On January 25, 2012 the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals published its opinion in Carey v. 24 Hour Fitness (5th Cir. No. 10-20845). The court held that 24 Hour Fitness’s 2005 Arbitration Agreement is illusory and unenforceable. Carey, a former 24 Hour Fitness employee, argued that the arbitration agreement was […]
A recent article in Law360 provides an current overview of the 24 Hour Fitness overtime case. Almost 1,000 current and former employees of the company have brought overtime claims against 24 Hour Fitness. In the latest turn of events, the case is proceeding to arbitration and the parties are litigating […]
Almost 1,000 former employees of 24 Hour Fitness continue to pursue their former employer for unpaid overtime. A 2011 ruling decertified the collective action filed in California, and the case is now headed into arbitration where each of the 983 claims will be adjudicated by an arbitrator.
More than a year ago, alleged Southern California con man Bruce Fred Friedman was arrested in France where he remains in custody today. Friedman has opposed extradition to the US and, although French courts have authorized extradition, the French government has not yet made a final decision.
On November 29, 2011 Hon. Elihu M. Berle named Orange County lawyer Richard E. Donahoo Plaintiffs’ Liaison Counsel in related cases involving Diversified Lending Group (“In Re DLG”) currently pending before Los Angeles Superior Court Civil Complex Division.
The Ponzi scheme was named after Charles Ponzi, an Italian immigrant who was arrested in 1920 for conning New England residents out of millions of dollars. The scheme, in one form or another, continues today.
This week, as we consider the many things we are thankful for, consider the service and sacrifice by members of our community who are called to be jurors in our civil justice system. Our system only functions with the willingness of the citizen-juror to sit and listen to facts and render impartial judgment. Without the willing juror, the system does not work.
In January, 2012 California employees will have new protections against wage theft. California lawmakers have enacted new laws to protect workers against employers who cheat their employees. In a new law entitled “the Wage Theft Prevention Act of 2011” the Labor Code was amended to require employers to furnish to non-exempt employees, at the time of hiring, a notice specifying the employee’s rate or rates of pay and the basis on which the employee’s wages are to be calculated, e.g. hourly, daily, piece, salary, commission or by some other method.
To avoid overtime, taxes, and insurance obligations, unscrupulous employers are known to misclassify their employees as “independent contractors.” The practice is illegal. Misclassification hurts not only the worker, but requires legitimate California businesses to carry the tax and workers compensation burden of cheating employers. California is strengthening its laws to combat misclassification and the “underground” economy.
The State of California has modernized and increased penalties that may be assessed against contractors who violate wage and hour laws on public works. The State has passed a new law, signed by Governor Jerry Brown, increasing the penalties against contractors who violate California’s Prevailing Wage Law.
