In a recent decision by the Washington Supreme Court, by a vote of 5 to 4, the Court severely limited the ability of consumers to bring class actions against businesses that conduct unfair or deceptive practices. In particular, the Court accepted the argument of the business defendants that a class action could not be certified where the business had allegedly deceived consumers by a particular representation or practice because individual trials with respect to every single consumer would be required in order to prove whether or not the consumer relied on the deceptive practice or misrepresentation.