. v. Geneva Pharms., Inc., 350 F.3d 1181, 1187 (11th Cir. 2003).
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The decision to grant or deny class certification lies within the sound discretion
of the district court.41 When considering the propriety of class certification, the court
should not conduct a detailed evaluation of the merits of the suit.42 Nevertheless, the
court must perform a “rigorous analysis” of the particular facts and arguments asserted
in support of class certification.43 Frequently, that “rigorous analysis” will entail some
overlap with the merits of the plaintiff’s underlying claim.44
III. Discussion
A. Rule 23(b)(3) Class
1. Class Definition
Though not explicitly stated in Rule 23, it is well accepted that “[b]efore a
district court may grant a motion for class certification, a plaintiff . . . must establish
that the proposed class is adequately defined and clearly ascertainable.”45 “An

41

Klay, 382 F.3d at 1251; Armstrong v. Martin Marietta Corp., 138 F.3d
1374, 1386 (11th Cir. 1998) (en banc).
42

Eisen v. Carlisle & Jacquelin, 417 U.S. 156, 177-78 (1974).

43

Falcon, 457 U.S. at 161; Gilchrist v. Bolger, 733 F.2d 1551, 1555 (11th

Cir. 1984).
44

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. v. Dukes, 564 U.S. 338, 351-52 (2011).

45

Little v. T-Mobile USA, Inc., 691 F.3d 1302, 1304 (11th Cir. 2012)
(quoting DeBremaecker v. Short, 433 F.2d 733, 734 (5th Cir. 1970)); see also
Sanchez-Knutson v. Ford Motor Co., 310 F.R.D. 529, 534 (S.D. Fla. 2015) (“The
court may address the adequacy of the class definition before analyzing whether the
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identifiable class exists if its members can be ascertained by reference to objective
criteria.”46 The analysis of the objective criteria must be administratively feasible,
meaning identifying class members is a “manageable process that does not require
much, if any, individual inquiry.”47 “A proponent of class certification may rely on the
defendant’s business records to identify prospective class members, but it is not
enough to simply allege that the defendant’s records will allow for identification.”48
“[T]he plaintiff must also establish that the records are in fact useful for identification
purposes.”49
Here, the Plaintiffs seek certification of the following Rule 23(b)(3) class:
All those who as of the date class notice is issued: (a) own a home or
other structure in the State of Tennessee on which Atlas Chalet or
Stratford roofing shingles are currently installed; and/or (b) incurred
unreimbursed costs to repair or replace Atlas Chalet or Stratford roofing

proposed class meets the Rule 23 requirements.”).
46

Bussey v. Macon Cnty. Greyhound Park, Inc., 562 F. App’x 782, 787
(11th Cir. 2014) (quoting Fogarazzo v. Lehman Bros., Inc., 263 F.R.D. 90, 97
(S.D.N.Y. 2009)).
47

Id. (quoting NEWBERG ON CLASS ACTIONS § 3.3 (5th ed.)).

48

In re Delta/AirTran Baggage Fee Antitrust Litigation, No. 1:09-md-2089TCB, 2016 WL 3770957, at *4 (N.D. Ga. July 12, 2016) (citation omitted) (citing
Bussey, 562 F. App’x at 787).
49

Id. (quoting Karhu v. Vital Pharm., Inc., 621 F. App’x 945, 947 (11th

Cir. 2015)).
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shingles on a home or other structure in the State of Tennessee which
they currently own or previously owned.50
The Defendant raises two objections to the proposed class definition. First, it argues
that the class definition is overly broad. By including current and former owners who
incurred costs in repairing or replacing their roofs, the Defendant contends that the
class definition does not require the owners to have suffered any damage due to an
alleged manufacturing defect. The Defendant also argues that the class is not
ascertainable. It contends that determining who qualifies as a member under the
second category would require “mini-trials.”51
The Court agrees with both of the Defendant’s objections. For the Defendant’s
first objection, the Court finds that this issue is better addressed in its predominance
discussion. The Plaintiffs allege that every Shingle is defective, and so the question
becomes whether the former and current owners can prove that the alleged defect
caused their injuries – the replacement or repair costs of their roofs – or were they due
to other causes. This causation question raises concerns regarding individualized
evidence, and thus the Court will address it in the predominance section of its Order.
Still, the Plaintiffs have failed to demonstrate that identification of Atlas

50

Mot. for Class Cert., at 5.

51

See Def.’s Primary Resp. Brief, at 42.

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Chalet/Stratford Shingles is administratively feasible. The Defendant usually did not
sell the Shingles directly to homeowners. The Plaintiffs contend that there are reliable
methods for determining membership, including markings on the Shingles and
warranty claims.52 But other than a list of warranty claims made in Tennessee, the
Plaintiffs have failed to put forth evidence demonstrating how class members can be
easily ascertained.53 The Defendant has offered evidence that most warranty claims
were generated by roofers soliciting business by advertising that the Atlas Shingles
were defective. And the warranty claims only represent a tiny fraction of the homes
with Atlas Shingle roofs. In addition, the Plaintiffs do not proffer evidence that
demonstrates each Shingle contains a marking indicating it is an Atlas Chalet or
Stratford Shingle. This potentially means a large number of class members’ Shingles
will need to be individually examined to determine whether they are Chalet/Stratford
Shingles. That is exactly the kind of individual inquiry the ascertainability
requirement is meant to protect against.54 The Plaintiffs also do not submit any
52

Mot. for Class Cert., at 6.

