Completely revised and up to date. Thoroughly covers the Class Action Fairness Act of 2005, the 2003 amendments to Rule 23, and numerous important court decisions rendered since the last edition. Covers all of the major topics of class action law and practice, such as commencement of a class action, requirements for class certification, class action discovery, notice to class members, opt-out rights, Seventh Amendment and due process issues, class settlements, remedies, appellate review, issue and claim preclusion, and ethical and policy issues. Also contains a special focus on securities, mass tort, and employment discrimination class actions, defendant class actions and shareholder derivative suits. Explores the latest cutting edge issues in multi-party litigation and discusses numerous ground breaking court decisions.