Recently published in the Los Angeles Times, LCW Partner Brian P. Walter was quoted in an article discussing a significant ruling by the California Supreme Court in Stone v. Alameda Health Systems, which determined that public employees cannot use the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) to sue their employers for Labor Code violations. LCW submitted an amicus brief in support of public hospitals in the case. The court’s unanimous decision also clarified that public agencies are exempt from certain meal and rest break provisions. Walter highlighted that this ruling benefits public employers by shielding them from costly lawsuits. The decision reinforces the exclusion of public agencies from specific labor law obligations unless explicitly stated, marking a pivotal moment in the intersection of labor law and public employment.
To access the full article, please click the following link: https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2024-08-20/california-supreme-court-limits-ability-to-enforce-rights-of-government-workers-under-state-labor-laws