genesis healthcare corp et al symczyk argued december decided april respondent brought collective action fair labor standards act flsa behalf employees similarly situated ignored petitioners offer judgment federal rule civil procedure district finding individuals joined suit rule offer fully satisfied claim concluded respondent suit moot dismissed lack jurisdiction third circuit reversed held respondent individual claim moot collective action explaining allowing defendants pick named plaintiffs certification calculated rule offers frustrate goals collective actions case remanded district allow respondent seek conditional certification successful relate back date complaint held respondent personal interest representing putative unnamed claimants continuing interest preserve suit mootness suit appropriately dismissed lack jurisdiction pp courts appeals disagree whether unaccepted rule offer fully satisfies plaintiff individual claim sufficient render claim moot respondent conceded issue properly raise thus assumes without deciding petitioners offer mooted individual claim pp mootness principles control outcome case respondent individual claim became moot suit became moot personal interest representing others action avoid outcome respondent relies cases arose context rule class actions inapposite rule actions fundamentally different flsa collective actions cases inapplicable facts pp neither sosna iowa parole geraghty support respondent position geraghty extended principles sosna held class action rendered moot named plaintiff individual claim becomes moot class duly certified denials class certification motions provided action acquired independent legal status district erroneous denial class certification corrected ruling appeal relates back time erroneous denial however geraghty holding explicitly limited cases named plaintiff claim remains live time district denies class certification see respondent yet moved conditional certification claim became moot district anticipatorily ruled request thus certification decision claim related back fundamentally essential sosna geraghty fact putative class acquires independent legal status certified rule contrast flsa conditional certification produce class independent legal status join additional parties action pp line cases holding inherently transitory claim necessarily moot upon termination named plaintiff claim see county riverside mclaughlin similarly inapplicable respondent argues defendant use rule offers pick named plaintiff process complete renders action inherently transitory rationale developed address circumstances challenged conduct effectively unreviewable plaintiff possessed personal stake suit long enough litigation run course invariably focused fleeting nature challenged conduct giving rise claim defendant litigation strategy unlike claim injunctive relief damages claim evade review offer full settlement insulate claim review putative plaintiffs may foreclosed vindicating rights respondent suit remain free suits pp finally deposit guaranty nat bank roper support respondent claim purposes served flsa provisions frustrated defendants use rule pick named plaintiffs process run course roper named plaintiffs individual claims became moot district denied rule class certification motion entered judgment favor based defendant offer judgment found named plaintiffs appeal denial certification possessed ongoing personal economic stake substantive controversy namely shift portion attorney fees expenses successful class litigants respondent conceded petitioners offer provided complete relief asserted continuing economic interest shifting attorney fees costs moreover roper tethered unique significance rule class certification decisions pp reversed thomas delivered opinion roberts scalia kennedy alito joined kagan filed dissenting opinion ginsburg breyer sotomayor joined opinion notice opinion subject formal revision publication preliminary print reports readers requested notify reporter decisions washington typographical formal errors order corrections may made preliminary print goes press genesis healthcare corporation et petitioners laura symczyk writ certiorari appeals third circuit april justice thomas delivered opinion fair labor standards act flsa et provides employee may bring action recover damages specified violations act behalf similarly situated employees granted certiorari resolve whether case justiciable lone plaintiff individual claim becomes moot hold justiciable flsa establishes federal overtime guarantees modified contract section flsa stat amended gives employees right bring private cause action behalf behalf employees similarly situated specified violations flsa suit brought behalf employees known collective action see roche sperling respondent formerly employed petitioners registered nurse pennypack center philadelphia pennsylvania filed complaint behalf persons similarly situated app respondent alleged petitioners violated flsa automatically deducting minutes time worked per shift meal breaks certain employees even employees performed compensable work breaks respondent remained sole plaintiff throughout proceedings sought statutory damages alleged violations petitioners answered complaint simultaneously served upon respondent offer judgment federal rule civil procedure offer included alleged unpaid wages addition reasonable attorneys fees costs expenses may determine petitioners stipulated respondent accept offer within days service offer deemed withdrawn respondent failed respond allotted time period petitioners filed motion dismiss lack jurisdiction petitioners argued offered respondent