53

See In re Delta/AirTran Baggage Fee Antitrust Litigation, 2016 WL
3770957, at *16 (noting that the plaintiffs provided receipts or credit card statements
documenting their purchases in addition to the defendants’ business records).
54

See Gonzalez v. Corning, 317 F.R.D. 443, 506 (W.D. Pa. 2016) (“Class
members whose structures have Oakridge-brand shingles installed on them cannot be
determined by release tape. At most, the release tape will indicate that the shingle was
manufactured at a plant that produces Oakridge-brand shingles.” (citation omitted)),
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receipts, invoices, or credit card records that demonstrate using such records is a
viable option for identifying class members. Merely noting that such records could be
used is insufficient to demonstrate ascertainability.55 In sum, the Court finds that the
Plaintiffs fail to demonstrate an administratively feasible mechanism for identifying
class members in either category of the class definition.56 Without a clearly
ascertainable class, the Court cannot grant class certification.57 Nevertheless, because
the Court’s Order is subject to immediate appeal under Rule 23(f), the Court will
address the requirements of Rules 23(a) and 23(b)(3) to determine whether the
Plaintiffs would otherwise be entitled to class certification.58

appeal docketed, No. 16-2653 (3d Cir. June 2, 2016).
55

See Carrera v. Bayer Corp., 727 F.3d 300, 306-07 (3d Cir. 2013) (“A
plaintiff may not merely propose a method of ascertaining a class without any
evidentiary support that the method will be successful.”); Brooks v. GAF Materials
Corp., 284 F.R.D. 352, 363 (D.S.C. 2012) (finding a putative class was not
ascertainable because the plaintiffs only put forth the defendant’s warranty documents
as a possible database to identify putative class members).
56

See Marcus v. BMW of North America, LLC, 687 F.3d 583, 593 (3d Cir.
2012) (“If class members are impossible to identify without extensive and
individualized fact-finding or ‘mini-trials,’ then a class action is inappropriate.”).
57

See Perez v. Metabolife Intern., Inc., 218 F.R.D. 262, 266 (S.D. Fla.
2003) (“An identifiable class is essential so that the Court can determine whether a
particular claimant is a class member.” (quoting McGuire v. International Paper Co.,
No. 1:92-CV593BRR, 1994 WL 261360, at *3 (S.D. Miss. Feb. 18, 1994))).
58

FED. R. CIV. P. 23(f).

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2. Rule 23(A)
a. Numerosity
To satisfy the numerosity requirement, the Plaintiffs must show that joinder of
all members of the putative class would be “impractical.”59 “Practicability of joinder
depends on many factors, including, for example, the size of the class, ease of
identifying its numbers and determining their addresses, facility of making service on
them if joined and their geographic dispersion.”60 “[W]hile there is no fixed
numerosity rule, generally less than twenty-one is inadequate, more than forty
adequate, with numbers between varying according to other factors.”61
The Plaintiffs have met their burden with regard to numerosity. They have
presented evidence that, in Tennessee, Atlas has sold 892,358 squares of the
Shingles.62 Based on the assumption that there are 30 shingle squares for the average
Tennessee home, the Plaintiff estimates that there are approximately 30,000 homes
with the Shingles installed.63 The Plaintiffs, therefore, have presented sufficient

59

FED. R. CIV. P. 23 (a)(1).

60

Kilgo v. Bowman Transp., Inc., 789 F.2d 859, 878 (11th Cir. 1986).

61

Cox v. American Cast Iron Pipe Co., 784 F.2d 1546, 1553 (11th Cir.

1986).
62

Mot. for Class Cert., Ex. Tab 5.

63

See id., at 7.

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evidence that the likely number of homeowners in Tennessee who fall within the class
exceeds the minimum threshold. Moreover, the large number of putative class
members makes joinder impractical. Thus, the Court finds the numerosity requirement
is satisfied.
b. Commonality
The commonality requirement is satisfied if the plaintiffs demonstrate the
presence of questions of law or fact common to the entire class.64 It is not necessary
that all questions of law and fact be common.65 Indeed, “[e]ven a single [common]
question” is sufficient to satisfy the commonality requirement.66 But the issues still
must be susceptible to class-wide proof, and the plaintiffs’ claims must share “the
same essential characteristics as the claims of the class at large.”67 “Commonality
requires the plaintiff to demonstrate that the class members ‘have suffered the same
injury.’”68 “This does not mean merely that they all suffered a violation of the same

64

FED. R. CIV. P. 23 (a)(2).

65

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. v. Dukes, 564 U.S. 338, 359 (2011).

66

Id. (alteration in original).

67

Cooper v. Southern Co., 390 F.3d 695, 713 (11th Cir. 2004).

68

Wal-Mart, 564 U.S. at 349-50 (quoting General Tel. Co. of Sw. v.
Falcon, 457 U.S. 147, 157 (1982)).
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provision of law.”69 “Their claims must depend upon a common contention . . . of such
a nature that it is capable of classwide resolution – which means that determination
of its truth or falsity will resolve an issue that is central to the validity of each one of
the claims in one stroke.”70
Here, the Court finds that the Plaintiffs have sufficiently demonstrated
commonality. The Plaintiffs allege that the Shingles suffer from a common defect due
to a flaw in the manufacturing process. Thus, some common issues include: 1)
whether the Shingles are defective; (2) whether the defect is caused by a flawed
manufacturing process; (3) whether the defect causes the Shingles to suffer from
blistering, cracking, and granule loss problems as well as premature failure; (4)
whether the defect in the Shingles breached the Defendant’s expressed and implied
warranties; and (5) whether the Defendant knew of the defect.71 These questions of
fact are common to the Plaintiffs’ claims and will generate common answers.72
Accordingly, the Plaintiffs have satisfied the commonality requirement.

69

Id. at 350.

70

Id.

71

See Mot. for Class Cert., at 10.

72

See Wal-Mart, 564 U.S. at 350.

