A recent report issued by the Judicial Council of California, Administrative Office of the Courts, Office of Court Research, provides interesting data about class action lawsuits filed in California state and federal courts. Researchers examined class action cases filed between 2000 and mid-2006. Findings of interest to California employers include the following:
3,711 class action cases were filed between 2000 and 2005.
While total filings decreased by 17.8%, class action filings increased by 63.3%
Employment cases were the most frequently filed class actions, representing 29.3% of the class actions filed.
Employment case filings increased by 313.8%.
Over half of the employment cases filed alleged violations of Labor Code provisions governing payment of wages, rest and meal periods, and related claims.
Employment cases were certified as class actions more often than any other type of case filed as a class action.
Click here to download and read the February 2010 report entitled "Class Certification In California: Second Interim Report From The Study Of California Class Action Litigation."
