Unpaid Wages Legal News Articles & Interviews

Los Angeles, CA On February 10, the District Court for the Central District of California denied a motion for injunction that would halt enforcement of California’s Gig Worker Law against Uber and Postmates while both companies challenge the law’s constitutionality. The decision means that both companies must begin to treat workers as employees in accord with California labor law--and entitled (with few exceptions) to the benefits of California’s prevailing wage laws.

Sacramento, CA California has always been at the forefront of protecting individuals from workplace discrimination and employment laws. Despite the California labor law, within some groups, discrimination is pervasive.

Riverside, CA The District Court for the Central District of California has approved a $3.65 million settlement to end a California labor lawsuit that claims The Spearmint Rhino nightclub chain misclassified dancers as independent contractors in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and provisions of California Labor Law. The dancers, who "provided nude, semi-nude, and/or bikini entertainment," at the club’s locations since Oct. 30, 2017, will ultimately net about $2.6 million.

Pasadena, CA After an employee at the Chapala Bakery complained about California labor violations, specifically wage theft, a joint investigation with Pasadena officials and the California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) followed by several meetings held with Pasadena officials and the bakery business owner, the bakery was fined more than $80,000.

San Fransicso In an effort to steer its way around the definition of independent contractor and avoid regulation under Assembly Bill 5 and the California labor law, Uber is re-introducing features it once considered untenable.

Sacramento, CA On January 31, the District Court for the Eastern District of California permanently enjoined enforcement of AB 51, a provision of California labor law that would have banned mandatory arbitration clauses in employment agreements on and after January 1, 2020.

San Francisco, CA On January 6, the Ninth Circuit affirmed a $54.6 million jury award for Wal-mart's truck drivers under the provisions of California labor law. Wal-mart had challenged the 2016 District Court decision in Ridgeway v. Walmart, Inc. on a variety of grounds, including lack of jurisdiction, the certification of a class of similarly situated plaintiffs and the applicability of the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act of 1994.

Sacramento, CA Many new California employment and labor laws went into effect this January 1, 2020. If you are a California  employer, employee or independent contractor, it’s a good idea to review these new laws that have been passed as they might impact you.  

Anaheim, CA All Disney employees are entitled to minimum wage, from bellhop to barista, Mickie and Minnie. But five current and former workers claim that the entertainment behemoth has violated the California labor law by failing to pay its workers minimum wage, failing to pay overtime and all wages owed at termination.

San Francisco, CA On December 16, Judge Edward Chen of the Northern District of California denied Uber’s Motion to Dismiss a class action California labor lawsuit that claims Uber drivers were misclassified as independent contractors under standards set out in Dynamex Operations West, Inc. v. Superior Court. However, in Colopy v. Uber Techs Inc., Judge Chen also denied the drivers’ Motion for a Preliminary Injunction. The injunction would have required the ride-hailing giant to begin to treat drivers as employees immediately.