SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES

Class certification is appropriate when "the question is one of a common or general interest, of many persons, or when parties are numerous and it is impracticable to bring them all before the court." CCP section 382. "To obtain certification, a party must establish the existence of both an ascertainable class and a well-defined community of interest among class members. The community of interest involves three factors: 1 [1] predominant common questions of law or fact; [2] class representatives with claims or defenses typical of the class; and [3] class representatives who can adequately represent the class. The party seeking certification has the burden of establishing the prerequisites for a class action." Linder v. Thrifty Oil Co. (2000) 23 Ca1.4th 429, 435. A plaintiff must present substantial evidence demonstrating that these factors have been satisfied as "a certification ruling not supported by substantial evidence cannot stand." Lockheed Martin