Committee hears supporters of updating Missouri class-action rule to match federal Rule 23

Representative Dane Diehl presented House Bill 534, explaining the bill would align Missouri’s state-class-action rule (identified in testimony as Rule 52.08) with the federal Rule 23 amendments adopted in 2018. Sponsors and supporting witnesses said the change is procedural — affecting certification and notice practice rather than underlying substantive law.

Supporters’ testimony Representatives of business and health-care groups told the committee that Missouri’s existing rule is outdated and creates inconsistent results compared with federal practice. Matt Price, general counsel for Diamond Pet Foods, described an ongoing case in which his company spent “millions of dollars” defending a class-action claim before securing…