SUSAN ILLSTON, District Judge.
Pursuant to Northern District of California Civil Local Rule 6-1(a) and Fed. R. Civ. P. 15(a)(2), the parties hereby stipulate that Plaintiff may file a Second Amended Complaint, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit A (without the FLSA consent forms), and Defendant's deadline for filing a response to such complaint is extended to be 21 days after it is filed. The parties further stipulate that for statute of limitations purposes, the new claim for "meeting time" does not "relate back" to the previously filed complaints pursuant to F.R.C.P. 15(c).
THE TIDRICK LAW FIRM STEVEN G. TIDRICK, SBN 224760 JOEL B. YOUNG, SBN 236662 2039 Shattuck Avenue, Suite 308 Berkeley, California 94704 Telephone: (510) 788-5100 Facsimile: (510) 291-3226 E-mail: sgt@tidricklaw.com E-mail: jby@tidricklaw.com
Attorneys for Individual and Representative Plaintiff Michael Williams
Plaintiff Michael Williams, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, and all others who consent to become Party Plaintiffs, alleges as follows:
1. Plaintiff was formerly employed as a bus operator (hereinafter "operator" or "operators") by Defendants SUPERSHUTTLE INTERNATIONAL, INC. d/b/a COMPASS TRANSPORTATION and SFO AIRPORTER, INC. d/b/a COMPASS TRANSPORTATION (hereinafter collectively "Defendant") and seeks to represent other current and former operators providing fixed route shuttle services in this collective and class action against Defendant alleging that Defendant has engaged in an unlawful pattern and practice of failing to (a) provide rest breaks and (b) pay its operators for all compensable work performed by such employees, including minimum wage and overtime pay, in violation of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act ("FLSA"), 29 U.S.C. § 201 et seq., the California Labor Code, California Business and Professions Code §§ 17200 et seq., (hereinafter "UCL") and California Industrial Welfare Commission Order No. 9-2001 (hereinafter "Wage Order No. 9"). This lawsuit seeks to enforce non-waivable statutory rights and to recover damages resulting from Defendant's failure to pay its operators for time that was necessary and integral to these employees' principal duties, and that was incurred under the control of Defendant and required by Defendant for the benefit and convenience of Defendant. Plaintiff seeks declaratory and injunctive relief, compensation for all uncompensated work, liquidated and/or other damages as permitted by applicable law, penalties, interest, attorneys' fees and costs.
2. The FLSA authorizes private rights of action to recover damages for violations of the FLSA's wage and hour provisions. 29 U.S.C. § 216(b). This Court has federal question jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1331. This Court has supplemental jurisdiction over the California state law claims because they are so related to this action that they form part of the same case or controversy under Article III of the United States Constitution.
3. Venue is proper in the Northern District of California pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1391 because some or all of the actions alleged herein occurred within the Northern District of California.
4.
5. Plaintiff Michael Williams was formerly employed by Defendant as an operator. He sues on his own behalf, and as class representative on behalf of similarly situated operators who are or were employed by Defendant within the applicable statute of limitations. True and correct copies of executed Consent to Become Party Plaintiff forms are attached hereto as Exhibit A. Plaintiff will file additional Consent to Become Party Plaintiff forms executed by similarly situated operators as they are secured.
6. Defendants SUPERSHUTTLE INTERNATIONAL, INC. d/b/a COMPASS TRANSPORTATION, and SFO AIRPORTER, INC. d/b/a COMPASS TRANSPORTATION are private transportation operators.
7. The true names and capacities, whether individual, corporate, associate or otherwise, of each of the Defendants designated herein as DOES are unknown to Plaintiff at this time and therefore said Defendants are sued by such fictitious names. Plaintiff will amend this Complaint to show their true names and capacities when ascertained. Plaintiff is informed and believes and thereon alleges that each Defendant designated herein as a DOE defendant is legally responsible in some manner for the events and happenings herein alleged and in such manner proximately caused damages to Plaintiff as hereinafter further alleged.
8. Plaintiff is informed and believes and thereon alleges that each of the Defendants were acting as the agent, employee, partner, or servant of each of the remaining Defendants and was acting within the course and scope of that relationship, and gave consent to, ratified, and authorized the acts alleged herein to each of the remaining Defendants.