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c. Typicality
The typicality requirement mandates that the claims and defenses of the
representative plaintiffs are typical of the claims and defenses of the class.73 This
requirement is satisfied when “a plaintiff’s injury arises from or is directly related to
a wrong to a class, and that wrong includes the wrong to the plaintiff.”74 But “[c]lass
members’ claims need not be identical to satisfy the typicality requirement.”75 This is
because “typicality measures whether a sufficient nexus exists between the claims of
the named representatives and those of the class at large.”76 “A sufficient nexus is
established if the claims or defenses of the class and the class representative arise from
the same event or pattern or practice and are based on the same legal theory.”77
Here, the Plaintiffs’ claims arise from the same allegations of wrongful conduct
as the claims of the putative class. Specifically, all the claims are based on the sale of
Shingles which allegedly suffer from the same defect. Moreover, the Plaintiffs’ claims

73

FED. R. CIV. P. 23(a)(3).

74

Andrews v. American Tel. & Tel. Co., 95 F.3d 1014, 1022 (11th Cir.
1996), abrogated on other grounds by Bridge v. Phoenix Bond & Indem. Co., 553
U.S. 639, 641 (2008).
75

Ault v. Walt Disney World Co., 692 F.3d 1212, 1216 (11th Cir. 2012).

76

Cooper v. Southern Co., 390 F.3d 695, 713 (11th Cir. 2004) (quoting
Prado-Steiman v. Bush, 221 F.3d 1266, 1279 (11th Cir. 2000)).
77

Kornberg v. Carnival Cruise Lines, Inc., 741 F.2d 1332 (11th Cir. 1984).

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arise from the same legal theories, including breach of express and implied warranties
and fraudulent concealment. In response, the Defendant argues that, based on the
experiences of the named Plaintiffs, there is no typical plaintiff, and that
individualized defenses render the Plaintiffs’ claims atypical. To be sure, the named
Plaintiffs each experienced different weather conditions, installation, and maintenance
of their roofs. In addition, the named Plaintiffs’ warranties are not necessarily typical
of the class as a whole. Nevertheless, “the showing required for typicality is not
demanding.”78 Varying experiences and unique defenses do not necessarily defeat
typicality.79 If a “sufficient nexus” exists – as the Court found above – then the
typicality requirement is met. Thus, the Court concludes that the Plaintiffs have
satisfied Rule 23(a)’s typicality requirement.
d. Adequacy of Representation
To prove adequacy of representation, a plaintiff must demonstrate that the class
representatives “fairly and adequately protect the interests of the class.”80 This

78

City of St. Petersburg v. Total Containment, Inc., 265 F.R.D. 630, 651
(S.D. Fla. 2010).
79

See Ault, 692 F.3d at 1216 (“While each class member may have a
stronger or weaker claim depending upon his or her degree of reliance, we conclude
that this alone does not make class representatives’ claims atypical of the class as a
whole.”).
80

FED. R. CIV. P. 23(a)(4).

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requirement serves to uncover conflicts of interest between named parties and the
class they seek to represent.81 A determination of adequacy “encompasses two
separate inquiries: (1) whether any substantial conflicts of interest exist between the
representatives and the class; and (2) whether the representatives will adequately
prosecute the action.”82 The Court finds that the named Plaintiffs and their counsel
adequately represent the class. First, there is no evidence of any conflicts of interest
between the named Plaintiffs and the class. As noted above, the named Plaintiffs and
the putative class members seek to recover from the same alleged unlawful conduct
– a defect in the Defendant’s Shingles. Second, there is no evidence that the named
Plaintiffs will not vigorously and adequately pursue the asserted claims on behalf of
the class members. Third, there is no evidence of any potential conflicts with class
counsel. Moreover, the Plaintiffs have presented evidence that proposed class counsel
have extensive experience with class actions and are qualified to conduct this
litigation.83 Thus, the Plaintiffs have satisfied Rule 23(a)(4).

81

Amchem Prods., Inc. v. Windsor, 521 U.S. 591, 625 (1997).

82

Valley Drug Co. v. Geneva Pharm., Inc., 350 F.3d 1181, 1189 (11th Cir.

2003).
83

See Mot. for Class Cert., Ex. Tab 9.

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3. Rule 23(b)(3)
a. Predominance
The Plaintiffs seek class certification under Rule 23(b)(3). To certify a Rule
23(b)(3) class, the Plaintiffs must demonstrate two prerequisites: predominance and
superiority.84 To meet the predominance requirement, “the issues in the class action
that are subject to generalized proof and thus applicable to the class as a whole, must
predominate over those issues that are subject to individualized proof.”85 “Common
issues of fact and law predominate if they ha[ve] a direct impact on every class
member’s effort to establish liability and on every class member’s entitlement to
injunctive and monetary relief.”86 Importantly, “[w]hether an issue predominates can
only be determined after considering what value the resolution of the class-wide issue
will have in each class member’s underlying cause of action.”87 But if the “plaintiffs
must still introduce a great deal of individualized proof or argue a number of

84

FED. R. CIV. P. 23(b)(3).

85

Cooper v. Southern Co., 390 F.3d 695, 722 (11th Cir. 2004) (quoting
Kerr v. City of W. Palm Beach, 875 F.2d 1546, 1558 (11th Cir. 1989)).
86

Babineau v. Federal Express Corp., 576 F.3d 1183, 1191 (11th Cir. 2009)
(alteration in original) (quoting Klay v. Humana, Inc., 382 F.3d 1241, 1255 (11th Cir.
2004)).
87

Klay, 382 F.3d at 1255 (quoting Rutstein v. Avis Rent-A-Car Sys., 211
F.3d 1228, 1234 (11th Cir. 2000)).
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individualized legal points to establish most or all of the elements of their individual
claims,” then predominance does not exist.88
In Brown v. Electrolux Home Products, Inc., the Eleventh Circuit provided a
three-step approach for evaluating predominance: (1) identify the parties’ claims and
defenses and their elements; (2) determine whether these issues are common questions
or individual questions by analyzing how each party will prove them at trial; and (3)
determine whether the common questions predominate.89 In addition, the Eleventh
Circuit noted that “[d]istrict courts should assess predominance with its overarching
purpose in mind – namely, ensuring that ‘a class action would achieve economies of
time, effort, expense, and promote . . . uniformity of decision as to persons similarly
situated, without sacrificing procedural fairness or bringing about other undesirable
results.’”90
(i) Breach of Express and Implied Warranties
In Counts I and II of their Complaint, the Plaintiffs allege that the Defendant
violated its express and implied warranties. Under Tennessee law, to prevail on a
breach of express warranty claim, a plaintiff must prove: “(1) Seller made an
88

Id.

