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denying the motion for class certification in which the plaintiff requested injunctive relief under a section of the Labor Code of which her complaint made "no mention," noting that "[c]lass certification is not a time for asserting new legal theories that were not pleaded in the complaint."
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D. Alan Harris, David Zelenski, Harris and Ruble, Los Angeles, CA, John Patrick Dorigan, John P. Dorigan Law Offices, Indio, CA, for Plaintiff.
Daniel P. Jett, Larry M. Lawrence, Robert J. Hendricks, Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP, Los Angeles, CA, Jennifer E. White, Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP, Irvine, CA, for Defendant.
ORDER DENYING MOTION FOR JUDGMENT ON THE PLEADINGS, DENYING MOTION FOR SUMMARY ADJUDICATION, AND DENYING MOTION FOR CLASS CERTIFICATION
ANDREW J. GUILFORD, District Judge.
In this putative class action primarily alleging California Labor Code violations, the parties now file several motions. Defendant American Airlines, Inc. (" Defendant" or " AA" ) has filed a Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings (" Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings" ) and a Motion for Summary Adjudication (" Motion for Summary Adjudication" ). Plaintiff Lorraine Brown (" Plaintiff" ) has filed a Motion for Class Certification (" Motion for Class Certification" ). Plaintiff alleges four claims against Defendant on behalf of herself and a putative class. The Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings addresses the First, Second, and Third Claims. The Motion for Summary Adjudication addresses the Fourth Claim. Plaintiff seeks certification of a class of certain California employees of Defendant.
After reviewing all papers and arguments submitted, the Court DENIES the Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings, DENIES the Motion for Summary Adjudication, and DENIES the Motion for Class Certification.
BACKGROUND
Plaintiff is currently employed as an Airport Operations Agent for Defendant at LAX Airport. She brings this case on behalf of herself and other " Airport Agents," which includes employees commonly referred to as reservation agents, ticket agents, gate agents, customer service agents, baggage service agents, passenger service agents, operations planning agents, and cargo agents. (Motion at 1:4-10.)
In this action, Plaintiff alleges four claims, numbered as follows: (1) failure to pay overtime wages in violation of California Labor Code §§ 510 and 1194; (2) failure to provide accurate itemized wage statements in violation of California Labor Code § 226 and Industrial Welfare Commission Order 9; (3) violations of the California Business and Professions Code § 17200 et seq. (" UCL" ); and (4) civil penalties under § 2698 et seq. of the California Labor Code. Plaintiff's first claim includes overtime pay based on " shift trades" or " shift changes" and for failure to include bonus wages. Shift changes occur when an employee either trades or picks up a scheduled shift of another employee. Generally, under the California Labor Code, Defendant must pay overtime to any employee who works more than 8 hours in a workday or 40 hours in a workweek. But these requirements
shall not apply where any employee of an airline certified by the federal or state government works over 40 hours but not more than 60 hours in a workweek due to a temporary modification in the employee's normal work schedule not required by the employer but arranged at the request of the employee, including but not limited to situations where the employee requests a change in days off or trades days off with another employee.
California IWC Wage Order 9 § 3(N) (" Section 3(N)" ). Plaintiff argues that Section 3(N) violates Labor Code § 510 and that Defendant's overtime policy is therefore unlawful.
This case is not the first time a plaintiff— represented by counsel for Plaintiff here— has filed similar claims against Defendant and sought class certification. In Askey v. American Airlines, Inc., CV 06-2042 AG (PJWx), plaintiff Lucy Askey filed a putative class action in state court asserting an overtime claim and an inaccurate wage statement claim, among other claims. Askey was then removed to this Court. Askey never reached the class certification stage, as plaintiff voluntarily dismissed her complaint without prejudice in August 2007. In Martin v. American Airlines, CV 07-4812 AG (PJWx), plaintiff Deborah Martin filed another putative class action, again asserting an overtime claim and an inaccurate wage statement claim, among others. The claims were broader than the claims asserted here. In July 2009, this Court denied class certification in Martin, in part because plaintiff failed to show that common questions predominated as required by Rule 23(b)(3). Defendant now argues that this denial of class certification in Martin should have collateral estoppel effect on Plaintiff's Motion for Class Certification.
ANALYSIS
As noted, there are three motions currently before the Court. Defendant filed a Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings for three out of Plaintiff's four claims, and Defendant filed a Motion for Summary Adjudication on the remaining claim. Plaintiff filed a Motion for Class Certification for certification of the First, Second, and Third Claims. The Court begins with the Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings.
1. MOTION FOR JUDGMENT ON THE PLEADINGS
As noted, Defendant moves for judgment on the pleadings on the First, Second, and Third Claims. Defendant makes two arguments to support this motion. First, Defendant argues that Plaintiff's Third Claim, for violation of the UCL, can't be premised on violations of California Labor Code §§ 204, 226, 226.7, 1174, and 1198, because a UCL claim can only seek restitution or injunctive relief, not damages. Second, Defendant argues that Plaintiff's class claims in the First, Second, and Third Claims are barred by collateral estoppel due to the ruling denying class certification in Martin v. American Airlines, Inc., CV 07-4812 AG (PJWx). Defendant does not seek judgment on the pleadings for the Fourth Claim, nor does it seek judgment on the pleadings for Plaintiff's individual claims in the First or Second Claims.
