Rodriguez v. Google LLC
20-cv-04688-RS (N.D. Cal. Jan. 3, 2024)
expert. See id. at 595. Ultimately, the purpose of
the assessment is to exclude speculative or
unreliable testimony to ensure accurate, unbiased
decision-making by the trier of fact.
Next, Plaintiffs proposed classes satisfy the
commonality requirement because their claims
pose common “questions of law or fact.”
Fed.R.Civ.P. 23(a)(2). Plaintiffs suggest that
common questions include whether Google has
“permission” to collect third party app data based
on the “objective meaning” of Google's sWAA
disclosures. Id. Plaintiffs' claims raise a “common
contention” as to Google's conduct, and the
“determination of its truth or falsity will resolve an
issue that is central to the validity of each one of
the claims in one stroke.” Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. v.
Dukes, 564 U.S. 338, 350 (2011). Therefore,
Plaintiffs meet the commonality requirement.
IV. DISCUSSION
A. Class Certification
6
Plaintiffs contend their claims warrant class-wide
treatment because they satisfy the four 23(a)
requirements, common questions predominate
over individual ones pursuant to 23(b)(3), and
they seek uniform equitable relief from Google's
conduct per 23(b)(2). Plaintiffs seek application of
California law to all claims. Defendants do not
raise any choice-of-law related objections and *6
focus on California law in opposing Plaintiff's
motion for class certification.
c. Typicality
I. 23(a) requirements
Plaintiffs meet the four 23(a) requirements of
numerosity,
commonality,
typicality,
and
adequacy. Class 1 proposes Android users, while
Class 2 proposes non-Android users, who during
the class period had their WAA/sWAA settings
turned off and had their data transmitted to Google
while using non-Google branded apps.
a. Numerosity
First, each of the proposed classes contain
members so numerous that class-wide treatment is
appropriate. The numerosity prong of Rule 23(a)
requires
joinder
to
be
“impracticable.”
Fed.R.Civ.P. 23(a)(1). There is no numerical cutoff to determine whether this requirement has
been met. Gen. Tel. Co. v. EEOC, 446 U.S. 318,
330 (1980). Instead, a fact-specific inquiry may be
used to determine whether joinder would be
impracticable. Id. Here, each of Plaintiffs'
proposed classes constitute millions of users, so
this condition is satisfied.
b. Commonality
7
Named plaintiffs' individual claims are also typical
of those of the proposed class members. See
Fed.R.Civ.P. 23(a)(3). “The purpose of the
typicality requirement is to assure that the interest
of the named representative aligns with the
interests of the class.” Hanon v. Dataproducts
Corp., 976 F.2d 497, 508 (9th Cir. 1992). All
named plaintiffs are Google users who used thirdparty apps with the Firebase and/or Google
Mobile Ads SDKs. Named Plaintiffs *7
Rodriguez, Cataldo, and Harvey are Android users
and aver claims typical of Class 1, while named
Plaintiff Santiago uses an Apple device and avers
claims typical of Class 2.
d. Adequacy
Finally, Plaintiffs and their counsel “fairly and
adequately protect the interest of the class[es].”
Fed.R.Civ.P. 23(a)(4). Two questions determine
adequacy: “(1) do the named plaintiffs and their
counsel have any conflicts of interest with other
class members and (2) will the named plaintiffs
and their counsel prosecute the action vigorously
on behalf of the class?” Hanlon v. Chrysler Corp.,
150 F.3d 1011, 1020 (9th Cir. 1998). Plaintiffs and
their counsel have shown no conflicts of interest,
and Google has not asserted any. Further,
Plaintiffs and their counsel state in their
declaration that they are committed to the
4