Washtenaw County Employees Retirement System v. Piedmont Office Realty Trust, Inc.

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
Washtenaw County Employees Retirement System v. Piedmont Office Realty Trust, Inc., 422 F. App'x 868 (11th Cir. 2011)

Washtenaw County Employees Retirement System v. Piedmont Office Realty Trust, Inc.

Opinion

PER CURIAM:

This appeal challenges the certification of a class in a securities fraud case. Appellant challenges three rulings of the district court which can be summarized as: (1) That the presumption of reliance as set forth in Affiliated Ute Citizens v. United States, 406 U.S. 128, 92 S.Ct. 1456, 31 L.Ed.2d 741 (1972), is applicable; (2) The plaintiffs are “typical” as required by Fed. R.Civ.P. 23(a)(3); and (3) The plaintiffs will adequately represent the class as required by Fed.R.Civ.P. 23(a)(4).

After studying the briefs and the record and hearing oral argument, we affirm the rulings as to numbers (2) and (3). The problem with number (1) is that the complaint does not support the ruling made by the district court on the presumption of reliance. We do not decide whether a class is supportable without the presumption of reliance nor whether a class would be supportable under allegations in an amended complaint consistent with the arguments presented to the district court and this court.

We vacate the certification of the class and remand for further proceedings.

VACATED AND REMANDED.

Reference

Full Case Name
WASHTENAW COUNTY EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM, on Behalf of Itself and All Others Similarly Situated, Clara R. Smith, Plaintiffs-Appellees, v. PIEDMONT OFFICE REALTY TRUST, INC., F.K.A. Wells Real Estate Investment Trust, Inc., W. Wayne Woody, Et Al., Defendants-Appellants
Status
Unpublished