In Laffitte v. Robert Half International, Inc. (2016) 1 Cal.5th 480, the California Supreme Court upheld an award of common fund attorney fees in a class action settlement. The introduction to the opinion gives a good summary of the facts
The California Employment Law Blog
The California Employment Law Blog, published by Steven G. Pearl, focuses on legal developments and issues related to employment law in California. It covers topics such as class action settlements and attorney fee awards, new labor code provisions affecting employment contracts, arbitration agreements and class arbitration availability, rest and meal period regulations, and significant court decisions impacting employee rights and employer obligations. The blog also discusses legislative changes and their practical implications for employers and employees in California, providing analysis of recent case law and statutory updates relevant to workplace legal compliance and dispute resolution.
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Latest from The California Employment Law Blog
New Labor Code Section Targets Choice-of-Law, Choice-of-Venue Provisions
On September 25, 2016, Governor Brown signed into law Senate Bill 1241, enacting new Labor Code section 925. Effective January 1, 2017, section 925 provides as follows:
(a) An employer shall not require an employee who primarily resides and works…
Sandquist v. Lebo Automotive: Under Arbitration Agreement at Issue, Arbitrator Decides Whether Class Arbitration is Available
The California Supreme Court has issued an important decision on the availability of class arbitration: Sandquist v. Lebo Automotive, Inc. (2016) 1 Cal.5th 233.
Timothy Sandquist worked for Lebo Automotive, Inc., as a car salesman. On Sandquist’s first day of…
Augustus v. ABM Security Services: Cal. Supremes Hold that Labor Code Prohibits On-Duty and On-Call Rest Periods
Jennifer Augustus worked for ABM Security Services as a security guard. ABM required its guards to keep their pagers and radios on and to remain vigilant and responsive as needed during their rest periods. Augustus sued ABM in 2005 for…
Blog Re-Boot for the New Year
If you read my blog regularly (or used to), you’ve noticed that I haven’t written in quite a while. Other than recently advertising my Advanced Mediation Conference, I haven’t posted at all since May. Well, that’s changing with the new…
Advanced Mediation Conference: Practical Skills for Experienced Employment Litigators
Even seasoned litigators sometimes feel lost in mediation, with questions such as where to open or how to move forward without giving too much away. And even seasoned litigators sometimes leave mediation feeling frustrated because a client left money on…
Alvarado v. Dart Container Corp.: Cal. Supremes Grant Review to Decide Overtime Rate of Pay Issue
In Alvarado v. Dart Container Corporation of California (Cal.App. 1/14/16) (discussed here), the California Court of Appeal held: (1) California law does not provide a method of calculating overtime rates of pay where the employer pays its employees…
Chen v. Allstate: Depositing Money into Escrow Account Does Not Moot Putative Class Action; Plaintiff Must Have "Fair Opportunity" to Move for Certification
In Campbell-Ewald Co. v. Gomez (SCOTUS 1/21/16) (discussed here), the Supreme Court of the United States held that an unaccepted offer to satisfy the named plaintiff ’s individual claim does not render a putative class action moot. The…
Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton, LLP v. J-M Manufacturing: Cal. Supreme Court Grants Review in Attorney Fee Arbitration Battle
Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton, LLP v. J-M Manufacturing Co., Inc. (2016) 244 Cal.App.4th 590 is not an employment law case, but it raises an interesting arbitration issue that may end up having an impact on employment law practice. The…
Espejo v. Southern California Permanente Med. Group: Defendants Properly Authenticated Electronically Signed Arbitration Agreement
In Espejo v. Southern California Permanente Medical Group (Cal.App. 4/22/16), Jay Espejo, M.D., sued Southern California Permanente Medical Group (SCPMG) and others for wrongful termination and whistleblower retaliation. The trial court denied defendants’ motion to compel arbitration based on an…