1.1 Legal Standard
" After the pleadings are closed but within such time as not to delay the trial, any party may move for judgment on the pleadings." Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(c). Rules 12(b)(6) and 12(c) are substantively identical. See William W. Schwartzer, A. Wallace Tashima & James M. Wagstaffe, Federal Civil Procedure Before Trial § 9:319. For a 12(c) motion, the Court accepts the allegations of the non-moving party as true. Hal Roach Studios, Inc. v. Richard Feiner & Co., 896 F.2d 1542, 1550 (9th Cir.1989); Doleman v. Meiji Mutual Life Ins. Co., 727 F.2d 1480, 1482 (9th Cir.1984). If the complaint fails to articulate a legally sufficient claim, the complaint should be dismissed or judgment granted on the pleadings. Id. " While 12(c) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure does not expressly provide for partial judgment on the pleadings, neither does it bar such a procedure; it is common to apply Rule 12(c) to individual causes of action." Strigliabotti v. Franklin Res., Inc., 398 F.Supp.2d 1094, 1097 (N.D.Cal.2005); Moran v. Peralta Community College Dist., 825 F.Supp. 891, 893 (N.D.Cal.1993); Schwarzer et al., § 9:340 (1997) (common practice to permit " partial judgment on the pleadings" ).
1.2 Preliminary Matter
Defendant submits multiple requests for judicial notice to support the Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings. Under Federal Rule of Evidence 201, " [a] judicially noticed fact must be one not subject to reasonable dispute in that it is either (1) generally known within the territorial jurisdiction of the trial court or (2) capable of accurate and ready determination by resort to sources whose accuracy cannot reasonably be questioned." Fed.R.Evid. 201. Courts may take judicial notice of " undisputed matters of public record," but generally may not take judicial notice of " disputed facts stated in public records." Lee v. City of Los Angeles, 250 F.3d 668, 690 (9th Cir.2001) (emphasis in original). The Court finds that the documents submitted are appropriate for judicial notice.
1.3 Analysis of Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings
As noted, Defendant raises two arguments in favor of its Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings. The Court begins with Defendant's argument against the UCL claim, then turns to Defendant's collateral estoppel arguments.
1.3.1 Whether the UCL Claim Can Be Premised on the Alleged Labor Code Sections
Plaintiff alleges that Defendant's " practices are illegal and violate Labor Code section 204, 226, 226.7, 510, 512, 1174, 1194, and 1198. Furthermore, Defendant AA's policies and procedures constitute unfair business practices and/or unfair competition, and they provide Defendant AA with an unfair advantage over Defendant AA's competitors." (Second Amended Complaint (" SAC" ) ¶ 56.) As a remedy for the UCL claim, Plaintiff seeks restitution, injunctive, and declaratory relief. ( Id. ¶ 59.)
In Cortez v. Purolator Air Filtration Prods., Co., 23 Cal.4th 163, 172, 96 Cal.Rptr.2d 518, 999 P.2d 706 (2000), the California Supreme Court held that a court may only order restitution, not money damages, as a remedy for a UCL claim. Likewise, penalties under the Labor Code are not recoverable through a UCL claim. Pineda v. Bank of America, N.A., 50 Cal.4th 1389, 1401, 117 Cal.Rptr.3d 377, 241 P.3d 870 (2010).
But the Cortez court also concluded that compelling a defendant to pay back wages would be a restitutionary remedy and thus would be proper under the UCL and § 17203. Id. at 176, 96 Cal.Rptr.2d 518, 999 P.2d 706. Courts have distinguished between back wages, which were earned, and penalties, which would be awarded only afterwards by a court. See Pineda, 50 Cal.4th at 1402, 117 Cal.Rptr.3d 377, 241 P.3d 870 (" The vested interest in unpaid wages ... arises out of the employees' action, i.e., their labor. Until awarded by a relevant body, employees have no comparable vested interest in section 203 penalties." ).
The Cortez and Pineda courts rejected the argument that monetary recovery necessarily means damages rather than restitution. " The concept of restoration or restitution, as used in the UCL, is not limited only to the return of money or property that was once in the possession of that person." Cortez, 23 Cal.4th at 178, 96 Cal.Rptr.2d 518, 999 P.2d 706. Rather, UCL restitution includes " earned wages that are due and payable pursuant to section 200 et seq. of the Labor Code[, which] are as much the property of the employee who has given his or her labor to the employer in exchange for that property as is property a person surrenders through an unfair business practice." Id.