89

817 F.3d 1225, 1234 (11th Cir. 2016).

90

Id. at 1235 (quoting Amchem Prods., Inc. v. Windsor, 521 U.S. 591, 615

(1997)).
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affirmation of fact intending to induce the buyer to purchase the goods; (2) Buyer was
in fact induced by seller’s acts; and (3) The affirmation of fact was false regardless of
the seller’s knowledge of the falsity or intention to create a warranty.”91 For a breach
of implied warranty of merchantability, “a warranty that the goods shall be
merchantable is implied in a contract for their sale if the seller is a merchant with
respect to goods of that kind.”92 To be merchantable, goods must be “fit for the
ordinary purposes for which such goods are used.”93 “Establishing that goods are not
fit for their ordinary purposes ‘requires only proof, in a general sense and as
understood by a layman, that ‘something was wrong’ with the product.’”94 And in
order to establish a warranty of fitness for a particular purpose, “two elements must
exist: (1) the seller must have reason to know the buyer’s purpose, and (2) the seller
must know the buyer is relying on the seller’s skill or judgment to furnish the
goods.”95 For both express and implied warranty claims, “it is necessary for [the

91

AutoZone, Inc. v. Glidden Co., 737 F. Supp. 2d 936, 948 (W.D. Tenn.

2010).
92

Id. (quoting Tenn Code Ann. § 47-2-314(1)).

93

Id. (quoting Tenn Code Ann. § 47-2-314(2)(c)).

94

Id. (quoting Browder v. Pettigrew, 541 S.W.2d 402, 406 (Tenn. 1976)).

95

Id. (quoting Dan Stern Homes, Inc. v. Designer Floors & Homes, Inc.,
No. M2008-00065-COA-R3-CV, 2009 WL 1910955, at *3 (Tenn. Ct. App. June 30,
2009)).
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plaintiff] to demonstrate that losses were sustained as a proximate result of the breach
. . . .”96
Here, the Court finds that – even if the Plaintiffs could prove a uniform defect
– individual issues going to causation, notice, coverage, and statute of limitations
predominate over any common questions in this case. To begin, there are numerous
reasons a roof may fail, including commonplace events and ordinary wear and tear.97
There are also numerous reasons a shingle may blister, crack, or suffer from granule
loss.98 Thus, it is likely that the Defendant will bring at least one causation challenge
against most – if not all – putative class members. Because the causation
determination for most putative class members will involve individualized evidence,
these individual causation questions will predominate at any trial.99 In response, the
Plaintiffs argue that if the jury agrees with their argument that a defect existed in every
Shingle at the time it was sold, then Atlas’s arguments regarding alternative causation

96

Kopper Glo Fuel, Inc. v. Island Lake Coal Co., 436 F. Supp. 91, 97-98
(E.D. Tenn. 1977).
97

See Primary Mot. for Class, Ex. Tab 20, at 137-38.

98

Id., Ex. Tab 20, at 198.

99

See City of St. Petersburg v. Total Containment, Inc., 265 F.R.D. 630,
641 (S.D. Fla. 2010) (holding that “even if Plaintiffs were able to demonstrate that
FlexPipe had a general defect, it would not assist Plaintiffs in meeting their burden of
showing that that particular defect was the legal cause of each class member’s harm”).
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will be negated.100 Not so. Because the Plaintiffs seek the replacement costs of all
class members’ roofs, the alleged defect in the Shingles must have caused a class
member’s injuries in order for that class member to recover.101 All roofs will fail
eventually. If an Atlas Shingle roof survives to the end of normal roof life expectancy,
the homeowner-class member has not been damaged by the alleged manufacturing
defect. If the roof fails due to hail or wind damage or improper installation, the
homeowner-class member has not been damaged. This is unlike a products liability
case where the plaintiffs claim an economic injury by seeking the diminution in the
intrinsic value of the product.102 In such cases, the plaintiffs typically only need to
100

The Plaintiffs also argue that “Atlas simply restates its defense on the
merits, which is not relevant to class certification.” Pls.’ Reply Br., at 12. But the issue
of causation is not an affirmative defense; it is an element of the Plaintiffs’ warranty
claims. Thus, Atlas’s causation challenges are relevant at the class certification stage.
In addition, they do not fall under the general rule that affirmative defenses do not
defeat predominance.
101

See Marcus v. BMW of North Am. LLC, 687 F.3d 583, 605 (3d Cir.
2012) (“[I]t is undisputed that even if Marcus could prove that Bridgestone RFTs
suffer from common, class-wide defects, those defects did not cause the damage he
suffered for these two tires: the need to replace them.”).
102