complete relief individual damages claim longer possessed personal stake outcome suit rendering action moot respondent objected arguing petitioners inappropriately attempting pick named plaintiff process unfold district found undisputed individuals joined respondent suit rule offer judgment fully satisfied individual claim concluded petitioners rule offer judgment mooted respondent suit dismissed lack jurisdiction appeals reversed agreed potential plaintiff opted suit petitioners offer fully satisfied respondent individual claim precedents whether offer accepted generally moots plaintiff claim nevertheless held respondent collective action moot explained calculated attempts defendants pick named plaintiffs strategic rule offers certification short circuit process thereby frustrate goals collective actions determined case must remanded order allow respondent seek conditional certification district respondent successful district relate certification motion back date respondent filed ibid ii article iii constitution limits jurisdiction federal courts cases controversies restricts authority federal courts resolving legal rights litigants actual controversies valley forge christian college americans separation church state quoting liverpool new york philadelphia commissioners emigration order invoke jurisdiction plaintiff must demonstrate possesses legally cognizable interest stake outcome action see camreta greene slip quoting summers earth island institute requirement ensures federal judiciary confines constitutionally limited role adjudicating actual concrete disputes resolutions direct consequences parties involved corollary requirement actual controversy must extant stages review merely time complaint filed arizonans official english arizona quoting preiser newkirk intervening circumstance deprives plaintiff personal stake outcome lawsuit point litigation action longer proceed must dismissed moot lewis continental bank internal quotation marks omitted proceedings courts concluded petitioners rule offer afforded respondent complete relief thus mooted flsa claim see wl ed may respondent contends rulings erroneous petitioners rule offer lapsed without entry judgment brief respondent amicus curiae similarly urges hold petitioners unaccepted offer moot flsa claim affirm appeals basis brief courts appeals disagree whether offer fully satisfies plaintiff claim sufficient render claim reach question resolve split issue properly us third circuit clearly held case respondent individual claim moot acceptance respondent argument contrary alter appeals judgment impermissible absence respondent see northwest airlines county kent trans world airlines thurston moreover even rule apply respondent waiver issue still prevent us reaching district respondent conceded offer complete relief generally moot plaintiff claim point plaintiff retains personal interest outcome litigation app wl respondent made similar concession brief appeals see app failed raise argument brief opposition petition certiorari therefore assume without deciding petitioners rule offer mooted respondent individual claim see baldwin reese iii turn question whether respondent action remained justiciable based allegations complaint straightforward application mootness principles compels answer absence claimant opting respondent suit became moot individual claim became moot lacked personal interest representing others action flsa authorizes aggrieved employee bring action behalf employees similarly situated mere presence allegations complaint save suit mootness individual claim order avoid outcome respondent relies almost entirely upon cases arose context federal rule civil procedure class actions particularly parole geraghty deposit guaranty nat bank roper sosna iowa cases inapposite rule actions fundamentally different collective actions flsa see roche scalia dissenting cases terms inapplicable facts follows action appropriately dismissed moot respondent contends sufficient personal stake case based statutorily created action interest representing similarly situated employees brief respondent support argument respondent cites decision geraghty turn roots sosna neither case supports position sosna held class action rendered moot named plaintiff individual claim becomes moot class duly certified reasoned district certifies class class unnamed persons described certification acquire legal status separate interest asserted named plaintiff result live controversy may continue exist even claim named plaintiff becomes moot geraghty narrowly extended principle denials class certification motions held action acquired independent legal status described sosna district erroneous denial class certification corrected ruling appeal relates back time erroneous denial certification motion geraghty inapposite explicitly limited holding cases named plaintiff claim remains live time district denies class certification see respondent yet moved conditional certification claim became moot district ruled request claim instead became moot prior events foreclosing recourse geraghty simply certification decision respondent claim related back fundamentally essential decisions sosna geraghty fact putative class acquires independent legal status certified rule flsa contrast conditional certification produce class independent legal status join additional parties action sole consequence conditional certification sending written notice employees see roche supra turn become parties collective action filing written consent even respondent secure conditional certification ruling remand nothing ruling preserve suit mootness respondent also