The Rise and Fall (and Rise) of the Class Action
Professor Andrew Bradt will talk about a controversial issue in American civil litigation: the class action. Bradt will trace the history of this peculiarly American form of litigation from its invention in 1966, its explosion in the subsequent decades, and recent efforts by Congress and federal judges to restrict its availability. What makes the class action such a hot button? What are its virtues and vices? And can we do without it? Bradt will seek to clear up misconceptions about a technical area of the law that has captured the public’s imagination and make suggestions about the path forward.
Speaker:
Professor Andrew Bradt’s focus is on complex mass-tort litigation, and he is a source of counsel for judges and policymakers throughout the U.S. federal courts. At Berkeley Law, he teaches courses in civil procedure, complex litigation, and conflict of laws. Bradt was one of five recipients of the campuswide Distinguished Teaching Award in 2022. He received Berkeley Law’s Rutter Award for Teaching Distinction in 2019. Prior to joining Berkeley Law, Bradt was a litigator at the law firms Jones Day and Ropes & Gray and clerked for two federal judges. He is a graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law School.