See Farrar & Farrar Dairy, Inc. v. Miller-St. Nazianz, Inc., 254 F.R.D. 68,
73 ( E.D.N.C. 2008) (“[N]amed plaintiffs seek to recover damages for the results of
the failure of the allegedly defective silage bags – the gravamen of their complaint is
not diminution in the silage bags’ intrinsic value.”); Naparala v. Pella Corp., Nos.
2:14-mn-00001-DCN, 2:14-cv-03465-DCN, 2016 WL 3125473, at *11 (D.S.C. June
3, 2016) (holding that complex causation issues existed because the “plaintiff’s claim
focuses on Pella’s failure to repair and replace the Windows, not the initial purchase
of the Windows”).
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prove that the defect existed at the time of purchase to prove the defect caused their
economic injury.103 Here, even if the Plaintiffs prove a common defect existed in the
Shingles, each class member cannot recover damages based on that fact alone. They
also must prove that the alleged defect caused their roof to prematurely fail. For the
Plaintiffs that have already had their roofs replaced or repaired, this will be an
especially fact-intensive inquiry.
The Plaintiffs cite two cases – Sanchez-Knutsen v. Ford Motor Co. and Brooks
v. GAF Materials Corp. – in their Reply Brief which they contend support their
argument. However, the Court finds that these cases do not help the Plaintiffs. In
Sanchez-Knutsen, the court dismissed the need for individual inquiries into causation,
concluding that the evidence did not justify the defendant’s concerns.104 At issue was
whether Ford’s Explorer vehicle suffered from a defect at the time of purchase that
permitted exhaust and other gases to enter the passenger compartment of the
vehicle.105 The court in Sanchez-Knutsen framed the plaintiffs’ damages as the
103

See Daffin v. Ford Motor Co., No. C-1-00-458, 2004 WL 5705647, at *7
(S.D. Ohio July 15, 2004) (“The alleged injury, however, is not accelerator sticking
but economic loss resulting directly from the allegedly defective piece of equipment.
The causation question is therefore vastly simplified and does not suffer the infirmities
argued by Ford.”).
104

Sanchez-Knutson v. Ford Motor Co., 310 F.R.D. 529, 538 (S.D. Fla.

2015).
105

Id. at 533.

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diminution in the intrinsic value of their Explorers, not the repair costs.106 Thus, the
court did not face the same causation issues presented in this instant case. Here, each
class member will need to prove that the alleged defect caused his or her Shingles to
prematurely fail, not just that the defect exists. This will likely create substantial
causation inquiries when deciding the class members’ claims.
Brooks is also distinguishable. There, homeowners sued GAF Materials Corp.
(“GAF”), which manufactures roofing materials, over allegedly defective roof
shingles.107 Specifically, the named plaintiffs sought to represent a class of individuals
whose shingles allegedly prematurely cracked.108 In certifying the proposed class, the
court discounted the need for individual causation inquiries, stating that the “Plaintiffs
seek to establish causation on a large scale – that GAF knowingly sold shingles that
contained an inherent manufacturing defect that will inevitably cause the shingles to
crack, split, or tear.”109 While the Plaintiffs, here, present a similar causation
argument, the Court believes that evidence in this case demonstrates that other specific
causation issues – such as improper installation, inadequate ventilation, or
106

Id. at 538-39.

107

Brooks v. GAF Materials Corp., No. 8:11-cv-00983-JMC, 2012 WL
5195982, at *1 (D.S.C. Oct. 19, 2012).
108

Id.

109

Id. at *6.

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environmental factors – will be significant in deciding the putative class members’
cases. Moreover, the class in Brooks was limited to persons whose shingles had
already cracked, split, or torn.110 Here, the breadth of the Plaintiffs’ proposed class is
much larger – it includes owners whose roofs may have been repaired or replaced for
reasons other than the alleged premature failure. As a result, the Plaintiffs’ proposed
class presents more individualized causation questions.
Individual issues will also predominate with respect to two requirements in
Atlas’s express warranty: transferability and notice. Transferability presents individual
questions because the 2002 limited warranty specifically requires a second owner to
notify Atlas in writing within thirty days of the real estate transfer for any coverage
to be transferred.111 The third-owner class members are not even eligible to recover
under the 2002 limited warranty.112 As a result, the class members who purchased a
home with Atlas Shingles already installed on it will have to prove that the warranty
properly transferred to them. Proving compliance with Atlas’s notice requirement will
require even more individualized evidence. The 1999 limited warranty requires each
warrantee to provide notice of the alleged defect to Atlas within five days of

110

Id. at *4.

111

See Def.’s Primary Resp. Brief, Ex. G.

112

Id., Ex. G.

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discovering it, and the 2002 limited warranty requires notice within thirty days of
discovery.113 Each class member will then need to demonstrate that his or her notice
to Atlas was for the alleged defect and not for an unrelated issue. Finally, each class
member will need to demonstrate that he or she provided Atlas an opportunity to cure
the alleged defect. There are, therefore, numerous individualized issues that will
predominate the issues of notice and transferability.
In response, the Plaintiffs first argue that evidence of numerous consumer
complaints regarding the alleged defect may be used to satisfy the notice requirement.
They cite several cases where courts have found that widespread consumer complaints
are sufficient to establish constructive notice.114 But Tennessee courts have yet to
recognize constructive notice in this context. As a result, the Court is unwilling to hold
that constructive notice is sufficient to satisfy the notice requirement. The Plaintiffs
then argue that, through common evidence, they will demonstrate the Defendant
waived the notice requirement. According to the Plaintiffs, the Defendant never asked
the warranty claimants whether they were filing their claims within thirty days of
discovering the alleged defect. Nor did the Defendant enforce the requirement when

113

Id., Exs. G-H.

114

See, e.g., Muehlbauer v. General Motors Corp., 431 F. Supp. 2d 847,
859-60 (N.D. Ill. 2006).
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it knew the claimants were late. The Plaintiffs cite RHL Properties LLC v. Neese115
in support of their contention. There, the Georgia Court of Appeals stated that courts
“will readily find a waiver of strict compliance with a notice provision based on the
conduct of the parties in order to avoid a forfeiture of substantive contractual
rights.”116 Thus, the Plaintiffs argue that by routinely failing to insist on compliance
with the notice requirement, the Defendant waived the requirement. The Court
disagrees. The Neese case concerned whether the defendant waived its notice
requirement with respect to one party.117 The Plaintiffs have failed to cite any case law
that states a defendant may waive the notice requirement with respect to all of its
warranty claimants if it does not enforce the requirement for each past claimant.
Consequently, the Court finds that the notice and opportunity to cure requirement is
an individual issue that cannot be resolved through common evidence.
Atlas is also likely to employ affirmative defenses against many class members,
with the most likely defense being the statute of limitations. Under Tennessee law,
warranty claims must be brought within four years from the date “the breach is or

115

293 Ga. App. 838 (2008).

116

Id. at 841.