Here, Plaintiff seeks an award of back pay under the Labor Code, which, according to the reasoning of Cortez and Pineda, should be categorized as restitution rather than damages. As restitution, the back pay is available under the UCL and Defendant's first argument supporting its Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings fails.
1.3.2 Whether the First, Second, and Third Claims Are Collaterally Estopped
Defendant also argues that the class allegations of the First, Second, and Third Claims are collaterally estopped by this Court's ruling in Martin v. American Airlines, Case No. 07-4812 AG (PJWx). In Martin, the Court denied class certification, and Defendant argues that Plaintiff's class claims are barred by that ruling. The first issue is whether to apply California law or federal common law. Plaintiff argues that the Court should follow federal common law, based on Smith v. Bayer Corp., --- U.S. ----, 131 S.Ct. 2368, 180 L.Ed.2d 341 (2011). Defendant argues that California law applies, based on Alvarez v. May Dept. Stores, Co., 143 Cal.App.4th 1223, 49 Cal.Rptr.3d 892 (2006).
In Smith, the Supreme Court noted that " [w]e have held that federal common law governs the preclusive effect of a decision of a federal court sitting in diversity." Smith, 131 S.Ct. at 2376, n. 6. Since this case was removed under CAFA jurisdiction, this Court is sitting in diversity. Applying Smith, this Court determines that federal common law should apply. In any case, broadly speaking, the principles of preclusion are consistent between California and federal law, which the Supreme Court also considered in Smith regarding the relevant state law. The standard for collateral estoppel under federal law, as set forth in Smith:
For the federal court's determination of the class issue to have this preclusive effect, at least two conditions must be met. First, the issue the federal court decided must be the same as the one presented in the state tribunal. See 18 Wright & Miller § 4417, at 412. And second, Smith must have been a party to the federal suit, or else must fall within one of a few discrete exceptions to the general rule against binding nonparties.
Smith, 131 S.Ct. at 2376.
California law sets forth the principles slightly differently, but with the same general thrust. As set forth in Alvarez:
In order to apply this principle [of collateral estoppel]: (1) the issue must be identical to that decided in the prior proceeding; (2) the issue must have been actually litigated in the prior proceeding; (3) the issue must have been necessarily decided in the prior proceeding; (4) the decision must have been final and on the merits; and (5) preclusion must be sought against a person who was a party or in privity with a party to the prior proceeding.
Alvarez, 143 Cal.App.4th at 1233, 49 Cal.Rptr.3d 892.
Although the Court determines that federal common law applies, the Court nonetheless looks at Defendant's argument about California state law before analyzing collateral estoppel here. Defendant clings to the ruling of Alvarez because of how that case interprets " in privity," one of the key factors in both the California and federal analysis. In Alvarez, the court concluded that a putative member of a non-certified class could be bound by a decision denying class certification. Id. at 1238, 49 Cal.Rptr.3d 892. This analysis depended on the Alvarez court's interpretation of " fairness" of binding a non-party to a prior decision. Id. at 1237, 49 Cal.Rptr.3d 892. The court found that " due process is satisfied when an absent class member's interest is adequately represented." Id. at 1239, 49 Cal.Rptr.3d 892. In Alvarez, the court found that it would be fair to bind a non-party to an earlier ruling.
In contrast, Smith concluded that when a plaintiff fails to obtain class certification, that ruling does not have collateral estoppel effect on the putative class members. " [I]n the absence of a certification under that Rule [23], the precondition for binding Smith was not met. Neither a proposed class action nor a rejected class action may bind nonparties." Smith, 131 S.Ct. at 2380. The Supreme Court expressed reservations about allowing repeated attempts to certify the same class through simply changing the lead plaintiff's name, but concluded that this policy argument " flies in the face of the rule against nonparty preclusion." Id. at 2381.
This Court finds the reasoning of Smith persuasive and the reasoning of Alvarez problematic. Both federal common law and California collateral estoppel law stand for the principle that, except for limited exceptions, a non-party cannot be collaterally estopped by a prior ruling. In Alvarez, it appears that the California appellate court grew tired of repeated bites at the class certification apple and decided that it would expand the scope of privity to include non-parties. This Court is uncomfortable with such a broad interpretation of privity, and the Court is concerned by the significant due process issues that Alvarez glosses over.
Here, Plaintiff was not a party to the Martin litigation. While Plaintiff would have been a class member if the class had been certified, the motion for class certification was denied, so Plaintiff never became a part of that litigation. As set forth in Smith, one of the requirements for collateral estoppel is that Plaintiff must have been a party to Martin (or fallen into an exception). But Plaintiff was neither a party nor subject to one of the exceptions, so collateral estoppel does not apply. The Court need not address the second requirement for collateral estoppel, namely the identity of issues.
1.4 Conclusion
The Court DENIES the Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings. Defendant's argument against the UCL claim fails, and Defendant's collateral estoppel argument fails as well.
