18th Annual Workplace Class Action Report - 2022 Edition

Table of Contents	vii
I. Overview Of The Year In Workplace Class Action Litigation	1
A. Executive Summary	1
B. Key Trends Of 2021	1
C. Significant Trends In Workplace Class Action Litigation In 2021	4
(i) Class Action Settlement Trends	4
(ii) Class Certification Trends In 2021	8
(iii) Government Administrative And Enforcement Trends	16
(iv) The Continuing Impact Of COVID-19	19
(v) The Continuing Impact Of Arbitration	22
D. Complex Employment-Related Litigation Trends In 2021	25
E. Likely Trends For The Future Of Workplace Class Actions In 2022	27
F. Conclusion	31
II. Significant Class Action Settlements In 2021	33
A. Top Ten Private Plaintiff-Initiated Monetary Settlements	33
B. Top Ten Government-Initiated Monetary Settlements	38
C. Noteworthy Injunctive Relief Provisions In Class Action Settlements	40
III. Significant Federal Employment Discrimination Class Action And EEOC Pattern Or Practice Rulings	43
A. Cases Certifying Or Refusing To Certify Employment Discrimination Class Actions	43
(i) First Circuit	43
(ii) Second Circuit	43
(iii) Third Circuit	44
(iv) Fourth Circuit	45
(v) Fifth Circuit	45
(vi) Sixth Circuit	45
(vii) Seventh Circuit	46
(viii) Eighth Circuit	47
(ix) Ninth Circuit	48
(x) Tenth Circuit	49
(xi) Eleventh Circuit	50
(xii) District Of Columbia Circuit	50
B. EEOC Pattern Or Practice Cases	50
(i) First Circuit	51
(ii) Second Circuit	51
(iii) Third Circuit	53
(iv) Fourth Circuit	54
(v) Fifth Circuit	55
(vi) Sixth Circuit	58
(vii) Seventh Circuit	60
(viii) Eighth Circuit	63
(ix) Ninth Circuit	64
(x) Tenth Circuit	65
(xi) Eleventh Circuit	65
(xii) District Of Columbia Circuit	69
A. Cases Certifying Or Refusing To Certify ERISA Class Actions	309
(i) First Circuit	309
(ii) Second Circuit	310
(iii) Third Circuit	311
(iv) Fourth Circuit	311
(v) Fifth Circuit	312
(vi) Sixth Circuit	312
(vii) Seventh Circuit	313
(viii) Eighth Circuit	314
(ix) Ninth Circuit	316
(x) Tenth Circuit	316
(xi) Eleventh Circuit	317
(xii) District Of Columbia Circuit	318
IV. Significant Collective Action Rulings Under The Age Discrimination In Employment Act	71
A. Cases Certifying Or Refusing To Certify ADEA Collective Action Claims	71
(i) First Circuit	71
(ii) Second Circuit	71
(iii) Third Circuit	71
(iv) Fourth Circuit	71
(v) Fifth Circuit	72
(vi) Sixth Circuit	72
(vii) Seventh Circuit	72
(viii) Eighth Circuit	72
(ix) Ninth Circuit	72
(x) Tenth Circuit	73
(xi) Eleventh Circuit	74
(xii) District Of Columbia Circuit	74
B. Other Federal Rulings Affecting The Defense Of ADEA Collective Actions	75
(i) Arbitration Issues In ADEA Collective Actions	75
(ii) Discovery Issues In ADEA Collective Actions	75
(iii) Pay Policies In ADEA Collective Action Litigation	76
(iv) Procedural Issues In ADEA Collective Action Litigation	77
(v) Settlement Approval Issues In ADEA Collective Action Litigation	78
(vi) Venue Issues In ADEA Collective Action Litigation	78
V. Significant Collective Action Rulings Under The Fair Labor Standards Act	81
A. Cases Certifying Or Refusing To Certify FLSA Collective Action Claims	82
(i) First Circuit	82
(ii) Second Circuit	84
(iii) Third Circuit	107
(iv) Fourth Circuit	115
(v) Fifth Circuit	121
(vi) Sixth Circuit	131
(vii) Seventh Circuit	154
(viii) Eighth Circuit	162
(ix) Ninth Circuit	171
(x) Tenth Circuit	189
(xi) Eleventh Circuit	194
(xii) District Of Columbia Circuit	200
(xiii) Federal Court Of Claims	201