117

Id. at 841-42.

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should have been discovered.”118 As the Defendant correctly pointed out during the
class certification hearing, based on Atlas’s sales data, only 5% of the Shingles were
sold in the last four years.119 Thus, it is likely a large percentage of the class members’
warranty claims will be barred by the statute of limitations. Some class members’
warranty claims may also be barred under Tennessee’s statute of repose.120 Tennessee
Code Ann. § 29-28-103 provides that:
Any action against a manufacturer or seller of a product for injury to
person or property caused by its defective or unreasonably dangerous
condition . . . must be brought within six (6) years of the date of injury,
in any event, the action must be brought within ten (10) years from the
date on which the product was first purchased for use or consumption .
. . .121
Thus, whether certain class members’ claims are barred under the statute of repose
will depend on individualized evidence, including the date and nature of the class
member’s injury.

118

Tenn. Code Ann. § 47-2-725.

119

See Mot. for Class Cert. Hearing [Doc. 366], at 102 under No. 1:13-md02495-TWT.
120

See Electric Power Bd. of Chattanooga v. Westinghouse Elec. Corp., 716
F. Supp. 1069, 1073 (E.D. Tenn. 1988) (“[W]arranty claims clearly come within the
confines of the ten-year statute of repose.”).
121

Tenn. Code Ann. § 29-28-103.

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The Plaintiffs counter with the general rule that individual affirmative defenses
usually do not defeat predominance.122 Thus, they contend that the statute of
limitations issue, along with other potential affirmative defenses, can be handled in
the second phase of the case after a liability trial. It is accurate that “courts
traditionally have been reluctant to deny class action status under Rule 23(b)(3)
simply because affirmative defenses may be available against individual members.”123
But as the Eleventh Circuit recently confirmed in Brown v. Electrolux Home
Products, Inc., affirmative defenses are nevertheless relevant when determining the
question of predominance.124 Specifically, the Eleventh Circuit noted that affirmative
defenses that are coupled with several other individual questions could defeat
predominance.125 Such is the case here. The statute of limitations defense coupled with
the other individual issues discussed above outweigh any common questions raised
by the Plaintiffs.

122

In re Checking Account Overdraft Litigation, 286 F.R.D. 645, 656 (S.D.
Fla. 2012) (“Unique affirmative defenses rarely predominate where a common course
of conduct is established.”).
123

Brown v. Electrolux Home Products, Inc., 817 F.3d 1225, 1240 (11th Cir.
2016) (quoting WILLIAM B. RUBENSTEIN, NEWBERG ON CLASS ACTIONS § 4:55 (5th
ed.)).
124

Id. at 1241.

125

Id.

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(ii) Fraudulent Concealment
In Count V of their Complaint, the Plaintiffs assert a fraud claim against the
Defendant. The Plaintiffs argue that Atlas fraudulently concealed the alleged defect
and misrepresented to potential customers that the Shingles were durable and
conformed to applicable industry standards. In Tennessee, “[t]he tort of fraudulent
concealment is committed when a party who has a duty to disclose a known fact or
condition fails to do so, and another party reasonably relies upon the resulting
misinterpretation, thereby suffering injury.”126 Because the element of reliance is more
hotly disputed than the other elements, the Court’s analysis will focus on it.
The Defendant contends that, in the instant case, reliance is an individual issue
that cannot be proven through common evidence. The Plaintiffs counter that “under
well-established Eleventh Circuit precedent, the simple fact that reliance is an element
in a cause of action is not an absolute bar to class certification.”127 They then go one
step further and state that the class members will be able to use circumstantial
evidence when demonstrating reliance. They point to Klay v. Humana, Inc. in support
of their contention. In Klay, a putative class action was brought by a group of doctors

126

Chrisman v. Hill Home Development, Inc., 978 S.W.2d 535, 538-39
(Tenn. 1998).
127

Klay v. Humana, Inc., 382 F.3d 1241, 1258 (11th Cir. 2004).

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who submitted claims for reimbursement to HMOs but were systematically
underpaid.128 The court concluded that class certification was appropriate for the
plaintiffs’ RICO claim for two reasons. First, common issues of fact, which included
the existence of a national conspiracy, a pattern of racketeering activity, and a
Managed Care Enterprise, predominated “over all but the most complex
individualized issues.”129 Second, the court found “that, based on the nature of the
misrepresentations at issue, the circumstantial evidence that can be used to show
reliance is common to the whole class.”130 In clarifying the nature of the
misrepresentations, the Eleventh Circuit stated:
The alleged misrepresentations in the instant case are simply that the
defendants repeatedly claimed they would reimburse the plaintiffs for
medically necessary services they provide to the defendants’ insureds,
and sent the plaintiffs various EOB forms claiming that they had actually
paid the plaintiffs the proper amounts. While the EOB forms may raise
substantial individualized issues of reliance, the antecedent
representations about the defendants’ reimbursement practices do not. It
does not strain credulity to conclude that each plaintiff, in entering into
contracts with the defendants, relied upon the defendants’
representations and assumed they would be paid the amounts they were
due. A jury could quite reasonably infer that guarantees concerning
physician pay – the very consideration upon which those agreements are

128

Id. at 1246-47.

129

Id. at 1259.

130

Id.