2. MOTION FOR SUMMARY ADJUDICATION
Defendant moves for summary adjudication on Plaintiff's Fourth Claim, for civil penalties under California Labor Code § 2698 et seq., also called the Private Attorney General Act (" PAGA" ). Defendant argues that PAGA is unconstitutional under the California state constitution's requirement of separation of powers and that Plaintiff's Fourth Claim thus fails.
2.1 Legal Standard
Summary judgment or summary adjudication is appropriate only where the record, read in the light most favorable to the non-moving party, indicates that " there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and ... the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law." Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c); see Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323-24, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986). Material facts are those necessary to the proof or defense of a claim, as determined by reference to substantive law. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986). A factual issue is genuine " if the evidence is such that a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the nonmoving party." Id. In deciding a motion for summary judgment, " [t]he evidence of the nonmovant is to be believed, and all justifiable inferences are to be drawn in his favor." Id. at 255, 106 S.Ct. 2505.
The burden initially is on the moving party to demonstrate an absence of a genuine issue of material fact. Celotex, 477 U.S. at 323, 106 S.Ct. 2548. If, and only if, the moving party meets its burden, then the non-moving party must produce enough evidence to rebut the moving party's claim and create a genuine issue of material fact. Id. at 322-23, 106 S.Ct. 2548. If the non-moving party meets this burden, then the motion will be denied. Nissan Fire & Marine Ins. Co. v. Fritz Co., Inc., 210 F.3d 1099, 1103 (9th Cir.2000).
The moving party's burden may also be met by showing that there is an absence of evidence to support the nonmoving party's case. Fairbank v. Wunderman Cato Johnson, 212 F.3d 528, 531 (9th Cir.2000). Once the moving party has met its initial burden, Rule 56 requires the nonmoving party to go beyond the pleadings and identify facts which show a genuine issue for trial.
2.2 Preliminary Matter
Defendant submitted objections to the Declaration of Jan Raymond, submitted in opposition to the Motion for Summary Adjudication. The Court has reviewed the objections and relies only on admissible evidence. See F.T.C. v. Neovi, Inc., 598 F.Supp.2d 1104, 1118 n. 5 (S.D.Cal.2008) (" The parties have each filed evidentiary objections. However, in deciding the present motions, the Court has only relied upon admissible evidence." ); Schroeder v. San Diego Unified School Dist., Case No. 07-cv-1266-IEG (RBB), 2009 WL 1357414, at *2, n. 1 (S.D.Cal. May 13, 2009); see also, Doe v. Starbucks, Inc., Case No. SACV 08-0582 AG (CWx), 2009 WL 5183773, at *1 (C.D.Cal. Dec. 18, 2009).
2.3 Analysis of Motion for Summary Adjudication
Defendant argues that PAGA is unconstitutional because it " fails to provide the executive with sufficient ongoing control of the litigation sufficient to comply with the separation of powers doctrine." (MSA Motion at 1:24-25.) Defendant contends that, under PAGA, private citizens are " deputized" to enforce the Labor Code but the government lacks the means to " monitor, participate in, control, or oversee the litigation." ( Id. at 4:1.) But Defendant cites no cases where a court has found that PAGA is unconstitutional or even addressed that issue.
Plaintiff argues that PAGA is constitutional. Plaintiff contends that Currie-White v. Blockbuster, Inc., No. C-09-2593 MMC, 2009 WL 2413451 (N.D.Cal. Aug. 5, 2009), fully supports her position. In Currie-White, the court held that " PAGA does not violate the separation of powers principle under the California Constitution by impermissibly delegating prosecutorial authority to individuals outside the executive branch." Id. at *2. The court reasoned that a claim under PAGA is nonetheless brought by an employee, not on behalf of the state, even if the employee is a proxy for the state. Id. Further, the court concluded that it " is not persuaded ... that the California Supreme Court would find the provisions of PAGA fail to accord the Executive Branch sufficient control over the conduct of PAGA actions ...." Id. (internal quotations omitted).
This Court is convinced by the reasoning of Currie-White and influenced by the fact that Defendant has cited no California case addressing the constitutionality of PAGA. Even in Arias v. Sup.Ct., 46 Cal.4th 969, 95 Cal.Rptr.3d 588, 209 P.3d 923 (2009), which discussed the due process implications of PAGA and thus touched on its constitutionality, the court did not consider whether PAGA violated the separation of powers. Defendant's arguments about the unconstitutionality of PAGA are insufficient for this Court to rule in its favor.
The Court DENIES the Motion for Summary Adjudication.
3. MOTION FOR CLASS CERTIFICATION
Plaintiff seeks class certification of her First, Second, and Third Claims. Preliminarily, the Court notes that Plaintiff's Fourth Claim is under PAGA, which the Court discussed in Section 2. A PAGA claim can be prosecuted as a representative action without certification, so this claim is not subject to the Motion for Class Certification. See Arias v. Sup.Ct., 46 Cal.4th 969, 95 Cal.Rptr.3d 588, 209 P.3d 923 (2009) (holding that an individual may pursue a representative claim for penalties under PAGA without satisfying statutory class action requirements). The Court also notes that in Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. v. Dukes, --- U.S. ----, 131 S.Ct. 2541, 180 L.Ed.2d 374 (2011), the Supreme Court overruled the 9th Circuit's prior ruling in Dukes v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 603 F.3d 571 (9th Cir.2010), upon which Plaintiff relied in part in her Motion for Class Certification.
