Class Action

California law permits an employee to sue on behalf of his or her coworkers. In fact, the courts view class actions as an efficient means of resolving similar claims arising in the workplace. As a result, even negligible violations are often brought as class actions that can result in significant costs to employers. California employers have witnessed a dramatic increase in class actions claiming violations of California’s Unfair Competition Law (UCL) and Labor Code. Recent case law has struck down class action waivers in arbitration agreements and even provided specific guidance regarding the court’s obligations in approving class action settlements. Cook Brown has extensive experience helping employers avoid class action and successfully defending such charges when they are presented in state or federal court.