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based – go to the heart of these agreements, and that doctors based their
assent upon them.131
The Plaintiffs contend that the misrepresentations in Klay are similar to the
misrepresentations by Atlas in that no class member would purchase Shingles that are
going to prematurely fail. Therefore, all the class members relied on Atlas’s alleged
omission and misrepresentations regarding the durability of the Shingles when they
purchased the Shingles.
The Plaintiffs’ analogy is misplaced. “[A] fraud case may be unsuited for
treatment as a class action if there was material variation in the representations made
or in the kinds of degrees of reliance by the persons to whom they were addressed.”132
When presented with such cases, “the Eleventh Circuit has repeatedly found class
certification inappropriate.”133 In this case, there are both material variation in the
representations and kinds of degrees of reliance by the class members. For the alleged
misrepresentations, each class member would need to establish what particular
marketing material or industry standard he or she observed and relied upon. This is
further complicated by third party wholesalers, retailers, and contractors who made
131

Id.

132

Fisher v. Ciba Specialty Chemicals Corp., 238 F.R.D. 273, 313 (S.D. Ala.
2006) (quoting FED. R. CIV. P. 23(b)(3), Advisory Notes to 1966 Amendment).
133

Id. (citing Heffner v. Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Ala., Inc., 443 F.3d
1330, 1344 (11th Cir. 2006)).
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the purchase decisions for the vast majority of the Shingle purchases. Indeed, there is
no evidence that Atlas engaged in a uniform marketing scheme. Thus, the Plaintiffs
cannot use common evidence to prove they relied on Atlas’s statements regarding the
durability of the Shingles. For the alleged fraudulent omission, the class members
made their own assessment when deciding to purchase the Shingles or homes with the
Shingles installed on the roof. As an example, some class members may have been on
notice of blistering, cracking, and granule loss on the Shingles, but decided to
purchase the property despite the conditions. Such class members would not have
relied on the alleged omission. Unlike in Klay, the class will need to prove reliance
through individual evidence. Thus, the Court finds that common issues do not
predominate with regard to the Plaintiffs’ fraudulent inducement claim.134
b. Superiority
To meet the superiority requirement, the Court must conclude “that a class
action is superior to other available methods for fairly and efficiently adjudicating the
controversy.”135 The factors relevant in determining superiority include:

134

See Brinker v. Chicago Title Ins. Co., No. 8:10-cv-1199-T-27AEP, 2012
WL 1081182, at *6 (M.D. Fla. Mar. 30, 2012) (distinguishing Klay and finding that
“it cannot be assumed that each class member relied on any alleged misrepresentations
and omissions simply because he or she decided to close”).
135

FED. R. CIV. P. 23(b)(3).

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(A) the class members’ interests in individually controlling the
prosecution or defense of separate actions;
(B) the extent and nature of any litigation concerning the controversy
already begun by or against class members;
(C) the desirability or undesirability of concentrating the litigation of the
claims in the particular forum; and
(D) the likely difficulties in managing a class action.136
Class certification “cannot be denied because the number of potential class members
makes the proceeding complex or difficult.”137 But the difficulties in managing a class
are important “if they make the class action a less fair and efficient method of
adjudication than other available techniques.”138 Thus, the focus should be “on the
relative advantages of a class action suit over whatever other forms of litigation might
be realistically available to the plaintiffs.”139
The Court finds that class treatment is not superior to other available methods
of adjudication. Based on the number of individual issues discussed above,
adjudicating these claims on a class-wide basis will likely present a manageability
problem. There will be numerous fact-intensive individual inquiries, including

136

Carriuolo v. General Motors Co., 823 F.3d 977, 989 (11th Cir. 2016)
(quoting FED. R. CIV. P. 23(b)(3)).
137

In re Theragenics Corp. Sec. Litig., 205 F.R.D. 687, 697 (N.D. Ga. 2002).

138

Id. at 697-98 (quoting In re Domestic Air Transp. Antitrust Litigation,
137 F.R.D. 677, 693 (N.D. Ga. 1991)).
139

Klay v. Humana, Inc., 382 F.3d 1241, 1269 (11th Cir. 2004).

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physical inspection of class members’ Shingles and individual testimony regarding
when class members discovered the defect and provided notice to Atlas. In addition,
the Court does not agree with the Plaintiffs’ contention that the class members lack
any significant interest in controlling the litigation. The damages claimed by the
named Plaintiffs are not insignificant. The Plaintiffs’ own expert opined that replacing
a roof can be “several thousand dollars to tens of thousands of dollars.”140 Thus, this
case is unlike class actions where the class members have suffered only a minor harm
and would not pursue their claim but for the class action mechanism.141 The owners
have the option of pursuing their claims in state court, where claims of several
thousands dollars are common.142 In sum, the Court finds that Rule 23(b)’s superiority
requirement is not satisfied.
B. Rule 23(c)(4) Class
As an alternative, the Plaintiffs ask the Court to certify a Rule 23(c)(4) class
consisting of four common questions: “(1) whether the shingles suffer from a common

140

See Primary Mot. for Class Cert., Ex. Tab 21, at 47.

141

Cf. In re Delta/AirTran Baggage Fee Antitrust Litigation, No. 1:09-md2089-TCB, 2016 WL 3770957, at *23 (N.D. Ga. July 12, 2016) (“Where, as here, the
class members’ claims are ‘so small that the cost of individual litigation would be far
greater than the value of those claims,’ the class-action vehicle is superior to other
forms of litigation available to Plaintiffs, and class certification is appropriate.”).
142

See Gonzalez v. Owens Corning, 317 F.R.D. 443, 524 (W.D. Pa. 2016).

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manufacturing defect; (2) whether the defect breaches any express or implied
warranties; (3) whether the defect necessitates replacement of all roofs containing the
shingles; and (4) whether Atlas fraudulently concealed the defect.”143 The Plaintiffs
contend that certifying a class based on these four questions will materially advance
the litigation.
Under Rule 23(c)(4), “an action may be brought or maintained as a class action
with respect to particular issues.”144 However, there is a split among courts over how
to apply the predominance test when asked to certify an issue class.145 Some courts
have certified issue classes despite a lack of overall predominance.146 But many other
courts “have emphatically rejected attempts to use the (c)(4) process for certifying
143

See Pls.’ Primary Reply Br. [Doc. 61], at 25 under No. 1:13-cv-02195TWT. The Plaintiffs incorporate by reference Section V of Plaintiffs’ Reply Brief in
Dishman v. Atlas Roofing Corp. See Pls.’ Reply Br., at 20.
144

FED. R. CIV. P. 23(c)(4).

