Like many health-minded individuals, Norma Rothman has shopped at GNC stores. And, like many others, she has bought items there with her credit card. And, like many consumers everywhere, she didn't like it when the cashier allegedly asked her for her ZIP code when she made her purchase. Unlike many consumers, Ms. Rothman tried to turn this momentary dissatisfaction into a class action, alleging that GNC had violated the Song-Beverly Credit Card Act and California's infamous § 17200. (Song-Beverly class actions have become very popular in California since its Supreme Court ruled that requesting a ZIP code can violate the Act.)
How unlike other consumers was Ms. Rothman? Very. When a trial court for the Central District of California denied her motion for class certification, it found that her class was overboard, lacked numerosity and commonality, and that, since she may have been the only person harmed in the manner she alleged, she was neither a typical nor adequate class representative. (For those of you keeping score, that means she did not demonstrate any of the Rule 23(a)(4) requirements.)