B. Other Federal Rulings Affecting The Defense Of FLSA Collective Actions	202
(i) Amendments And Counterclaims In FLSA Collective Actions	202
(ii) Arbitration Of Wage & Hour Class And Collective Claims	204
(iii) Awards Of Attorneys’ Fees And Costs In FLSA Collective Actions	223
(iv) Class And Collective Actions Involving Volunteers	227
(v) Class Communications In Wage & Hour Class Actions	227
(vi) Concurrent State Law Claims In Wage & Hour Class Actions	228
(vii) Coverage In FLSA Collective Actions	238
(viii) Disqualification In FLSA Collective Actions	239
(ix) Discovery In FLSA Collective Actions	239
(x) DOL Wage & Hour Enforcement Actions	240
(xi) Equitable Tolling In Wage & Hour Class Actions	243
(xii) Exemption Issues In FLSA Collective Actions	243
FLSA Collective Actions For Donning And Doffing	250
(xiv) FLSA Collective Actions Involving Government Employees	251
(xv) Foreign Worker Issues In Wage & Hour Class Actions	254
(xvi) Independent Contractor Issues In Wage & Hour Class Actions	255
(xvii) Individual Executive Liability In FLSA Collective Actions	259
(xviii) Issues With Opt-In Rights In Wage & Hour Class Actions	261
(xix) Joint Employer, Employee Status, And Employer Status Issues In FLSA Collective Actions	262
(xx) Jurisdictional Issues In Wage & Hour Collective And Class Actions	263
(xxi) Migrant And Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act Class Actions	265
(xxii) Motor Carrier Act Issues In FLSA Collective Actions	266
(xxiii) Notice Issues In FLSA Collective Actions	267
(xxiv) Pay Policies And Bonuses In FLSA Collective Actions	269
(xxv) Preemption And Immunity Issues In FLSA Collective Actions	279
(xxvi) Preemptive Motion Issues In FLSA Collective Actions	281
(xxvii) Procedural Issues In FLSA Collective Actions	284
(xxviii) Public Employee FLSA Collective Action Litigation	289
(xxix) Retaliation Claims In Wage & Hour Class Actions	290
(xxx) Sanctions In Wage & Hour Class Actions	291
(xxxi) Settlement Approval Issues In Wage & Hour Class Actions And FLSA Collective Actions	292
(xxxii) Settlement Bar And Estoppel Issues In Wage & Hour Class Actions	298
(xxxiii) Sleep-Time Policies In Wage & Hour Class Action Litigation	299
(xxxiv) Statute Of Limitations Issues In Wage & Hour Class Action Litigation	300
(xxxv) Stay Orders In FLSA Collective Actions	300
(xxxvi) Tip Pooling And Tip Credit Claims Under The FLSA	301
(xxxvii) Travel Time Issues In Wage & Hour Class Action Litigation	303
(xxxviii) Trials In Wage & Hour Class And Collective Actions	304
(xxxix) Venue Issues In FLSA Collective Actions	305
(xl) Wage & Hour Class And Collective Actions Involving Students And Interns	305
VI. Significant Class Action Rulings Under The Employee Retirement Income Security Act Of 1974	309
A. Cases Certifying Or Refusing To Certify ERISA Class Actions	309
(i) First Circuit	309
(ii) Second Circuit	310
(iii) Third Circuit	311
(iv) Fourth Circuit	311
(v) Fifth Circuit	312
(vi) Sixth Circuit	312
(vii) Seventh Circuit	313
(viii) Eighth Circuit	314
(ix) Ninth Circuit	316
(x) Tenth Circuit	316
(xi) Eleventh Circuit	317
(xii) District Of Columbia Circuit	318
B. Other Federal Rulings Affecting The Defense Of ERISA Class Actions	318
(i) Administrative Fees In ERISA Class Actions	318
(ii) Administrative Exhaustion In ERISA Class Actions	318
(iii) Appeal Issues In ERISA Class Actions	319
(iv) Arbitration Issues In ERISA Class Actions	319
(v) Attorneys’ Fees And Costs In ERISA Class Actions	323
(vi) Breach Of Fiduciary Duty In ERISA Class Actions	324