145

Compare In re Nassau Cty. Strip Search Cases, 461 F.3d 219, 225 (2d
Cir. 2006) (“[A] court may employ Rule 23(c)(4)(A) to certify a class on a particular
issue even if the action as a whole does not satisfy Rule 23(b)(3)’s predominance
requirement.”), with Castano v. American Tobacco Co., 84 F.3d 734, 745 n.21 (5th
Cir. 1996) (“A district court cannot manufacture predominance through the nimble use
of subdivision (c)(4).”).
146

See Valentino v. Carter-Wallace, Inc., 97 F.3d 1227, 1234 (9th Cir. 1996)
(“[E]ven if the common questions do not predominate over the individual questions
so that class certification of the entire action is warranted, Rule 23 authorizes the
district court in appropriate cases to isolate the common issues under Rule 23(c)(4)(A)
and proceed with class treatment of these particular issues.”).
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individual issues as a means for achieving an end run around the (b)(3) predominance
requirement.”147 These courts note that “the proper interpretation of the interaction
between subdivisions (b)(3) and (c)(4) is that a cause of action, as a whole, must
satisfy the predominance requirement of (b)(3) and that (c)(4) is a housekeeping rule
that allows courts to sever common issues for a class trial.”148 The Court finds the
latter interpretation to be persuasive.149 As discussed above, even if the Plaintiffs could
establish in a class-wide trial that the Shingles suffer from a common manufacturing
defect, each class member’s claim will still need to be separately tried to determine
issues like causation, notice, and statute of limitations. It is these individual issues that
will predominate. Moreover, certifying an issues class would not promote judicial
efficiency. The “Plaintiffs’ case for certification collapses when it confronts the fact
that certification of a common issues class will not dispose of a single case or

147

Randolph v. J.M. Smucker Co., 303 F.R.D. 679, 700 (S.D. Fla. 2014)
(quoting City of St. Petersburg v. Total Containment, Inc., 265 F.R.D. 630, 646 (S.D.
Fla. 2010)); see also Fisher v. Ciba Specialty Chemicals Corp., 238 F.R.D. 273, 316
(S.D. Ala. 2006).
148

Castano, 84 F.3d at 745 n.21.

149

The Eleventh Circuit has not provided clear guidance as to whether
predominance must be found for the cause of action as a whole when certifying a Rule
23(c)(4) class.
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eliminate the need for a single trial.”150 As a result, the Court concludes a Rule
23(c)(4) class should not be certified.
C. Rule 23(b)(2) Class
The Plaintiffs seek to certify the following Rule 23(b)(2) class: “All those who
as of the date class notice is issued own a home or other structure in the State of
Tennessee on which Atlas Chalet or Stratford roofing shingles are currently
installed.”151 The Complaint requests several declarations: “[t]he Shingles ha[ve] a
defect which results in premature failure”; “Defendant’s warranty fails of its essential
purpose”; “Defendant’s warranty is void as unconscionable”; “Defendant must notify
owners of the defect”; and “Defendant will reassess all prior warranty claims and pay
the full costs of repairs and damages.”152
The Court concludes that a Rule 23(b)(2) class is inappropriate. “A declaratory
or injunctive relief class pursuant to Rule 23(b)(2) is appropriate only if ‘the
predominant relief sought is injunctive or declaratory.’”153 The monetary relief must
150

In re Conagra Peanut Butter Products Liability Litigation, 251 F.R.D.
689, 701 (N.D. Ga. 2008).
151

Mot. for Class Cert., at 5.

152

Compl. ¶ 133.

153

DWFII Corp. v. State Farm Mut. Auto Ins. Co., 469 F. App’x 762, 765
(11th Cir. 2012) (quoting Murray v. Auslander, 244 F.3d 807, 812 (11th Cir. 2001)
(citation omitted)).
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be incidental to the injunctive or declaratory relief.154 “Monetary damages are
incidental when ‘class members automatically would be entitled [to them] once
liability to the class . . . as a whole is established[,]’ and awarding them ‘should not
entail complex individualized determinations.’”155 Here, it is clear that the monetary
damages are not incidental to the requested declaratory relief. Indeed, the Plaintiffs
are seeking monetary relief for each putative class member, and the damages
calculation will be individualized. In addition, it appears the Plaintiffs are seeking the
declarations for the purpose of recovering future warranty claims. Rule 23(b)(2)’s
finality requirement does not allow a plaintiff to use declaratory relief to “lay the basis
for a damage award rather than injunctive relief.”156
IV. Conclusion
For these reasons, the Court DENIES the Plaintiffs Michael Mazza, Linda
Krehlick, and Robert Johnson’s Motion for Class Certification [Doc. 92].

154

See Murray, 244 F.3d at 812 (“[M]onetary relief predominates in (b)(2)
class actions unless it is incidental to requested injunctive or declaratory relief.”
(emphasis in original) (quoting Allison v. Citgo Petroleum Corp., 151 F.3d 402, 411
(5th Cir. 1998))).
155

DWFII Corp., 469 F. App’x at 765 (quoting Murray 244 F.3d at 812).

156

Christ v. Beneficial Corp., 547 F.3d 1292, 1298 (11th Cir. 2008) (quoting
7A CHARLES ALAN WRIGHT & ARTHUR R. MILLER, FEDERAL PRACTICE AND
PROCEDURE § 1775 (3d ed. 2005)).
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SO ORDERED, this 8 day of June, 2017.

/s/Thomas W. Thrash
THOMAS W. THRASH, JR.
United States District Judge

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