9. In violation of the terms of California law and federal law, Defendant has at all material times failed and refused to pay its operators providing fixed route shuttle services for all compensable: (1) pre/post-trip inspection time, (2) time spent waiting between shifts, (3) medical examination time, (4) time spent by an operator to maintain his or her commercial drivers license, (5) time spent in mandatory meetings with supervisors, and (6) any applicable overtime due for such compensable time (as alleged more fully below).
10.
11. This inspection time is caused by Defendant's requirement and is for the convenience/benefit of Defendant only.
12. Despite the requirements of federal law and/or California law, Defendant has failed to pay operators for all inspection time actually incurred, and has failed to pay operators for inspection time at one-and-one-half (1.5) times the regular rate of pay (i.e., time-and-a-half) when such time causes total hours worked to exceed forty (40) hours in a week and/or eight (8) hours in a day.
13.
14. This waiting time is caused by Defendant's route and scheduling decisions and is for the convenience and benefit of Defendant only.
15. Despite the requirements of federal law and California Law, Defendant has failed and refused to pay operators for all waiting time actually incurred, and has failed and refused to pay operators for waiting time at one and one half (1.5) times their regular rate of pay (time-and-a-half) when such time causes total hours worked to exceed forty (40) hours in a week and/or eight (8) hours in a day.
16.
17. Despite the requirements of federal law and/or California law, Defendant has failed and refused to pay operators for all examination time actually incurred, and has failed and refused to pay operators for examination time at one-and-a-half (1.5) times their regular rate of pay (time-and-a-half) when such time causes their total hours worked to exceed forty (40) hours in a week and/or eight (8) hours in a day.
18.
19. Despite the requirements of federal law and/or California law, Defendant has failed and refused to pay operators for all license time actually incurred, and has failed and refused to pay operators for such time at one-and-a-half (1.5) times their regular rate of pay (time-and-a-half) when such time causes their total hours worked to exceed forty (40) hours in a week and/or eight (8) hours in a day.
20.
21. This meeting time is caused by Defendant's requirement and is for the convenience/benefit of Defendant only.
22. Despite the requirements of federal law and California law, Defendant has failed to pay operators for all meeting time actually incurred and failed to pay operators for meeting time at one-and-one-half (1.5) times the regular rate of pay (i.e., time-and-a-half) when such time causes total hours worked to exceed forty (40) hours in a week and/or eight (8) hours in a day.
23.
24.
25. Defendant's run design and scheduling require bus operators to work through their ten (10) minute period to stay on schedule. As a result, bus operators are not allowed to take their ten (10) minute rest break earned after each four (4) hours worked. Despite the requirements of California law, Defendants have failed to provide operators rest breaks.
26.
27. Plaintiff bring the First Cause of Action (for violations of the FLSA) as an "opt-in" collective action pursuant to Section 16(b) of the FLSA, 29 U.S.C. § 216(b) on behalf of himself and a proposed collection of similarly situated individuals defined as follows, and hereinafter referred to as the "FLSA Collection":
28. Plaintiff and on behalf of other similarly situated operators defined above, seek relief on a collective basis challenging Defendant's policy and practice of failing to pay for all hours worked plus applicable overtime and failing to accurately record all hours worked. Named Plaintiff and the FLSA Collection are similarly situated, have performed substantially similar duties for Defendant, and are uniformly subject to and are currently being subjected to Defendant's uniform, class-wide payroll practices, including the policy of and practice of not compensating operators for compensable time as described herein. The number and identity of other similarly situated persons yet to opt-in and consent to be party-Plaintiff may be determined from the records of Defendant, and potential opt-ins may be easily and quickly notified of the pendency of this action.
29. The names and addresses of the individuals who comprise the FLSA Collection are available from Defendant. Accordingly, Plaintiff herein prays for an Order requiring Defendant to provide the names and all available locating information for all members of the FLSA Collection, so notice can be provided regarding the pendency of this action, and of such individuals' right to opt-in to this action as party-Plaintiff.
