Dewalt v. Hooks

Summary

The court affirmed the denial of class certification in a challenge to North Carolina's restrictive-housing policies. It held that the proposed class did not present a common issue capable of resolution in one stroke because the challenged housing settings differed materially in penological purpose, duration, procedural safeguards, and conditions, and the evidence did not establish a uniform risk of harm attributable to DPS practices. The court did not reach the independent grounds concerning adequacy of the representatives or superiority of class treatment.