In Fireside Bank v. Superior Court of Santa Clara County, the California Supreme Court held that class certification decisions should precede merits rulings so as to guard against the problem of "one-way intervention." The Court nonetheless affirmed the trial court's decision to certify the class. Jan T. Chilton of Severson & Werson argued for the bank; Carol McLean Brewer of Kemnitzer, Anderson, Barron & Ogilvie for the plaintiffs.