TELCO GROUP INC v. AMERITRADE INC (2009)

Telco Group, Inc., appeals the district court's ¹ final order dismissing Telco's claims with prejudice for failure to prosecute.   However, Telco does not challenge this order on the merits, for example, by arguing that the district court abused its discretion under Rule 41(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure in dismissing Telco's claims with prejudice.   See Rodgers v. Curators of Univ. of Mo., 135 F.3d 1216, 1219 (8th Cir.1998) (standard of review).   Accordingly, the final order of dismissal is affirmed.   See F.R.A.P. 28(a)(5), (9);  Harris v. Folk Const. Co., 138 F.3d 365, 366 n. 1 (8th Cir.1998).

 Telco does challenge the district court's earlier order denying Telco's motion for class certification.   However, because its claims have been dismissed with prejudice, reversing the denial of class certification would afford Telco no relief.   Moreover, as its claims have been dismissed, Telco is no longer a member of and therefore cannot represent the putative but uncertified class.   See In re Milk Prods. Antitrust Lit., 195 F.3d 430, 436 (8th Cir.), cert denied, 529 U.S. 1038, 120 S.Ct. 1534, 146 L.Ed.2d 348 (2000).  “Without a class representative, the putative class cannot be certified.”  Great Rivers Co-op. v. Farmland Ind., Inc., 120 F.3d 893, 899 (8th Cir.1997).

 It is well settled that “there must be a live controversy at the time this Court reviews the case.”  Sosna v. Iowa, 419 U.S. 393, 402, 95 S.Ct. 553, 42 L.Ed.2d 532 (1975).   In these circumstances, it is appropriate to “affirm the dismissal and ․ not reach the class certification issue.”   Hutchins v. A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc., 116 F.3d 1256, 1257 (8th Cir.1997).

The judgment of the district court is affirmed.

FOOTNOTES

1.   The HONORABLE JOSEPH F. BATAILLON, Chief Judge of United States District Court for the District of Nebraska.

PER CURIAM.