coopers lybrand livesay argued march decided june respondents purchased securities reliance prospectus brought action behalf class similarly situated purchasers alleging petitioner accounting firm violated federal securities laws district first certified action class action fed rule civ proc proceedings decertified class respondents filed notice appeal pursuant courts appeals jurisdiction appeals final decisions district courts except direct review may examining amount respondents claims relation financial resources probable cost litigation appeals concluded pursue claims individually basis death knell doctrine assumes without incentive possible group recovery individual plaintiff may find economically imprudent pursue lawsuit final judgment seek appellate review adverse class determination appeals held jurisdiction hear appeal reversed district order decertifying class respondents contend order denying class certification appealable death knell doctrine collateral order exception articulated cohen beneficial industrial loan held collateral order exception apply prejudgment order denying class certification order subject revision district fed rule civ proc involves considerations enmeshed factual legal issues comprising plaintiff cause action mercantile nat bank langdeau subject effective review final judgment behest named plaintiff intervening class members airlines mcdonald pp death knell doctrine support appellate jurisdiction prejudgment order denying class certification pp formulation appealability rule turns amount plaintiff claim plainly legislative judicial function pp alternative approach death knell rule based thorough study possible impact class order fate litigation seriously debilitating effect administration justice district take evidence entertain argument make findings appeals review simply determine whether discretionary class determination subject appellate review possibility remand factual development appeals adverse rulings grounds likewise anticipated pp perhaps principal vice doctrine authorizes indiscriminate interlocutory review trial judge decisions circumventing restrictions imposed interlocutory appeals act pp doctrine favors plaintiffs even though class issue often critically important defendants well allowing appeals matter right nonfinal orders turn facts particular case thrusts appellate courts indiscriminately trial process thus defeating vital purpose rule maintaining appropriate relationship respective courts stevens delivered opinion unanimous thomas walsh argued cause petitioner briefs veryl riddle john hennelly harris amhowitz melvyn weiss argued cause respondents brief lawrence milberg jared specthrie richard ross justice stevens delivered opinion question case whether district determination action may maintained class action pursuant fed rule civ proc final decision within meaning therefore appealable matter right conflict circuits issue granted certiorari hold order appealable petitioner coopers lybrand accounting firm certified financial statements prospectus issued connection public offering securities punta gorda isles aggregate price million respondents purchased securities reliance prospectus next annual report shareholders punta gorda restated earnings reported prospectus writing net income year million thereafter respondents sold punta gorda securities sustained loss investment respondents filed action behalf class similarly situated purchasers alleged petitioner defendants violated various sections securities act securities exchange act district first certified proceedings decertified class respondents request district certify order interlocutory review rather filed notice appeal pursuant appeals regarded appellate jurisdiction depending whether decertification order sounded death knell action examining amount respondents claims relation financial resources probable cost litigation concluded pursue claims individually appeals therefore held jurisdiction hear appeal merits reversed order decertifying class livesay punta gorda isles federal appellate jurisdiction generally depends existence decision district ends litigation merits leaves nothing execute judgment catlin order refusing certify decertifying class force terminate entire litigation plaintiff free proceed individual claim order appealable therefore comes within appropriate exception rule case respondents rely collateral order exception articulated cohen beneficial industrial loan death knell doctrine adopted several circuits determine appealability orders denying class certification cohen district refused order plaintiff stockholder derivative action post security costs required new jersey statute defendant sought immediate review question whether state statute applied derivative suits federal noted purpose finality requirement combine one review stages proceeding effectively may reviewed corrected final judgment results immediate review district order consistent purpose held appealable final decision ruling settled conclusively corporation claim entitled state law require shareholder post security costs concerned collateral matter reviewed effectively appeal final judgment come within small class decisions excepted rule cohen order must conclusively determine disputed question resolve important issue completely separate merits action effectively unreviewable appeal final judgment abney macdonald order passing request class certification fall category first order subject revision district fed rule civ proc second class determination generally involves considerations enmeshed factual legal issues comprising plaintiff cause action mercantile nat bank langdeau finally order denying class certification subject effective review final judgment behest named plaintiff intervening class members airlines mcdonald reasons courts appeals consistently recognized doctrine applicable kind order involved case ii several circuits including appeals case held order denying class certification appealable likely sound death knell litigation death knell doctrine assumes without incentive possible group recovery individual plaintiff may find economically imprudent pursue lawsuit final judgment seek appellate review adverse class determination without questioning assumption hold orders relating class certification independently appealable prior judgment addressing question whether death knell doctrine supports mandatory appellate jurisdiction orders refusing certify class actions parties devoted portion argument desirability class action petitioner opposition doctrine based part criticism class action vexatious kind litigation respondents hand argue class action serves vital public interest therefore special rules appellate review necessary ensure district judges subject adequate supervision control policy arguments though proper legislative consideration irrelevant issue must decide special rules relating class actions extent special kind litigation rules however contain unique provisions