The California Supreme Court reversed a decision of the court of appeal. The court held that the court of appeal, in deciding a question of class certification in an employee wage and overtime case, erred in relying on case law that predated the most recent amendment to the applicable wage order and in failing to consider the language of the amended order.
Frances Harris and others were claims adjusters employed by Liberty Mutual Insurance Company and Golden Eagle Insurance Corporation. They filed four class action lawsuits alleging their employers erroneously classified them as exempt “administrative” employees and seeking damages based on unpaid overtime work. After the four actions were coordinated into one proceeding, the adjusters also moved for class certification.