Plaintiff proposes the following class definition:
All California-based, hourly, non-union Airport Agents (Airport Agents include " Reservation Agents," " Ticket Agents," " Gate Agents," " Customer Service Agents," " Baggage Service Agents," " Passenger Service Agents," " Operations Planning Agents," and " Cargo Agents" ) who have worked for Defendant American Airlines, Inc. (" AA" ) in California while employed at any time between the date that is four years prior to the date of the filing of the Complaint through the present.
3.1 Legal Standard
The party seeking certification has the burden of providing facts sufficient to satisfy the Rule 23(a) and (b) requirements. Doninger v. Pac. Nw. Bell, Inc., 564 F.2d 1304, 1308-09 (9th Cir.1977). A district court should certify a class only if the court " is satisfied, after a rigorous analysis," that the Rule 23 prerequisites have been met. Gen. Tel. Co. of Sw. v. Falcon, 457 U.S. 147, 161, 102 S.Ct. 2364, 72 L.Ed.2d 740 (1982). If the court is not satisfied, then certification should be refused. Id. " Frequently that ‘ rigorous analysis' will entail some overlap with the merits of the plaintiff's underlying claim. That cannot be helped." Dukes, 131 S.Ct. at 2551.Rule 23 requires more than simply pleading sufficient facts. " A party seeking class certification must affirmatively demonstrate his compliance with the Rule." Id.
Under Rule 23(a), one or more members of a class may sue or be sued as representative parties on behalf of all members only if:
(1) the class is so numerous that joinder of all members is impracticable;
(2) there are questions of law or fact common to the class;
(3) the claims or defenses of the representative parties are typical of the claims or defenses of the class; and
(4) the representative parties will fairly and adequately protect the interests of the class.
A class action may only be maintained if all four subparts of Rule 23(a) are satisfied and if one of the three subparts of Rule 23(b) is satisfied. Rule 23(b) states that class certification is appropriate if:
(1) prosecuting separate actions by or against individual class members would create a risk of:
(A) inconsistent or varying adjudications with respect to individual class members that would establish incompatible standards of conduct for the party opposing the class;
(B) adjudications with respect to individual class members that, as a practical matter, would be dispositive of the interest of the other members not parties to the individual adjudications or would substantially impair or impede their ability to protect their interests;
(2) the party opposing the class has acted or refused to act on grounds that apply generally to the class, so that final injunctive relief or corresponding declaratory relief is appropriate respecting the class as a whole; or
(3) the court finds that the questions of law or fact common to class members predominate over any questions affecting only individual members, and that a class action is superior to other available methods for fairly and efficiently adjudicating the controversy.
Here, Plaintiff seeks certification under either Rule 23(b)(2) or Rule 23(b)(3), so the Court will address both of those sections.
3.2 Preliminary Matter
The parties each submit requests for judicial notice to support the Motion for Class Certification. The requests submitted by Defendant are 46 in number and approximately four inches in height. Under Federal Rule of Evidence 201, " [a] judicially noticed fact must be one not subject to reasonable dispute in that it is either (1) generally known within the territorial jurisdiction of the trial court or (2) capable of accurate and ready determination by resort to sources whose accuracy cannot reasonably be questioned." Fed.R.Evid. 201. Courts may take judicial notice of " undisputed matters of public record," but generally may not take judicial notice of " disputed facts stated in public records." Lee v. City of Los Angeles, 250 F.3d 668, 690 (9th Cir.2001) (emphasis in original). While the Court has reviewed each request, the Court does not list its tedious individual determinations here. Instead, the Court simply states that it will take into account those documents appropriate for notice (and relevant to its determination, which 46 documents submitted by Defendant may not all be).
In addition, the Court has reviewed the objections filed here and relies only on admissible evidence. See F.T.C. v. Neovi, Inc., 598 F.Supp.2d 1104, 1118 n. 5 (S.D.Cal.2008) (" The parties have each filed evidentiary objections. However, in deciding the present motions, the Court has only relied upon admissible evidence." ); Schroeder v. San Diego Unified School Dist., No. 07cv1266-IEG (RBB), 2009 WL 1357414, at *2, n. 1 (S.D.Cal. May 13, 2009). See also, Doe v. Starbucks, Inc., No. SACV 08-0582 AG (CWx), 2009 WL 5183773, at *1 (C.D.Cal. Dec. 18, 2009).
3.3 Rule 23(a) Prerequisites
The Court begins with the four prerequisites of Rule 23(a): numerosity, common questions, typicality, and adequacy.
