Acknowledgements

vi

Table of cases

viii

1.

Setting the scene: European debates on collective redress in competition law

1

pt. I

AGGREGATING INDIVIDUAL ANTITRUST CLAIMS INTO COLLECTIVE LEGAL ACTIONS: THE EXAMPLE OF RULE 23 OF THE FEDERAL RULES OF CIVIL PROCEDURE

2.

Rule 23 FRCP: "aggregating" individual antitrust claimants in "diffuse injury" cases -- the certification criteria of "commonality", predominance and superiority and the obligation to serve notice

69

3.

"Managing" antitrust class actions under Rule 23(b)(3) FRCP: who "plays the pipe"? And who pays the piper?

133

pt. II

WHAT ABOUT EUROPE? THE STATUS QUO AND THE FUTURE DIRECTIONS OF COLLECTIVE REDRESS IN COMPETITION CASES WITHIN THE EU LEGAL SYSTEM

4.

EU Commission agenda on collective redress: from a "sector specific" to a mainstream discussion of "group justice" questions

179

5.

Collective litigation in competition cases in the United Kingdom: between "personal autonomy" in civil litigation and effective judicial protection

192

6.

Collective litigation and collective redress in competition claims: continental solutions -- the cases of Italy and the Netherlands

253

7.

Access to justice, diffuse torts and competition litigation in the EU: where do we go from here?

326

Index

397