Shelter Mutual Insurance Company v. Samuel Baggett and Jana Lee

Summary

The Arkansas Supreme Court affirmed certification of a class of insureds challenging Shelter Mutual’s practice of reimbursing medical expenses based on discounted amounts rather than the amounts billed or the policy limits. The court held that the class definition was objectively ascertainable and that the circuit court did not abuse its discretion in finding numerosity, adequacy, typicality, commonality, predominance, and superiority. The court emphasized that class certification concerns the Rule 23 requirements, not the ultimate merits of the breach-of-contract or unjust-enrichment claims.