City of Conway, an Arkansas Municipality, Appellant v. Richard Shumate, Jr., and Damon Reed

Summary

The court affirmed certification of a class of Conway police officers and firefighters alleging that the City breached employment contracts by ceasing salary increases funded through sales-tax revenues. It held that the circuit court did not abuse its discretion in finding commonality, predominance, typicality, and superiority because the City used a uniform pay grid and allegedly made materially identical representations to class members. The court declined to resolve the ultimate merits of the contract claims at the certification stage.