The defendants in two related class actions brought motions to compel the representative plaintiffs to answer questions refused during examinations for discovery.
The refused questions related to the plaintiffs' individual medical and employment histories, reasons for detention, and other individual experiences.
The court dismissed the defendants' motions, holding that discovery prior to a common issues trial is limited to the common issues.
The court found that the individual damages questions were not relevant to the common issues of systemic negligence or aggregate damages, which must be determined without reference to the circumstances of individual class members.
