New regulations regarding class action lawsuits were introduced in Mexico in 2010. The regulations establish that federal judges will exclusively hear collective action cases and determine processes for repairing damages to collectives. Six laws were amended in 2011 to regulate these collective actions relating to consumer goods and services, the environment, and financial services. The implications of these amendments are significant as they allow lawsuits against companies for damages caused to collectives.

1. By: Jorge E. de Hoyos Walther
jdehoyos@dha.com.mx
IMPLICATION OF NEW REGULATIONS OVER CLASS ACTIONS
On July 29, 2010 the Federal Official Gazette published the addition to the third paragraph of article 17 of the
constitution to introduce “collective actions” in Mexico, in the following terms: The Mexican Parliament will issue
the laws that regulate collective actions. Such laws will determine the application matters, judicial procedures and mechanisms to
repair damages. Federal judges will hear these proceedings and mechanisms in an exclusive manner.
In April 2011 the Mexican Parliament approved a legislative package that regulates such actions, foreseeing the
publication of the same in the Federal Official Gazette during the month of July. The amended laws are six: (1)
Federal Code of Civil Proceedings; (2) Federal Civil Code; (3) Federal Law of Economic Competence; (4)
Federal Law of Consumer’s Protection; (4) Organic Law of the Federal Judicial Power; (5) General Law of
Ecological Equilibrium and Environmental Protection; and (6) Law of Protection to the User of Financial
Services.
The implications of these amendments to Mexican legal ordinances are of great relevance, to the extent that
nowadays it is possible to legally sue companies (public or private) for damages caused to a “collectivity” and
not only in an “individual” manner as was traditionally established in the legislation. This implies that
judgments can have collective scopes to repair the damage caused, which would imply, for example, the
performance of one or more actions or to refrain from performing them, the individual payment caused to the
members of the affected group, the compulsory compliance with an agreement or the rescission of the same
with its consequences.
Matter: Legislation limits collective actions to matters related to the consumption of goods or services (public or
private) and the environment.
Competence: Federal judges hear these kind of actions in an “exclusive” manner, this is, District Judges (in first
instance) and Unitary District Courts (in an appeal degree).
Authenticated: “Collective Claims” can be filed by (i) public entities (Department of Consumer protection,
environment, financial users and Federal Competence Commission of); (ii) the collectivity affected itself
provided the same is formed by at least thirty members; and (iii) non-profit civil associations that were legally
formed at least one year prior to the filing of the action.
Procedure: The judge must “certify” that it is a collective action, having to meet the admissibility requirements. It
is highly important to state that the Mexican legislator chosen the “opt-in” system, this is, are considered
members of the affected group only those that provide their express consent and not all the affected group (opt-
out system), which considerably “limits” the possible sentence.
There is a prior and conciliation hearing, in which can be used alternative means to solve controversies. The
collective action can be solved by judicial agreement at any time during the process.
Judgment: A collective sentence will benefit all the members of the affected group and in settlement of sentence
each member must prove the damage caused. A collective actions “Fund” is created, which will be managed by
the Board of the Federal Judiciary. The resources can be used for the payment of collective process expenses,
the payment of the fees of the representatives of the plaintiff, notices to the members of the collectivity, the
preparation of evidence and also to promote the research and diffusion of collective actions and rights.
FRANCISCO I. MADERO 883, TERCER PISO BOULEVARD AGUA CALIENTE 4558 AVENIDA CONSTELACIÓN 2938
MEXICALI, BAJA CALIFORNIA, 21100 MÉXICO PLAZA AGUA CALIENTE, PISO 18, SUITE 1804 FRACCIONAMIENTO JARDINES DEL BOSQUE
TEL. (686) 552-5555 FAX (686) 552-5757 TIJUANA, BAJA CALIFORNIA, 22420 MÉXICO GUADALAJARA, JALISCO, 34520 MÉXICO
WWW.DHA.COM.MX TEL. (664) 686-4848 FAX (664) 686-4877 TEL. (33) 3121-5110 FAX (33) 3121-5111

2. Coming into Force: the coming into force of the legal amendments will be six months after the publication of the
same in the Federal Official Gazette (we expect it to be in July); therefore we expect such regulation to be in force
as from January 2012.
Due to the fact that the possible defendants are companies dedicated to goods and services, it is necessary to
thoroughly know the importance of these legal amendments, which may lead to important monetary sentences
and affect existing agreements and their consequences.
FRANCISCO I. MADERO 883, TERCER PISO BOULEVARD AGUA CALIENTE 4558 AVENIDA CONSTELACIÓN 2938
MEXICALI, BAJA CALIFORNIA, 21100 MÉXICO PLAZA AGUA CALIENTE, PISO 18, SUITE 1804 FRACCIONAMIENTO JARDINES DEL BOSQUE
TEL. (686) 552-5555 FAX (686) 552-5757 TIJUANA, BAJA CALIFORNIA, 22420 MÉXICO GUADALAJARA, JALISCO, 34520 MÉXICO
WWW.DHA.COM.MX TEL. (664) 686-4848 FAX (664) 686-4877 TEL. (33) 3121-5110 FAX (33) 3121-5111