30. Plaintiff brings the Second through Seventh Causes of Action as an "opt-out" class action pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23, defined initially as follows, and hereinafter referred to as the "California Class":
31. Plaintiff brings the Eighth Cause of Action (the claims under § 17200 et seq.) as an "opt-out" class action pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23, defined initially as follows, and hereinafter referred to as the "Section 17200 Class":
Excluded from the class are anyone employed by counsel for Plaintiffs in this action, and any Judge to whom this action is assigned and his or her immediate family members.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
37. In the alternative, the proposed classes may be certified because:
38. Plaintiff incorporates by reference all paragraphs above as if fully set forth herein.
39. At all material times, Plaintiff and all similarly situated operators who submit Consents to Become Party Plaintiff forms are or were employed by and engaged in providing services necessary to the transport of passengers by Defendant, and have been entitled to the rights, protections, and benefits provided under the FLSA, 29 U.S.C. §§ 201 et seq.
40. The FLSA requires, among other things, that employers pay employees the minimum wage for all time worked plus overtime. 29 U.S.C. §§ 206, 207, 215.
41. At all material times, inspection time, waiting time, examination time, license time, and meeting time described above is necessarily and directly related to the principal activities of the operators' duties, and thus constitutes compensable time under the FLSA and is subject to the FLSA's overtime requirements. 29 C.F.R. § 785.38.
42. At all material times, Defendant has violated the FLSA by failing to pay operators for all compensable work time, including but not limited to, inspection time, waiting time, examination time, license time, and meeting time, plus applicable overtime.
43. At all material times, Defendant has violated the FLSA by failing to pay operators at one-and-one-half (1.5) times the regular rate of pay when inspection time, waiting time, examination time, license time, and meeting time causes an operator's total hours worked to exceed forty (40) hours in a week.
44. Defendant has also violated the FLSA by failing to keep required, accurate records of all hours worked by their operators. 29 U.S.C. § 211(c).
45. Plaintiff and all similarly situated employees are victims of a uniform and entity-wide compensation policy. This uniform policy, in violation of the FLSA, has been applied to all operators employed by Defendant.
46. Plaintiff and all similarly situated individuals are entitled to damages equal to the mandated pay and overtime premium pay within the three (3) years preceding the filing of this Complaint, plus periods of equitable tolling, because Defendant acted willfully and knew or showed reckless disregard of whether their conduct was prohibited by the FLSA.
47. Defendant has acted neither in good faith nor with reasonable grounds to believe that their actions and omissions were not a violation of the FLSA. Plaintiff and other similarly situated individuals are entitled to recover an award of liquidated damages in an amount equal to the amount of unpaid compensation, including overtime pay, and/or prejudgment interest at the applicable rate. 29 U.S.C. § 216(b).
48. As a result of violations of the FLSA's minimum wage and overtime pay provisions, Defendant has unlawfully withheld compensation from Plaintiff and all similarly situated individuals. Defendant is liable for unpaid compensation, together with an amount equal as liquidated damages, attorneys' fees and costs of this action. 29 U.S.C. § 216(b).
49. Plaintiff incorporates by reference all paragraphs above as if fully set forth herein.
50. Plaintiff and the proposed California Class have been required by Defendant to work off-the-clock without compensation, including but not limited to, inspection time, waiting time, examination time, license time, and meeting time, which is compensable work time, and Defendant is required by law to pay operators for this time. By failing to compensate operators for all hours worked, Defendant has violated Wage Order 9 and California Labor Code §§ 510, 1194, 1197, 1198 and 1199.
51. Plaintiff and the proposed California Class have been required and permitted to work shifts lasting over eight (8) hours in duration for which they were not paid overtime wages. Pursuant to Wage Order 9 and California Labor Code §§ 510, 1194, 1197, 1198 and 1199 it is unlawful for an employer to fail to pay at one and one-half (1.5) time the regular rate for all hours worked over eight (8) in a day/or over forty (40) in a week.
52. Pursuant to Wage Order 9 and California Labor Code §§ 1194 and 1198, Plaintiff and the proposed California Class are entitled to recover in a civil action the unpaid balance of the full amount of straight time owed to them, including interest thereon, liquidated damages in an amount equal to the unpaid minimum wages, plus reasonable attorneys' fees and costs.
53. Plaintiff incorporates by reference all paragraphs above as if fully set forth herein.
54. Defendant has failed and continues to fail to provide timely, accurate itemized wage statements to Plaintiff and members of the proposed California Class in accordance with California Labor Code § 226 and Wage Order 9. The wage statements that Defendant has provided to its operators, including Plaintiff and the proposed California Class members, do not accurately reflect the actual hours worked and wages earned, because they do not include the appropriate amount of time regarding inspection time, waiting time, examination time, license time, and meeting time.