(vii) Discovery Issues In ERISA Class Actions	326
(viii) DOL And PBGC ERISA Enforcement Litigation	326
(ix) ERISA 401(k) Class Actions	328
ERISA Class Action Litigation Over Retiree/Employee Benefits	341
ERISA Stock Drop Class Actions	347
(xii) Excessive Fee Claims In ERISA Class Actions	348
(xiii) Fiduciary Duty Issues In ERISA Class Actions	350
(xiv) Preemption, Procedural, And Coverage Issues In ERISA Class Actions	354
(xv) Preemptive Motions In ERISA Class Actions	356
(xvi) Releases Issues In ERISA Class Actions	357
(xvii) Selection Of Lead Counsel In ERISA Class Actions	357
(xviii) Settlement Approval Issues In ERISA Class Actions	358
(xix) Standing Issues In ERISA Class Actions	360
(xx) Stays In ERISA Class Actions	363
(xxi) Venue Issues In ERISA Class Actions	363
VII. Significant State Law Class Action Rulings	365
A. Employment Discrimination Rulings	366
(i) California	366
B. Wage & Hour Rulings	367
(i) Arizona	367
(ii) California	368
(iii) District Of Columbia	379
(iv) Florida	380
(v) Kentucky	380
(vi) Maryland	381
(vii) Massachusetts	381
(viii) Minnesota	384
(ix) Nevada	384
(x) Pennsylvania	385
(xi) West Virginia	385
C. Rulings In Breach Of Employment Contract/Miscellaneous Workplace Claims	386
(i) Alaska	386
(ii) California	386
(iii) Illinois	388
(iv) Maryland	388
(v) New Jersey	389
(vi) New York	389
D. Other State Law Rulings Affecting The Defense Of Workplace Class Action Litigation	391
(i) California	391
(ii) Florida	412
(iii) Georgia	413
(iv) Illinois	414
(v) Louisiana	420
(vi) Maine	421
(vii) Massachusetts	421
(viii) Michigan	422
(ix) Minnesota	422
(x) Missouri	423
(xi) New Jersey	423
(xii) New York	426
(xiii) North Carolina	428
(xiv) North Dakota	429
(xv) Ohio	429
(xvi) Oklahoma	430
(xvii) Pennsylvania	431
(xviii) South Carolina	433
(xix) Texas	434
(xx) Washington	435
(xxi) West Virginia	436
(xxii) Wisconsin	437
VIII. Rulings On The Class Action Fairness Act	439
(i) First Circuit	440
(ii) Second Circuit	440
(iii) Third Circuit	440
(iv) Fourth Circuit	441
(v) Fifth Circuit	441
(vi) Sixth Circuit	442
(vii) Seventh Circuit	443
(viii) Eighth Circuit	444
(ix) Ninth Circuit	444
(x) Tenth Circuit	449
(xi) Eleventh Circuit	449
(xii) District Of Columbia Circuit	450
IX. Other Federal Rulings Affecting The Defense Of Workplace Class Action Litigation	451
(i) ADA Class Actions	451
(ii) Alien Tort Litigation In Class Actions	457
(iii) Amendments In Class Actions	457
(iv) American Pipe Tolling In Class Actions	458
(v) Appeals In Class Action Litigation	460
(vi) Appointment, Selection, And Removal Of Lead Counsel In Class Actions	462
(vii) Ascertainability Issues Under Rule 23	464
(viii) Attorneys’ Fee Awards In Class Actions	465
(ix) Bifurcation Issues In Class Actions	474
(x) Breach Of Contract Class Actions	475
(xi) Choice-Of-Law Issues In Class Actions	476
(xii) Civil Rights Class Actions	476
(xiii) Class Action Litigation Involving Universities	481
(xiv) Class Actions Involving Claims Of Negligence	501
(xv) Class Actions Involving Dress Codes	502
(xvi) Class Actions Involving Unions	502
(xvii) Class Actions Over Workplace Health & Safety Issues	508
(xviii) Class Actions Relative To Sexual Harassment Issues	509
(xix) Class Actions Under 42 U.S.C. Section 1981	510
(xx) Class Communications Issues In Class Actions	512
(xxi) Class Definition Issues In Class Actions	512
(xxii) Class-Wide Proof And Class-Wide Damages In Class Actions	513
(xxiii) COBRA Class Actions	515