governing appeals appealability order entered class action determined standards govern appealability types litigation thus death knell doctrine merit apply equally many interlocutory orders ordinary litigation rulings discovery venue summary judgment may tactical economic significance defeat tantamount death knell entire case though refusal certify class inherently interlocutory may induce plaintiff abandon individual claim hand litigation often survive adverse class determination effect economic disincentives created interlocutory order may fate litigation depend variety factors death knell doctrine appealability turns perception impact individual case thus believes plaintiff adequate incentive continue order considered interlocutory concludes ruling practical matter makes litigation improbable considered appealable final decision finality requirement evinces legislative judgment estricting appellate review final decisions prevents debilitating effect judicial administration caused piecemeal appeal disposition practical consequence single controversy eisen carlisle jacquelin although rigid insistence technical finality sometimes conflict purposes statute cohen beneficial industrial loan even adherents death knell doctrine acknowledge refusal certify class fall limited category orders though nonfinal may appealed without undermining policies served general rule undisputed allowing appeal order ordinary case run directly contrary policy final judgment rule embodied sound reasons yet several courts appeals sought identify basis interlocutory orders viewed standpoint economic prudence may induce plaintiff abandon litigation orders become appealable matter right administering death knell rule courts used two quite different methods identifying appealable class ruling courts determined jurisdiction simply comparing claims named plaintiffs arbitrarily selected jurisdictional amount others undertaken thorough study possible impact class order fate litigation determining jurisdiction especially consideration given consequences applying tests pretrial orders entered litigation becomes apparent neither provides acceptable basis exercise appellate jurisdiction formulation appealability rule turns amount plaintiff claim plainly legislative judicial function congress grant appeal right whose claims fall specific amount controversy done rather made finality test appealability without legislative prescription rule necessarily arbitrary measure finality ignores variables inform litigant decision proceed proceed face adverse class ruling moreover jurisdictional amount measured aggregated claims named plaintiffs appellate jurisdiction may turn joinder decisions counsel rather finality order slightly less arbitrary alternative approach death knell rule serious debilitating effect administration justice requires plaintiffs build record trial contains evidence factors deemed relevant death knell issue district judges make appropriate findings one appeals even required factual inquiry extended members class policy interlocutory appeals easily circumvented joining whose individual claims warrant cost separate litigation avoid possibility named plaintiff required prove member purported class claim warrants individual litigation threshold inquiry kind may true identify orders truly end litigation prior final judgment allowing immediate appeal orders may enhance quality justice afforded litigants incremental benefit outweighed impact individualized jurisdictional inquiry judicial system overall capacity administer justice potential waste judicial resources plain district must take evidence entertain argument make findings appeals must review record findings simply determine whether discretionary class determination subject appellate review record provides inadequate basis determination remand factual development may required moreover even makes death knell finding reviews order merits assurance trial process disrupted interlocutory review even ruling plaintiff adequately represent class reversed appeal district may still refuse certify class ground example common questions law fact predominate death knell theory plaintiff entitled appeal matter right pursuant since kinds interlocutory orders may also create risk premature demise potential multiple appeals every complex case apparent serious perhaps principal vice death knell doctrine authorizes indiscriminate interlocutory review decisions made trial judge interlocutory appeals act enacted meet recognized need prompt review certain nonfinal orders however congress carefully confined availability review nonfinal orders never appealed matter right moreover discretionary power permit interlocutory appeal first instance vested courts appeals party seeking review nonfinal order must first obtain consent trial judge screening procedure serves dual purpose ensuring review confined appropriate cases avoiding jurisdictional determinations appeals finally even district judge certifies order appellant still burden persuading appeals exceptional circumstances justify departure basic policy postponing appellate review entry final judgment fisons appellate may deny appeal reason including docket congestion permitting appeals right orders jurisdictional determinations turn questions fact death knell doctrine circumvents restrictions additional considerations reinforce conclusion death knell doctrine support appellate jurisdiction prejudgment orders denying class certification first doctrine operates favor plaintiffs even though class issue whether certify large class often critical importance defendants well certification large class may increase defendant potential damages liability litigation costs may find economically prudent settle abandon meritorious defense yet courts appeals correctly concluded orders granting class certification interlocutory whatever similarities differences plaintiffs defendants context involve questions policy congress moreover allowing appeals right nonfinal orders turn facts particular case thrusts appellate courts indiscriminately trial process thus defeats one vital purpose rule maintaining appropriate relationship respective courts goal absence compelling reasons contrary much worth preserving accordingly hold fact interlocutory order may induce party abandon claim final judgment sufficient reason considering final decision within meaning judgment appeals reversed directions dismiss appeal ordered footnotes compare hackett general host cert denied king kansas city southern industries holding order immediately appealable hartmann scott ott speedwriting pub eisen carlisle jacquelin cert denied holding order immediately appealable defendants punta gorda several officers directors also filed petition writ certiorari punta gorda isles livesay granted certiorari case parties entered tentative settlement agreement respondents petitioners agreed dismiss petition petitioner case however stipulate dismissal petition view tentative nature settlement