California Workers Can Enforce ‘Deputy’ Law After Settling (2)

Workers can still sue employers under California’s unique law that deputizes them to enforce workplace laws even if they settle their individual claims, the state’s highest court unanimously ruled.

The California Supreme Court revived Justin Kim’s Private Attorneys General Act lawsuit accusing chain restaurant operator Reins International California Inc. of misclassifying training managers as overtime exempt and other violations. Kim settled his individual claims against Reins for $20,000 plus attorneys’ fees after a court enforced his arbitration agreement and stayed his PAGA lawsuit.

The ruling maintains workers’ ability to use PAGA to overcome mandatory arbitration agreements that otherwise protect employers ...