advances argument based separate related line cases held inherently transitory claim necessarily moot upon termination named plaintiff claim like decision geraghty line cases began sosna similarly inapplicable concluding expiration named claim following certification moot class action sosna suggested named plaintiff individual claim becomes moot district opportunity rule certification motion issue otherwise evade review certification might relate back filing complaint since held doctrine may apply rule cases certain persons similarly situated continue subject challenged conduct claims raised inherently transitory trial even enough time rule motion class certification proposed representative individual interest expires county riverside mclaughlin quoting geraghty supra turn citing gerstein pugh invoking doctrine respondent argues defendants strategically use rule offers pick named plaintiffs process complete rendering collective actions transitory effect brief respondent cases invoking inherently transitory rationale apply inherently transitory rationale developed address circumstances challenged conduct effectively unreviewable plaintiff possessed personal stake suit long enough litigation run course plaintiff might seek instance bring class action challenging constitutionality temporary pretrial detentions named plaintiff face considerable challenge preserving individual claim mootness since pretrial custody likely end prior resolution claim see gerstein supra address problem explained cases transitory nature conduct giving rise suit effectively insulate defendants conduct review certification potentially relate back filing complaint mclaughlin supra doctrine invariably focused fleeting nature challenged conduct giving rise claim defendant litigation strategy see swisher brady spencer kemna case respondent complaint requested statutory damages unlike claims injunctive relief challenging ongoing conduct claim damages evade review remains live settled judicially resolved barred statute limitations defendant attempt obtain settlement insulate claim review full settlement offer addresses plaintiff alleged harm making plaintiff whole settlement may collateral effect foreclosing unjoined claimants rights vindicated respondent suit putative plaintiffs remain free vindicate rights suits less able claims settled adjudicated following respondent suit suit never filed finally respondent argues purposes served flsa provisions example efficient resolution common claims lower individual costs associated litigation frustrated defendants use rule pick named plaintiffs process run course respondent appeals purported find support position decision roper roper named plaintiffs individual claims became moot district denied motion class certification rule subsequently entered judgment favor based defendant bank offer judgment maximum recoverable amount damages addition interest costs held even though district entered judgment named plaintiffs favor nevertheless appeal denial motion certify class found particular circumstances case named plaintiffs possessed ongoing personal economic stake substantive controversy namely shift portion attorney fees expenses successful class dicta underscore importance district class certification decision observe allowing defendants party plaintiffs affirmative ruling achieved frustrate objectives class actions roper holding turned specific factual finding plaintiffs possessed continuing personal economic stake litigation even defendants offer judgment already explained respondent conceded petitioners offer provided complete relief individual claims brief opposition failed assert continuing economic interest shifting attorney fees costs others moreover roper dictum tethered unique significance certification decisions proceedings whatever significance conditional certification may proceedings tantamount class certification rule appeals concluded respondent individual claim became moot following petitioners rule offer judgment assumed without deciding correct reaching question granted certiorari conclude respondent personal interest representing putative unnamed claimants continuing interest preserve suit mootness respondent suit therefore appropriately dismissed lack jurisdiction judgment appeals third circuit reversed ordered kagan dissenting genesis healthcare corporation et petitioners laura symczyk writ certiorari appeals third circuit april justice kagan justice ginsburg justice breyer justice sotomayor join dissenting today resolves imaginary question based mistake courts made case others like issue majority tells us whether collective brought fair labor standards act flsa et justiciable lone plaintiff individual claim becomes moot ante embedded within question crucial premise individual claim become moot lower courts held majority assumes without deciding premise bogus plaintiff individual claim never became moot addition similar claim damages ever become moot event majority decision founded unfounded assumption meaning application decision turn explaining majority thinks happen proposed collective flsa action something fact never happens individual flsa claim errantly thought done case reasons describe feel free relegate majority decision furthest reaches mind situation addresses never arise consider facts case keeping eye anything render part moot respondent laura symczyk brought suit provision flsa behalf others similarly situated app complaint alleged former employer petitioner genesis healthcare corporation genesis violated flsa treating minutes every shift unpaid meal break even employee worked time genesis answered complaint