Class Action and Complex Litigation
Class actions and complex litigation matters can be costly, high-stakes cases for any employer. These cases may involve hundreds or more potential class members and highly complex legal. Using a streamlined approach to class actions and complex litigation along with technology, the firm can bring to bear an effective and efficient defense to class actions and other complex litigation. Unlike institutional law firms that have substantial overhead and carrying costs which they recoup in large cases, our firm’s experienced attorneys, lean staffing, and technology allows it to take on complex litigation in a cost-effective manner.
Respond to large legal issues nimbly, with experienced but cost-effective representation.
The firm has experience handling wage and hour class actions, including employee misclassification, overtime, expense reimbursement, the California Private Attorney General Act (“PAGA”), and meal/rest break claims for putative class sizes that range from 100 to over 2,000. Our attorneys also have experience in employment and public accommodations discrimination class actions.
Representative Experience:
The firm obtained a final summary judgment for its client in a state-wide class action alleging violations of California Business and Professions Code Section 17200 and breach of contract relating to operation of a franchise payroll system. The case was litigated in the Superior Court for Imperial County, California for three years before the trial court dismissed all claims against our client on summary judgment. Kimberly Aleksick v. 7-Eleven, Inc. [PDF – 179 KB], No. ECU03615 (Imperial County Superior Court, California). In 2012, the firm was successful in defending the summary judgment on appeal before the California Court of Appeal, Fourth District. Kimberly Aleksick v. 7-Eleven, Inc. [PDF – 175 KB], No. D059236 (California Ct. App., 4th Dist.).
The firm aggressively defended its client against a class action lawsuit alleging failure to provide meal and rest breaks in the Complex Department of the California Superior Court for Orange County. The named plaintiffs sought to represent a state-wide class action of over 2,000 class members. When the Superior Court granted class certification, the firm filed an alternative writ of mandate with the California Court of Appeal, Fourth Appellate District, which was granted in an unpublished decision. After its victory before the Court of the Appeal, the firm then obtained a favorable settlement for its client.
The firm obtained a favorable settlement for its client to resolve the class claims of about 500 former employees in a lawsuit filed in West Virginia’s Ohio County Circuit Court. The lawsuit alleged that the firm’s client failed to timely pay former employees’ final wages in violation of the West Virginia Wage Payment and Collection Act — a violation that could have resulted in a penalty of up to three times the amount of the unpaid final wages.
The firm represented its clients in a class action lawsuit filed in the California Superior Court for San Diego County that alleged a number of wage and hour violations, including failure to reimburse for business expenses, improper wage deductions, failure timely pay final wages, and improper pay stubs. The named plaintiffs sought significant monetary damages and penalties under the California Labor Code Private Attorney General Act of 2004 (PAGA) on behalf of nearly 300 class members. After strategically litigating the matter for over one year, the firm was able to negotiate a settlement for its client.
The firm represented a retail client in a lawsuit removed to the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California that alleged unpaid overtime, failure to provide meal and rest breaks, and failure to timely pay wages, among other causes of action, for a putative class of over 200 individuals throughout the State of California. Plaintiffs sought recovery for significant monetary damages and PAGA penalties. After a year of litigation, the named plaintiffs abandoned their class claims and settled the matter on an individual basis.
The firm defended a retailer of mobile phones in a class action lawsuit filed in California Superior Court for the County of San Bernardino. The named plaintiffs sought to represent a class of approximately 350 employees throughout the State of California and alleged that the firm’s client violated the California Labor Code by failing to pay overtime wages, failing to timely pay final wages, and failing to provide rest periods and proper wage statements. The lawsuit sought substantial monetary damages, restitution and injunctive relief under California Business and Professions Code section 17200 et seq., and PAGA penalties.