Defendants often consider whether weak class allegations can be stricken at the pleading stage, leaving just a low-exposure individual claim to defend.  That tactic may have a great chance of success—especially when a complaint asserts state-law claims on behalf of a nationwide class or challenges multiple misrepresentations—in light of a recent Fifth Circuit decision approving that strategy.

In Elson v. Black, __ F.4th __, 2023 WL 111317 (5th Cir. Jan. 5, 2023), plaintiffs brought a putative class action alleging that the defendants made various misrepresentations about a massager.  Plaintiffs sought a nationwide class and, in the alternative, seven subclasses representing the seven states where they reside.  The district court granted the defendants’ motion to strike the class allegation, a decision the Fifth Circuit upheld on several grounds.

First, the Fifth Circuit held that plaintiffs failed to show that the differences in state law would not predominate over individual issues.  The plaintiffs attempted to analyze the differences in the reliance requirements of the relevant state laws, but the Fifth Circuit found that those differences “swamp[ed] any common issues and defeat[ed] predominance.”

Second, the Fifth Circuit determined that the plaintiffs’ allegations introduced “numerous factual differences that in no way comprise a coherent class.”  Notably, the plaintiffs relied on different misrepresentations about different aspects about the product’s promised benefits—some were disgruntled because they expected the device to reduce cellulite, some were unhappy because they expected it to reduce their pain, and others were dissatisfied because they expected it to help them lose weight.  The court reasoned that “[d]iscerning the truth or falsity of each representation would require a group-by-group analysis” and that “even within these groups, the possibility of class analysis disintegrates because the members did not rely on the same alleged misrepresentations.” 

Finally, the Fifth Circuit rejected plaintiffs’ proposal of state-specific subclasses, nothing that “‘subclass’ is not a magic word that remedies defects of prominence” and that plaintiffs failed to meet their burden to show “how certain proposed subclasses would alleviate existing obstacles to certification.”

The Fifth Circuit’s decision confirms that defendants should carefully evaluate whether to seek to strike class allegations where the plaintiffs’ claims involve substantial variations in state laws and factual differences are apparent from the face of the complaint.  Defendants should also be mindful that courts in certain circuits may be less receptive to striking class allegations. 

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Photo of Ellen Choi Ellen Choi

Ellen Choi is a member of the firm’s Litigation and Investigations Practice Group. She represents clients in complex commercial disputes involving a range of issues such as business torts, consumer protection, and insurance recovery. Ellen also has experience in a range of internal…

Ellen Choi is a member of the firm’s Litigation and Investigations Practice Group. She represents clients in complex commercial disputes involving a range of issues such as business torts, consumer protection, and insurance recovery. Ellen also has experience in a range of internal investigations, including workplace culture investigations. Ellen maintains an active pro bono practice.

Ellen is fluent in Korean and has experience advising Korean companies in litigation and investigation matters.

Prior to joining Covington, Ellen clerked for Judge Philip S. Gutierrez, U.S. District Court, Central District of California. Ellen was a management consultant in the pharmaceutical and biotech space before practicing law.

Photo of Andrew Soukup Andrew Soukup

Andrew Soukup serves as co-chair of the firm’s Class Action Litigation Practice Group. He specializes in representing heavily regulated businesses in class actions, multidistrict litigation, and other high-stakes disputes.

Praised for achieving “big wins in his class action practice,” Andrew has defeated a…

Andrew Soukup serves as co-chair of the firm’s Class Action Litigation Practice Group. He specializes in representing heavily regulated businesses in class actions, multidistrict litigation, and other high-stakes disputes.

Praised for achieving “big wins in his class action practice,” Andrew has defeated a variety of advertising, consumer protection, privacy, and product defect and safety claims, with exposure ranging from millions to billions of dollars. Based on his “proven record,” Andrew has been recognized as an “attorney you want on your side in a bet-the-company case.”

Andrew’s clients include those in the consumer products, life sciences, financial services, technology, automotive, gaming, and media and communications industries. He has consistently helped his clients prevail in litigation in federal and state courts across the country against putative class representatives, government agencies, state attorneys general, and commercial entities.

With a long history of representing companies subject to extensive federal regulation and oversight, Andrew has a unique ability to help courts understand the complex environment that governs clients’ businesses. Clients turn to Andrew because of his successful outcomes at all stages of litigation, his responsiveness and attention to their matters and his deep understanding of their businesses.

Andrew’s recent successes include:

Leading the successful defense of several of the world’s leading companies and brands in class actions accusing them of engaging in deceptive marketing or selling defective products, including claims brought under state consumer protection and unfair deceptive acts or practices statutes.
Defeating claims against one of the nation’s leading consumer products companies in industry-wide, multidistrict class-action litigation challenging the company’s marketing and advertising of over-the-counter medicine containing allegedly ineffective ingredients, which earned Andrew recognition by American Lawyer as a “Litigator of the Week.”
Delivered wins in multiple nationwide class actions on behalf of leading financial institutions related to fees, disclosures, and other banking practices, including defending several financial institutions accused of violating the Paycheck Protection Program’s implementing laws, which contributed to Covington’s recognition as a “Class Action Group of the Year.”
Represented several consumer product and life sciences companies from lawsuits seeking economic damages arising out of the sale of products that allegedly caused personal injuries.
Helping several of the world’s most prominent companies from ESG-related claims accusing them of misrepresenting their practices.

Andrew has also achieved favorable outcomes for clients in commercial and indemnification disputes involving contracts, fraud, and other business tort claims. He helps companies navigate contractual and indemnification disputes with their business partners. Additionally, he provides guidance on arbitration agreements and has helped numerous clients avoid multi-district and class-action litigation by enforcing their arbitration agreements.

As a recognized thought leader on issues impacting class action litigation, Andrew regularly contributes to the firm’s blog, Inside Class Actions, and was recently featured in an interview with Litigation Daily on class-action litigation issues. In recognition of his achievements, he has been recognized by The American Lawyer as a Lawyer of the Week, and the Daily Journal recently included him on their list of Leading Commercial Litigators (2025).

Watch: Andrew shares insights on class action litigation, as part of our Navigating Class Actions video series.