simultaneously made offer judgment federal rule civil procedure settlement proposal covered symczyk individual claim tune lost wages offer according terms deemed withdrawn symczyk accept within days app deadline came went without reply case proceeded normal fashion district setting schedule discovery pause moment ask whether seen anything yet moot symczyk individual claim neither nevertheless genesis moved dismiss symczyk suit ground moot supposed logic went like genesis offered symczyk complete relief individual damages claim effectively reject ed ffer failing respond longer personal stake legally cognizable interest outcome action accordingly dismiss claims relying circuit precedent district agreed dismissed case lack jurisdiction without awarding symczyk damages relief based solely unaccepted offer genesis made see app pet cert citing weiss regal collections finally appeals third circuit concurred genesis offer mooted symczyk individual claim though also holding still proceed collective action see view wrong wrong wrong made clear earlier term long parties concrete interest however small outcome litigation case moot chafin chafin slip internal quotation marks omitted case becomes moot impossible grant effectual relief whatever prevailing party ibid internal quotation marks omitted measures unaccepted offer judgment moot case plaintiff rejects offer however good terms interest lawsuit remains ability grant relief unaccepted settlement offer like unaccepted contract offer legal nullity operative effect every law student learns recipient rejection offer leaves matter offer ever made minneapolis louis columbus rolling mill nothing rule alters basic principle contrary rule specifies unaccepted offer considered withdrawn fed rule civ proc assuming case live plaintiff stake grant relief litigation carries unmooted reason symczyk individual claim alive well district dismissed suit recall genesis made settlement offer rule symczyk decided accept days expired suit went forward symczyk individual stake lawsuit thus remained always ditto capacity grant relief offer lapsed symczyk possessed unsatisfied claim redress awarding damages long remained true symczyk claim moot district send away friendly suggestion third circuit rethink theory note courts appeals try home point said conflicts nothing opinion majority attempt argue la third circuit unaccepted settlement offer mooted symczyk individual damages claim instead majority hangs hat finding waiver see ante majority notes correctly symczyk accepted third circuit rule briefs also failed challenge brief opposition petition certiorari contested first merits brief enables majority assume without deciding mootness symczyk individual claim reach question relating proposed collective action ante noted similar case assum ing facts show ridiculous predicate question party think challenge settled circuit precedent runs risk avoided lebron national railroad passenger corporation question symczyk raises unaccepted settlement offer moot individual flsa claim logically prior thus inextricably intertwined question majority rushes resolve unaccepted settlement offer mooted symczyk individual flsa claim proceed consider proposed collective action indeed former much part parcel latter question genesis presented granted certiorari actually looks like symczyk like majority genesis asked whether case becomes moot lone plaintiff receives offer defendants satisfy plaintiff claims pet cert symczyk course respond merely receiving offer moot claim majority refusal consider obviously correct answer impedes intelligent resolution question presented ohio robinette internal quotation marks omitted taking fallacy premise majority ensures reach wrong decision still might think majority approach least benefit future flsa case individual claim damages fact becomes moot know collective allegations even much said majority opinion individual claims cases never become moot therefore never need reach issue majority resolves majority decision fit nothing aside getting case wrong serves address problem see consider collective flsa action seeking damages unfolds plaintiff like symczyk let us call smith highlight typicality sues behalf others determine whether smith serve representative party considers whether workplace policy suit challenges similarly affected employees supervises discovery notification oversee joinder want smith represent hoffman sperling period majority observes class independent legal status ante time smith claim perfect health damages claim past conduct employer extinguish adopting new employment practices indeed claim survive even smith demise belonging estate smith individual claim short going away easily wait time involved assembling collective action accord ante claim damages evade review remains live settled judicially resolved introduce settlement offer picture assume finally decides whether permit collective action defendant proposes pay smith value individual claim exchange abandonment entire litigation smith agrees course like plaintiff assent settlement ending suit assuming smith agree wishes proceed behalf employees offer ever succeed mooting case already shown circumstances defendant makes offer plaintiff declines nothing else occurs facts smith claim ever lawsuit continues onward suppose defendant additionally requests enter judgment smith favor though objection amount offered satisfy individual claim approve motion declare case ground smith stake course less preposterous least smith unlike symczyk get money impermissible well starters rule precludes imposing judgment plaintiff like smith based unaccepted settlement