3.3.1 Numerosity
Rule 23(a)(1) requires that " the class is so numerous that joinder of all members is impracticable." The proposed class easily meets this requirement. " Impracticality does not mean ‘ impossibility,’ " but simply that joinder of all class members must be difficult or inconvenient. Harris v. Palm Springs Alpine Estates, Inc., 329 F.2d 909, 913 (9th Cir.1964). Here, the proposed class includes more than 750 people. (Declaration of John Dorigan in support of Motion, Ex. 30.) Defendant does not contest numerosity. The Court finds that Plaintiff has satisfied Rule 23(a)(1).
3.3.2 Common Questions
Rule 23(a)(2) requires that " there are questions of law or fact common to the class." Rule 23(a)(2) has previously been construed permissively. This rule is " less rigorous" than the companion requirements of Rule 23(b)(3). Hanlon v. Chrysler Corp., 150 F.3d 1011, 1019 (9th Cir.1998). In Dukes, however, the Supreme Court recently clarified what Rule 23(a)(2) requires. The " claims must depend on a common contention ... [and that] common contention, moreover, must be of such a nature that it is capable of classwide resolution— which means that determination of its truth or falsity will resolve an issue that is central to the validity of each one of the claims in one stroke." Dukes, 131 S.Ct. at 2551. An allegation that all putative class members suffered " a violation of the same provision of law" is not sufficient. Id. The Supreme Court determined that plaintiffs in Dukes failed to demonstrate any common questions for Rule 23(a)(2) purposes, in part because plaintiffs failed to set forth a company-wide policy of discrimination. " Other than the bare existence of delegated discretion, [plaintiffs] have identified no specific employment practice." Id. at 2555.
Plaintiff here argues that system-wide policies and practices are present here, " including AA's policy and practice of not paying Agents for any overtime for shift changes, AA's policy ... of not including monetary bonuses earned by Agents in the overtime-rate calculation, and AA's policy and practice of not providing actual pay stubs to Agents." (Motion for Class Certification at 11:27-12:2.) Defendant does not address this issue in opposing the Motion for Class Certification and thus does not appear to dispute the existence of common questions. Even under what the standard as clarified in Dukes, Plaintiff's allegations are sufficient to show common questions. A common question could be framed as to whether Defendant's overtime policy is legal. An answer to this question would apply to all class members. See Richard A. Nagareda, Class Certification in the Age of Aggregate Proof, 84 N.Y.U.L.REV. 97, 132 (2009) (" What matters to class certification ... is not the raising of common ‘ questions'— even in droves— but, rather the capacity of a classwide proceeding to generate common answers apt to drive the resolution of the litigation." ).
Thus, Plaintiff has satisfied Rule 23(a)(2).
3.3.3 Typicality
Defendant does not dispute Plaintiff's assertion of typicality. Rule 23(a)(3) requires that " the claims or defenses of the representative parties are typical of the claims or defenses of the class." Representative claims are typical " if they are reasonably co-extensive with those of absent class members; they need not be substantially identical." Hanlon, 150 F.3d at 1020. Cases " challenging the same unlawful conduct which affects both the named plaintiffs and the putative class" usually satisfy the typicality requirement, " irrespective of the varying fact patterns underlying the individual claims." Krell v. Prudential Ins. Co. of Am., 148 F.3d 283, 311 (3d Cir.1998). The test of typicality " is whether other members have the same or similar injury, whether the action is based on conduct which is not unique to the named plaintiffs, and whether other class members have been injured by the same course of conduct." Hanon v. Dataproducts Corp., 976 F.2d 497, 508 (9th Cir.1992) (quoting Schwartz v. Harp, 108 F.R.D. 279, 282 (C.D.Cal.1985)).
While the proposed class would include Agents of different varieties, Plaintiff's claims and allegations need not be identical to those of other putative class members. See Staton v. Boeing Co., 327 F.3d 938, 957 (9th Cir.2003) (stating that a class action need not provide a class representative for each job category). The Court finds that Plaintiff has satisfied the typicality requirements of Rule 23(a)(3).
3.3.4 Adequacy
On this point, Defendant girds for battle. Over half of Defendant's Opposition is devoted to this consideration. Rule 23(a) (4) requires that " the representative parties will fairly and adequately protect the interests of the class." To determine whether the representation is adequate, " we ask two questions: (1) Do the representative plaintiffs and their counsel have any conflicts of interest with other class members, and (2) will the representative plaintiffs and their counsel prosecute the action vigorously on behalf of the class?" Staton v. Boeing, Co., 327 F.3d 938, 957 (9th Cir.2003).