case moot securities act ed securities exchange act section provides district judge making civil action order otherwise appealable section shall opinion order involves controlling question law substantial ground difference opinion immediate appeal order may materially advance ultimate termination litigation shall state writing order appeals may thereupon discretion permit appeal taken order application made within ten days entry order provided however application appeal hereunder shall stay proceedings district unless district judge appeals judge thereof shall order respondents also petitioned writ mandamus directing district recertify class since appeals accepted appellate jurisdiction dismissed petition writ mandamus plaintiffs employed aggregate yearly gross income total net worth approximately sum cash remainder consists equity home investments december plaintiffs already incurred expenses excess connection lawsuit plaintiffs new counsel estimated expenses lawsuit nature case require extensive discovery much must take place florida defendants reside moreover allegations regarding prospectus financial statements likely require expert testimony trial considering relevant information record convinced plaintiffs sustained burden showing pursue individual claim decertification order stands although plaintiffs total net worth absorb cost litigation takes great understanding mysteries high finance make obvious futility spending thousand dollars get thousand dollars even less douglas protective committees railroad reorganizations harv rev conclude jurisdiction hear appeal livesay punta gorda isles unanimous cobbledick justice frankfurter wrote since right judgment one matter grace necessary ingredient justice congress beginning forbidding piecemeal disposition appeal practical purposes single controversy set enfeebling judicial administration thereby avoided obstruction claims come permitting harassment cost succession separate appeals various rulings litigation may give rise initiation entry judgment effective judicial administration must momentum arrested permitting separate reviews component elements unified cause eisen carlisle jacquelin summarized rule cohen decision appears fall small class finally determine claims right separable collateral rights asserted action important denied review independent cause require appellate consideration deferred whole case adjudicated rule provides order involving class status may altered amended decision merits thus district order denying granting class status inherently tentative evaluation many questions entering determination class action questions intimately involved merits claims typicality representative claims defenses adequacy representative presence common questions law fact obvious examples complex determinations required rule class actions entail even greater entanglement merits wright miller cooper federal practice procedure see king kansas city southern industries williams mumford app cert denied see supra plaintiff resources size claim subjective willingness finance prosecution claim probable cost litigation possibility joining others share cost prospect prevailing merits reversing order denying class certification korn franchard thus orders denying class certification held nonappealable plaintiffs alleged damages range shayne madison square garden korn franchard supra gosa securities inv domaco venture capital fund teltronics services smaller claims however held sufficient support appellate jurisdiction cases see green wolf cert denied see supra thus clear prospect recovering provide incentive sustain complex litigation corporate defendants prospect recovering yet test allows appeal latter case former compare green wolf supra gosa securities inv supra arbitrariness approach exacerbated fact courts appeals settled specific jurisdictional amount rather simply determined ad hoc basis whether plaintiff claim small warrant individual prosecution cf milberg western pacific see hooley red carpet ott speedwriting pub hooley red carpet supra see jelfo hickok mfg see supra thus congress rejected notion courts appeals free entertain interlocutory appeals whenever discretion appeared necessary avoid unfairness particular case note interlocutory appeals federal courts harv rev supra also recognize savings may nullified practice indulgent extension amendment inappropriate cases enforced consideration courts appeals many applications review problem therefore provide procedural screen desired cases may pass avoid wastage multitude fruitless applications invoke amendment contrary purpose requirement trial certify case appropriate appeal serves double purpose providing appellate best informed opinion immediate review value protects appellate dockets flood petitions inappropriate cases voidance applications courts appeals piecemeal review particular concern consequence change crowded appellate dockets well substantial number unjustified delays trial benefits expected amendment may well outweighed lost motion preparation consideration rejection unwarranted applications benefits hearings subcommittee house committee judiciary several courts appeals heard appeals discretionary class determinations pursuant see lukenas bryce mountain resort susman lincoln american see also samuel university pittsburgh judge friendly noted best solution hold appeals grant denial class action designation taken procedure interlocutory appeals provided since need review class action orders turns facts particular case procedure preferable attempts formulate standards necessarily vague give rise undesirable jurisdictional litigation concomitant expense delay parkinson april industries concurring opinion congress position weigh competing interests dockets trial appellate courts consider practicability savings time expense give proper weight effect litigants authorized approve declare judicial modification responsibility courts see unauthorized extension reduction jurisdiction direct indirect occurs federal system ad hoc decisions disorganize practice encouraging attempts secure oppose appeals consequent waste time money choices fall legislative domain baltimore contractors bodinger parkinson april industries supra respondents also suggest decision gillespie steel supports appealability order matter right disagree gillespie upheld exercise appellate jurisdiction considered marginally final order disposed unsettled issue national significance review issue unquestionably implemented policy congress sought promote arguable finality issue presented argument merits thereby ensuring none policies judicial economy served finality requirement achieved case sent back important issue undecided case contrast respondents sought review inherently nonfinal order tentatively resolved question turns facts individual case noted indiscriminate allowance appeals discretionary orders plainly inconsistent policies promoted gillespie extended beyond unique facts case stripped significance