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Class Action

Jul. 14, 2026

Cortina serves as a cautionary tale in the use of representative evidence

The Fifth Appellate District's decision in Cortina v. North American Title Company reaffirms Duran while signaling more exacting scrutiny of classwide proof, from the initial case management conference through trial.

Phillip J. Ebsworth

Partner
Seyfarth Shaw LLP

Phone: (916) 498-7012

Email: pebsworth@seyfarth.com

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Gina Gi

Associate
Seyfarth Shaw LLP

Phone: (213) 270-9600

Email: ggi@seyfarth.com

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<i>Cortina</i> serves as a cautionary tale in the use of representative evidence
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The Fifth Appellate District's decision in Cortina v. North American Title Company reaffirms the principles set forth more than a decade earlier in Duran v. U.S. Bank National Assn., 59 Cal. 4th 1 (2014): class actions require a workable trial plan, reliable methodology when relying on representative evidence, and procedures that preserve a defendant's due process right to litigate its affirmative defenses. Beyond reaffirming Duran, Cortina signals...

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