(xxiv) Collateral Estoppel, Res Judicata, And Settlement Bar Concepts Under Rule 23	517
(xxv) The Colorado River Doctrine In Class Actions	518
(xxvi) Commonality Issues In Class Actions	519
(xxvii) Consolidation And Joinder Issues In Class Actions	519
(xxviii) Consumer Fraud Class Actions	520
(xxix) COVID-19 Class Actions	526
(xxx) Cy Pres Issues In Class Actions	567
(xxxi) Data Breach Class Actions	568
(xxxii) Decertification Issues Under Rule 23	572
(xxxiii) Default Judgments In Class Actions	574
(xxxiv) Discovery Issues In Class Actions	575
(xxxv) Disparate Treatment Issues In Class Actions	584
(xxxvi) Disqualification Of Counsel In Class Actions	585
(xxxvii) Experts In Class Actions	587
(xxxviii) FACTA And FDCPA Class Actions	590
(xxxix) First Amendment Class Actions	593
(xl) FCRA Class Actions	594
(xli) Forum Non-Conveniens In Class Action Litigation	596
(xlii) Government Enforcement Litigation	597
(xliii) Immigration Class Actions	605
(xliv) Immunity Issues In Class Actions	607
(xlv) Indemnification Issues In Class Actions	608
(xlvi) Injunctions In Class Actions	609
(xlvii) Insurance Issues In Class Actions	611
(xlviii) Intervention Issues In Class Actions	613
(xlix) Issues With The Judicial Panel On Multi-District Litigation In Class Actions	616
(l) Jurisdiction Issues In Class Action Litigation	619
(li) Labor Abuse Issues In Class Action Litigation	622
(lii) Litigation Over Class Action Settlement Agreements And Consent Decrees	624
(liii) Media Issues In Class Action Litigation	627
(liv) Multi-Party Litigation Over Modification Of Employee/Retirement Benefits	628
(lv) Non-Workplace Class Action Arbitration Issues	630
(lvi) Objectors And Opt-Out Issues In Class Actions	647
(lvii) Predominance Issues In Class Actions	648
(lviii) Preemption Issues In Class Actions	652
(lix) Preemptive Motions To Strike Or Dismiss Class Allegations	653
(lx) Privacy Class Actions	663
(lxi) Procedural Issues And Proof Requirements In Rule 23 Class Actions	683
(lxii) Recusals In Class Action Litigation	687
(lxiii) Removal And Remand Issues In Class Actions	688
(lxiv) Retaliation Issues In Class Action Litigation	690
(lxv) RICO Class Actions	691
(lxvi) Sanctions, Contempt, And Unethical Misconduct Issues In Class Action Litigation	693
(lxvii) Sealing Issues In Class Actions	701
(lxviii) Service Awards And Costs In Class Actions	702
(lxix) Settlement Administration Issues In Class Actions	703
(lxx) Settlement Approval Issues In Class Actions	705
(lxxi) Standing Issues In Class Actions	712
(lxxii) Statute Of Limitations Issues In Class Actions	716
(lxxiii) Stays In Class Action Litigation	719
(lxxiv) TCPA Class Actions	721
(lxxv) The Adequacy Of Representation Requirement For Class Certification	729
(lxxvi) The Mootness Doctrine In Class Action Litigation	730
(lxxvii) The Numerosity Requirement For Class Certification	731
(lxxviii) The Rooker-Feldman Doctrine In Class Actions	732
(lxxix) Trafficking Victims Protection Act In Class Action Litigation	732
(lxxx) Typicality Issues In Class Action Litigation	733
(lxxxi) Venue Issues In Class Actions	733
(lxxxii) Veterans’ Class Actions	736
(lxxxiii) WARN Class Actions	738
(lxxxiv) Workplace Antitrust Class Actions	743
(lxxxv) Workplace Class Action Arbitration Issues	746
(lxxxvi) Writs Of Mandamus In Class Actions	749
Appendix I - Table Of 2021 Workplace Class Action And Collective Action Litigation Rulings	751

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