55. Defendant's failure to provide timely, accurate, itemized wage statements to Plaintiff and members of the proposed California Class in accordance with the California Labor Code and the applicable Wage Orders has been knowing and intentional. Accordingly, Defendant are liable for damages and penalties under Labor Code § 226.
56. Plaintiff incorporates by reference all paragraphs above as if fully set forth herein.
57. California Labor Code § 201(a) requires an employer who discharges an employee to pay compensation due and owing to said employee upon discharge. California Labor Code § 202(a) requires an employer to pay compensation due and owing within seventy-two (72) hours of an employee's termination of employment by resignation. California Labor Code § 203 provides that if an employer willfully fails to pay compensation promptly upon discharge or resignation, as required under §§ 201 and 202, then the employer is liable for waiting time penalties in the form of continued compensation for up to thirty (30) work days.
58. Certain members of the proposed California Class are no longer employed by Defendant but have not been paid full compensation for all hours worked, as alleged above. They are entitled to unpaid compensation for all hours worked in the form of inspection time, waiting time, examination time, license time, and meeting time, and any applicable overtime, for which to date they have not received compensation.
59. Defendant has failed and refused, and continue to willfully fail and refuse, to timely pay compensation and wages to the Plaintiff and members of the proposed California Class whose employment with Defendant terminated during the class period, as required by California Labor Code §§ 201 and 202. As a direct and proximate result, Defendant is liable to Plaintiff and proposed California class members for up to thirty (30) days of waiting time penalties pursuant to California Labor Code § 203, together with interest thereon.
60. WHEREFORE, pursuant to Labor Code §§ 218, 218.5, and 218.6, Plaintiff and Class members are entitled to recover the full amount of their unpaid wages, continuation wages under § 203, interest thereon, reasonable attorneys' fees, and costs of suit.
61. Plaintiff incorporates by reference all paragraphs above as if fully set forth herein.
62. At all times relevant during the liability period, Plaintiff and the other members of each Class were employees of Defendant covered by Labor Code § 204.
63. Pursuant to Labor Code § 204, Plaintiff and members of each Class were entitled to receive on regular paydays all wages earned for the pay period corresponding to the payday.
64. Defendant failed to pay Plaintiff and other similarly situated employees all wages earned each pay period. Plaintiff are informed, believe, and thereon allege, that at all times relevant during the liability period, Defendant maintained a policy or practice of not paying Plaintiff and other similarly situated employees, overtime wages for all overtime hours worked.
65. As a result of Defendant's unlawful conduct, Plaintiff and members of each Class have suffered damages in an amount, subject to proof, to the extent they were not paid all wages each pay period. The precise amount of unpaid wages is not presently known to Plaintiff but can be determined directly from Defendant's records or indirectly based on information from Defendant's records.
66. WHEREFORE, pursuant to Labor Code §§ 218, 218.5 and 218.6, Plaintiff and members of the Class are entitled to recover the full amount of their unpaid wages, interest thereon, reasonable attorneys' fees and costs of suit.
67. Plaintiff incorporates by reference all paragraphs above as if fully set forth herein.
68. Wage Order No. 9 provides that employees are entitled to a paid ten (10) minute rest period for every four (4) hours worked or major faction thereof and requires an employer to pay an additional hour of compensation for each rest period the employer fails to permit or authorize to non-exempt employees. Plaintiff and members of the Class consistently worked over four (4) hours per shift without receiving a paid ten (10) minute rest period and/or being permitted to take such rest break.
69. As a direct and proximate result of Defendant's violation of Labor Code § 226.7 and Wage Order No. 9 Plaintiff and other Class members have suffered irreparable harm and monetary damages entitling them to both injunctive relief and restitution. Plaintiff, on behalf of himself and on behalf of the Class, seeks damages and all other relief allowable, including premium pay for each missed rest break, plus reasonable attorneys' fees and costs, waiting time penalties to those employees no longer employed by Defendant, as well as any penalties that may be applied pursuant to Wage Order No. 9 and/or the California Labor Code.
