There’s great news for California residents seeking legal action for private-plaintiff wage and hour cases. Class certification rulings are looking more favorable for plaintiffs than they have in over a decade. In 2019, there were 271 wage and hour certification decisions total. Out of 245 conditional certification rulings, 199 were won by the plaintiffs.
In class action litigation, certification is a major asset. Class certification is determined when certain key components of a case can be resolved with common proof. This spares the courts, and the plaintiffs, from having to prove each individual’s circumstances to resolve the issues.
Certification gives plaintiffs the power
When a class action lawsuit obtains this type of certification, it creates a situation in which the plaintiffs have considerably more leverage in their cases and are, thus, much more likely to receive favorable rulings. In addition, those who bring their cases forward as a class action instead of on an individual basis oftentimes receive rulings that entitle them to much more money. Wage and hour class actions are cases that always create the possibility for substantial settlements and jury verdicts.
It’s not just private-plaintiff settlements that are ending these employment law class action disputes, either. New York Department of Labor v. AGL Industries Inc. was a case that resulted in a $6.25 million settlement. This case was brought to court after investigations showed that overtime wages went unpaid. In addition, financial information was fraudulently reported in an attempt to hide these violations.
Wage and hour claims continue to grow more common in all parts of the United States. This is especially true for the Midwest, which recently saw a high concentration of these employment law class actions.
If you’re in a situation in which a wage and hour class action is necessary to protect your rights, it is important to understand the importance of class certification. This is a legal step that has proven time and time again to put the power in the plaintiffs’ hands and maximize the amount of money they are awarded from the lawsuit.