The 1,600 declined to seek class-action status, which would have allowed one or two residents to represent all plaintiffs at trial.

Judge Seybert has yet to rule on a request for class-action status.

A California lawsuit, which was not appealed, retains its class-action status.

Many analysts, however, believe the class-action status will be overturned on appeal.

The consumer group is seeking class-action status for its suit.

Judge Weinstein is expected to decide within several weeks whether to grant class-action status.

One, filed last October, seeks class-action status on behalf of blacks and women.

He also said the ruling affected only the six "focus cases" and that others could satisfy the standards for class-action status.

The judge has not yet ruled on the law center's request for class-action status.

Their lawyers are seeking class-action status to include as many as 1,500 current or former black employees.