The ruling brought to five the number of plaintiff classes that will be allowed to sue in Alaska's state courts because of the spill.

There are nearly 7,000 African Americans in the plaintiff class.

In closing arguments, counsel for the plaintiff class contended that trial made legal history and that it was the "largest FDCPA class action ever tried."

The industry is challenging the appropriateness of allowing a plaintiff class that could cover more than 500,000 Florida residents.

She moved for certification of a plaintiff class including all persons denied SSI benefits because of international travel.

In June 2011, the Supreme Court unanimously reversed the Ninth Circuit's order certifying the plaintiff class.

On March 20, 2008, Mannatech settled the class-action lawsuit by agreeing to pay $11.25 million to the plaintiff class.

"This approach gives the plaintiff class an increased protection warranted by recent events without unfairly burdening the N.Y.P.D.," the judge said.

The combined value of the settlement to the plaintiff class was over $1 billion.

All provinces permit plaintiff classes and some permit defendant classes.