Sec. 541.257.  CLASS ACTIONS MAINTAINABLE.  (a)  An action may be maintained as a class action under this subchapter if the prerequisites of Section 541.256 are satisfied and, in addition:
(1)  the prosecution of separate actions by or against individual members of the class would create a risk of:
(A)  inconsistent or varying adjudications with respect to individual members of the class that would establish incompatible standards of conduct for the party opposing the class;  or
(B)  adjudication with respect to individual members of the class that would as a practical matter be dispositive of the interests of the other members not parties to the adjudications or substantially impair or impede their ability to protect their interests;
(2)  the party opposing the class has acted or refused to act on grounds generally applicable to the class, making appropriate final injunctive relief or corresponding declaratory relief with respect to the class as a whole;  or
(3)  the court finds that the questions of law or fact common to the members of the class predominate over any questions affecting only individual members and that a class action is superior to other available methods for the fair and efficient adjudication of the controversy.
(b)  Matters pertinent to a finding under Subsection (a)(3) include:
(1)  the interest of members of the class in individually controlling the prosecution or defense of separate actions;
(2)  the extent and nature of any litigation concerning the controversy already commenced by or against members of the class;
(3)  the desirability or undesirability of concentrating the litigation of the claims in the particular forum;  and
(4)  the difficulties likely to be encountered in the management of a class action.
(c)  In construing this section, the courts of this state shall be guided by the decisions of the federal courts interpreting Rule 23, Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, as amended.
Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1274, Sec. 2, eff. April 1, 2005.