Court Finds No Benefit to Allowing Class Claims in Secondhand Smoke Suit

NEW ORLEANS - A federal judge has dismissed class claims from a secondhand smoke lawsuit against a casino operator, ruling that the claims asserted cannot meet the federal standard for a class action. Bevrotte v. Caesars Entertainment Corp., No. 11-543 (E.D. La.).

U.S. District Judge Sarah S. Vance said in her Oct. 4 order that common questions would not predominate and a class action would not be a superior method of resolving putative class members' claims because it would be necessary to prove injuries on an individual basis.

Denise Bevrotte brought this action in the U.S. District Court for the …