Defendant argues that Plaintiff has interests antagonistic to those of the putative class. In particular, Defendant contends that Plaintiff's position on voluntary shift changes counting toward overtime is in conflict with the position of many putative class members. Defendant posits that shift trades are not permitted if they would result in expenses for Defendant, and overtime is one such type of expense. Because of this, Defendant argues, " if Plaintiff prevails in her goal to invalidate the 3(N) exemption, under AA's existing policy, the Agents' ability to change shifts would be sharply curtailed." (Opposition at 12:20-22.) If Plaintiff prevailed, class members would still be able to change shifts, but only so long as the change did not result in overtime. Defendant submits evidence from multiple putative class members stating that they benefit financially from the current shift change policy or they enjoy the flexibility. See, e.g., Arena Depo., 80:3-9; 81:12-82:2; Figuroa Decl. ¶ 10; Watkins Decl. ¶ 10; Sanzo-Davis Decl. ¶ 11; Tiffany Decl. ¶ 8; Brown Depo., 133:15-18; Holland Decl. ¶ 11; Watkins Decl. ¶ 11; Brown Depo., 132:9-133:5; Yammine Decl. ¶ 9.
A plaintiff is not an adequate representative if a " fundamental conflict" exists among a class. Valley Drug Co. v. Geneva Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 350 F.3d 1181, 1189 (11th Cir.2003). " A conflict is ‘ fundamental’ when it goes to the specific issues in controversy, or where, as here, some plaintiffs claim to have been harmed by the same conduct that benefitted other members of the class." Allied Orthopedic Appliances, Inc. v. Tyco Healthcare Group, L.P., 247 F.R.D. 156, 177 (C.D.Cal.2007). Further, " to this Court's knowledge, no circuit approves of class certification where some class members derive a net economic benefit from the very same conduct alleged to be wrongful by the named representatives of the class, let alone where some named plaintiffs derive such a benefit." Id. See also Pickett v. Iowa Beef Processors, 209 F.3d 1276, 1280 (11th Cir.2000) (reversing certification of a class of cattle producers where the class definition included producers who claimed to have been harmed by contracts and marketing agreements that benefitted some of the unnamed members of the class).
Plaintiff contends that these arguments about conflict are speculative. In particular, Plaintiff argues that she simply wants Defendant to pay overtime for shift-trade hours, not to forfeit the shift trade program altogether. By opting out, Plaintiff argues, those who disagree with her position could protect their individual rights. And Plaintiff claims that the Court could simply create subclasses to deal with any conflicts, though Plaintiff fails to explain how a subclass would assist in this situation.
Defendant has correctly pointed out a conflict between Plaintiff and other class members. Further, Plaintiff's position here is more nuanced than a typical overtime claim. She is not arguing that the putative class members were misclassified, for example. Instead, she argues that, even though Defendant is complying with the law as set forth in Section 3(N), it is Section 3(N) that is in violation of the labor laws. For those putative class members who like the provisions of Section 3(N), believe them to be legal, and don't wish them changed, this position is in conflict with their interests. Thus, Plaintiff is inadequate as to the overtime claim. But this argument only applies to one of Plaintiff's claims, as not all of her claims turn on Section 3(N) and shift change provisions.
Defendant next argues that Plaintiff is merely a " stand-in" and is not sufficiently independent of counsel. (Opposition to Motion for Class Certification at 16:9-10.) But Plaintiff counters that the requirement is minimal, noting that " [t]he threshold of knowledge required to qualify a class representative is low; a party must be familiar with the basic elements of her claim." Moeller v. Taco Bell Corp., 220 F.R.D. 604, 611 (N.D.Cal.2004). Plaintiff argues that she satisfies this relatively low threshold of familiarity with the case. The evidence submitted— in particular, excerpts from Plaintiff's deposition— supports Plaintiff's argument. It is not necessary for a class plaintiff to understand the legal strategy of the case so long as she understand the basic underpinnings of her claims. Here, the evidence demonstrates that Plaintiff meets this threshold.
Finally, Defendant argues that class counsel is inadequate. But under the most recent revisions to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, this requirement— adequacy of class counsel— has been removed from Rule 23(a)(4) and given its own section, in Rule 23(g). Accordingly, selection of class counsel is now a distinct determination and the certification of a class does not rise or fall on proposed counsel. The Court will reserve ruling on this question of appointment of class counsel until the end of this Order. 3.3.5 Summary of Rule 23(a) Analysis
Plaintiff has satisfied most of the Rule 23(a) prerequisites. But she ran into trouble concerning adequacy of representation for the overtime claim and the Court determined that she is an inadequate representative for that claim. To the extent Plaintiff has complied with Rule 23(a), she must still demonstrate compliance with at least one section of Rule 23(b), so the Court turns now to that analysis.
3.4 Rule 23(b) Requirements
In her Motion, Plaintiff asserts that she seeks certification under Rule 23(b)(2) and Rule 23(b)(3). But in her Reply, Plaintiff only addresses Rule 23(b)(3). It is unclear whether Plaintiff has abandoned her Rule 23(b)(2) arguments in light of Dukes, which clarified the standard to be applied in such a case. Dukes, 131 S.Ct. at 2557-61. Regardless, the Court will first consider whether the class could be certified under Rule 23(b)(2).