70. Plaintiff incorporates by reference all paragraphs above as if fully set forth herein.
71. Under PAGA, "[n]otwithstanding any other provision of law, any provision of this code that provides for a civil penalty to be assessed and collected by the Labor and Workforce Development Agency or any of its departments, divisions, commissions, boards, agencies, or employees, for a violation of this code, may, as an alternative, be recovered through a civil action brought by an aggrieved employee on behalf of himself or herself or herself and other current or former employees pursuant to the procedures specified in Section 2699.3." California Labor Code § 2699(a).
72. PAGA also provides: "For all provisions of this code except those for which a civil penalty is specifically provided, there is established a civil penalty for a violation of these provisions, as follows: (1) If, at the time of the alleged violation, the person does not employ one or more employees, the civil penalty is five hundred dollars ($500). (2) If, at the time of the alleged violation, the person employs one or more employees, the civil penalty is one hundred dollars ($100) for each aggrieved employee per pay period for the initial violation and two hundred dollars ($200) for each aggrieved employee per pay period for each subsequent violation." California Labor Code § 2699(f)(1)-(2).
73. Plaintiff brings this action under PAGA individually and as a representative suit on behalf of all current and former employees pursuant to the procedures in Labor Code § 2699.3 or in the alternative as a class action as alleged above
74. Plaintiff satisfied the pre-filing notice and exhaustion of administrative remedies requirement under Labor Code section 2699.3(a).
75. As alleged above, Defendant has violated several provisions of the California Labor Code, including but not limited to Labor Code §§ 201, 202, 203, 510, 218.5, 218.6, 226.3, 226(a), 510, 558, 1194, 1197, 1198, 1199, and Wage Order 9-2001, for which Plaintiffs seek recovery of civil penalties under Labor Code §§ 2698 and 2699(f).
76. WHEREFORE, Plaintiffs seek penalties and interest as allowed by law, costs of suit, and any further relief that the Court deems appropriate.
77. Plaintiff incorporates by reference all paragraphs above as if fully set forth herein.
78. Plaintiff brings this claim on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated in his representative capacity as a private attorney general against Defendant and Does 1 through 20, for their unlawful and/or unfair business acts and/or practices pursuant to the UCL, which prohibits all unlawful and/or unfair business acts/or practices.
79. Plaintiff assert these claims as they are representative of an aggrieved group and as a private attorney general on behalf of the General Public and other persons who have been exposed to Defendant's unlawful and/or unfair acts and/or practices and are owed wages that the Defendant should be required to pay or reimburse under the restitutionary remedy provided by the UCL.
80. Defendant's failure to properly pay for all hours worked, failure to pay overtime, failure to pay all wages when they were due and upon termination, failure to provide accurate and itemized wage statements, as alleged above, constitutes unlawful and/or unfair business acts and/or practices within the meaning of the UCL.
81. As a result of its unlawful and/or unfair acts, Defendant has reaped and continues to reap unfair benefits and illegal profits at the expense of Plaintiff and Class members. Defendant should be enjoined from this activity and provide restitution by restoring to Plaintiff and the other Class members the wrongfully withheld wages.
82. The acts and practices alleged in the preceding paragraphs occurred in connection with Defendant's conduct of trade and commerce in California.
83. Defendant's misconduct as alleged herein gave Defendant an unfair competitive advantage over its competitors.
84. As a direct and proximate result of the aforementioned acts, Defendant, Does 1-20, and each of them, received and continues to hold monies which Plaintiff and the other Class members have a possessory interest in.
85. Defendant's conduct constitutes unlawful and unfair acts or practices conducted in the course of Defendant's respective businesses, and thereby constitutes violations of the UCL. Such conduct offends the established public policy of the State of California and is immoral, unethical, oppressive, unscrupulous, and substantially injurious.
86. Pursuant to § 17203 of the UCL, Plaintiff seeks an order of this Court enjoining Defendant from continuing to engage in the unlawful and/or unfair business practices, and any other act prohibited by the UCL.
87. WHEREFORE, Plaintiff and other Class members are entitled to equitable relief, including premium pay, restitution, attorneys' fees and costs, prejudgment interest, declaratory relief, and a permanent injunction enjoining Defendant from its unlawful and/or unfair activity.
WHEREFORE, Plaintiff prays for relief as follows:
For such other and further relief as the Court deems just and proper.