offer made pursuant terms text rule contemplates enter judgment plaintiff accepts offer see rule plaintiff serves written notice accepting offer either party may file offer notice acceptance plus proof service clerk must enter judgment rule prohibits considering unaccepted offer purpose allocating litigation costs including purpose entering judgment either party see rule evidence unaccepted offer admissible except proceeding determine costs injunction accords rule exclusive purpose promote voluntary cessation litigation imposing costs plaintiffs spurn certain settlement offers see marek chesny rule provides appropriate mechanism terminate lawsuit without plaintiff consent inherent authority enter unwanted judgment smith individual claim service wiping proposed collective action sure discretion halt lawsuit entering judgment plaintiff defendant unconditionally surrenders plaintiff obstinacy madness prevents accepting total victory may take tack supposed capitulation fact fails give plaintiff law authorizes sought judgment satisfying individual claim give plaintiff like smith exercising right sue behalf employees requested complaint relief class deposit guaranty nat bank roper rehnquist concurring collective action brought flsa class action may prior certification eliminate entire suit acceding defendant proposal make named plaintiff whole course collective action begin thereby frustrate congress decision give flsa plaintiffs opportunity proceed collectively hoffman see roper plaintiff smith choice defendant whether satisfaction individual claim without redress viable classwide allegations sufficient bring lawsuit end question majority answers never arise means analysis majority propounds never majority assumes individual claim become moot asks whether collective allegations still proceed virtue doctrine doctrine comes play confronts jurisdictional gap individual claim becoming moot certify representative action flsa case damages gap occur unless mistakenly creates explained plaintiff individual claim remains live way decision whether join new plaintiffs litigation without gap span doctrine relevance neither majority resolved case along circuit split see ante correcting third circuit view unaccepted settlement offer mooted symczyk individual claim instead chose address issue predicated misconception way aids one ever respectfully dissent footnotes lower courts borrowed terminology describe process joining express opinion propriety use nomenclature note significant differences certification federal rule civil procedure joinder process relation back doctrine developed context class actions rule address circumstance named plaintiff claim becomes moot prior certification class case raises two circumstances applied doctrine first named plaintiff claim inherently becomes moot prior certification motion certification may relate back filing complaint see county riverside mclaughlin second held certification motion denied named plaintiff claim subsequently becomes moot appellate reversal certification decision may relate back time denial see parole geraghty compare weiss regal collections mccauley trans union llc resolve question whether rule offer fully satisfies plaintiff claims sufficient moot action supra note courts appeals sides issue recognized plaintiff claim may satisfied even without plaintiff consent courts maintain unaccepted offer complete relief alone sufficient moot individual claim weiss supra greisz household bank courts held face unaccepted offer complete relief district courts may enter judgment favor plaintiffs accordance defendants rule offer judgment ed donnelly see also mccauley trans union llc contrary dissent assertion see post opinion kagan nothing nature flsa actions precludes satisfaction thus mooting individual claim component suit run course roper distinguishable facts need consider continuing validity light subsequent decision lewis continental bank see interest attorney fees course insufficient create article iii case controversy none exists merits underlying claim footnotes majority also justifies approach ground symczyk file certiorari objecting third circuit decision symczyk got judgment wanted third circuit majority agrees necessary respondent seeks alter judgment ante see gressman geller shapiro bishop hartnett practice ed party satisfied action lower appeal order defend judgment favor ground third circuit reversed district dismissal symczyk flsa suit ruling collective action go forward even though individual claim moot accordingly accepting symczyk new argument lead modifying appellate judgment affirming different ground event never held requirement jurisdictional see choose excuse absence reasons discussed next consider issue raised see vance terrazas similarly questionable deployment adjudicatory authority see comcast behrend joint opinion ginsburg breyer jj observing dissent ruling good day case good thing majority opinion also misconceives decisions applying doctrine majority painstakingly distinguishes decisions individual facts misses common confronted situation class representative individual claim became moot make final decision propriety class litigation used principles preserve ability adjudicate merits classwide questions representative raised see county riverside mclaughlin swisher brady gerstein pugh see also parole geraghty sosna iowa symczyk individual claim became moot failed accept genesis offer judgment case fit comfortably alongside precedents district enough time rule motion certification back doctrine properly invoked preserve merits case judicial resolution mclaughlin internal quotation marks omitted