Rule 23(b)(2) allows certification of a class if Rule 23(a) is satisfied and " the party opposing the class has acted or refused to act on grounds that apply generally to the class, so that final injunctive relief or corresponding declaratory relief is appropriate respecting the class as a whole." The Dukes Court determined that certification under Rule 23(b)(2) is not permissible when monetary claims predominate over the injunctive relief claims. Dukes, 131 S.Ct. at 2559. Here, the monetary relief claims are key to this action and cannot reasonably be called incidental. Because Plaintiff's monetary claims predominate over her injunctive relief claims, certification under Rule 23(b)(2) is not appropriate, even assuming that Plaintiff still wishes to pursue this theory.
In addition, certification under Rule 23(b)(2) brings with it certain other concerns. While Rule 23(b)(3) has procedural safeguards— notice to absent class members and an opportunity to opt-out, for example— Rule 23(b)(2) lacks these mechanisms. When monetary rights are at stake, these procedural safeguards are important. Further, " [t]the predominance test would also require the District Court to reevaluate the roster of class members continually ... [because] those plaintiffs no longer employed by [defendant] lack standing to seek injunctive or declaratory relief against its employment practices." Dukes, 131 S.Ct. at 2559-60. This would be logistically difficult for both Plaintiff and the Court. Although the Supreme Court left the door open to Rule 23(b)(2) certification when monetary relief was truly incidental, this is not such a case. Thus, the Court DENIES certification under Rule 23(b)(2).
The Court now considers Rule 23(b)(3). Under Rule 23(b)(3), Plaintiff must show both that " questions of law or fact common to class members predominate over any questions affecting only individual members" and also that " a class action is superior to other available methods for fairly and efficiently adjudicating the controversy." In denying the motion for class certification in Martin, this Court found that common questions did not predominate over individual questions and thus denied class certification under Rule 23(b)(3). Martin, CV 07-4812 AG (PJWx), Dkt. # 152. The Court will review each claim asserted by Plaintiff to see if it meets the test of Rule 23(b)(3).
Plaintiff's First Claim is for overtime violations. The Court previously determined that Plaintiff was not an adequate representative for this claim as to the shift trade portion, as there is evidence of a fundamental conflict between Plaintiff's position and that of many class members. Further, as to the bonus portion, individual inquiries predominate over common questions. Defendant argues that it has paid overtime and premium wages beyond that required by law, and it would be entitled to credit for those payments against any claim for underpayment. Such a tallying of credits and debits would be fact-intensive and specific to each individual's employment history. As in Martin, these considerations lead to the conclusion now that common questions do not predominate for the First Claim. Because of this, the Court need not consider the second requirement of Rule 23(b)(3), regarding superiority. Plaintiff's Second Claim is for failure to provide itemized wage statements under Labor Code § 226. Defendant argues that a claim under Section 226(e) requires a showing of injury from the employer's failure to comply with Section 226(a). Plaintiff has not set forth evidence of injury. It is also likely that, to the extent any putative class members were injured by receiving electronic wage statements, this injury would vary in cause and scope from person to person, thus necessitating individualized inquiries. Plaintiff argues that she also seeks injunctive relief under Section 226(g), which provides that " [a]n employee may also bring an action for injunctive relief to ensure compliance with this section, and is entitled to an award of costs and reasonable attorney's fees." But while Plaintiff argues this now— perhaps to avoid Defendant's convincing argument about failure to demonstrate injury— the SAC makes no mention of Section 226(g) even though it specifically seeks remedies under Section 226(e) and (f). Class certification is not a time for asserting new legal theories that were not pleaded in the complaint. The Court concludes that common questions do not predominate over individual inquiries regarding the Second Claim. Because of this, the Court need not consider the second requirement of Rule 23(b)(3), regarding superiority.
Plaintiff's Third Claim is for violation of the California Unfair Competition Law. This claim is derivative of the First and Second Claims, and the same arguments are fatal here. Thus, the Court concludes that the Third Claim fails to satisfy Rule 23(b)(3).
3.5 Conclusion
Plaintiff has failed to establish the adequacy prerequisite under Rule 23(a)(4) as to her overtime claim, due to evidence of a conflict between herself and other putative class members. Further, Plaintiff has not sufficiently demonstrated that common questions predominate over individual inquiries, as required by Rule 23(b)(3). Plaintiff is unable to certify a class under Rule 23(b)(2) and appears to have abandoned that argument after Dukes, 131 S.Ct. 2541 (2011). The Court DENIES the Motion for Class Certification. Accordingly, the Court need not address appointment of class counsel under Rule 23(g).
4. CONCLUSION
The Court DENIES the Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings. The Court DENIES the Motion for Summary Adjudication. The Court DENIES the Motion for Class Certification.
DISPOSITION
The Court DENIES the Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings. The Court DENIES the Motion for Summary Adjudication. The Court DENIES the Motion for Class Certification.
IT IS SO ORDERED.