Eisen v. Carlisle & Jacquelin

Eisen v. Carlisle & Jacquelin was a 1968 U.S. Supreme Court case that clarified the rules for class-action lawsuits. The Court ruled that before a court can give notice to potential class members, the plaintiffs must demonstrate that the case has enough merit and that class treatment is appropriate. This means plaintiffs cannot just send notices to potential class members to see who opts out; there must be a strong legal foundation first. The decision emphasizes that procedural fairness requires courts to ensure that only cases with genuine legal backing proceed as class actions.