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  • YVONNE COVARRUBIAS VS MACY'S CORPORATE SERVICES, I(15) Unlimited Other Employment document preview
  • YVONNE COVARRUBIAS VS MACY'S CORPORATE SERVICES, I(15) Unlimited Other Employment document preview
  • YVONNE COVARRUBIAS VS MACY'S CORPORATE SERVICES, I(15) Unlimited Other Employment document preview
  • YVONNE COVARRUBIAS VS MACY'S CORPORATE SERVICES, I(15) Unlimited Other Employment document preview
  • YVONNE COVARRUBIAS VS MACY'S CORPORATE SERVICES, I(15) Unlimited Other Employment document preview
  • YVONNE COVARRUBIAS VS MACY'S CORPORATE SERVICES, I(15) Unlimited Other Employment document preview
  • YVONNE COVARRUBIAS VS MACY'S CORPORATE SERVICES, I(15) Unlimited Other Employment document preview
  • YVONNE COVARRUBIAS VS MACY'S CORPORATE SERVICES, I(15) Unlimited Other Employment document preview
						
                                

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4W FILED SAN MATEO COUNTY Scott Edward Cole, Esq. (S.B. #160744) Corey B. Bennett, Esq. (S.B. #267816) JUL 17 2017 SCOTT COLE & ASSOCIATES, APC 1970 Broadway, Ninth Floor Oakland, California 94612 clerk o Sr” 18) Telephone: (510) 891 -9800 By Facsunile: (510) 891-7030 Email: scole@scalaw.com Email: cbennett scalaw.com Web: www.sca aw.com \DOONONUI-PLDNH Attorneys for Representative Plaintiffs and the Aggrieved Employees IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF SAN MATEO 0 p— )—| H YVONNE COVARRUBIAS, and Case No. CIV537692 ATIEH ZAHABI, individually, and on APC N .1— behalf of all other similarly situated aggrieved employees, PLAINTIFFS’ POINTS AND FLOOR n—- W AUTHORITIES IN OPPOSITION T0 LAW ASSOCIATES, 9.16:: BUILDING 891-9800 NINTH Plaintiffs, DEFENDANT’ S MOTION FOR SUMMARY ’ AT CA J‘— )— JUDGNIENT (510) Vs. 8: TOWER ATTORNEYS U} y—a OAKLAND, vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv BROADWAY, TEL- COLE THE 197° H O\ MACY’S WEST STORES, INC., SCOTT and DOES 1through 100, inclusive, \l )— Date: July 31, 2017 00 v— Defendant. Time: 9:00 3.11:. Dept: 21 H \O Judge: Honorable Robert D. Foiles NO N )-‘ CIV537692 PANDA _. NN Points and Authorities 60 Nw NA will“ lllllllllllllllllll N U! N O\ N \l N 00 Plaintiffs’ P&A In Opposition to Defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment I. INTRODUCTION Defendant Macy’s (“Defendant”) contends that Plaintiff Zahabi and Plaintiff Covarrubias (“Plaintiffs”) are" not aggrieved employees, which entitles it to summary judgment. Plaintiffs contend that the time spent waiting for and undergoing security checks was compensable under California law. Plaintiffs further argue that such uncompensated time was not de minimis and \OOOQQUI-b-UJNH therefore urge the Court to deny Defendant’s motion. II. STATEMENT OF FACTS Macy’s maintains a bag check policy under which Aggrieved Employees must submit to inspections of any bags they are carrying (e.g., purses, backpacks, shopping bags, etc.) any time they are leaving its stores.1 Defendant’s corporate witnesses conceded important facts regarding this policy and the. violations resulting therefrom. First, there is no dispute that the policy is cun'ently in use and all stores are required to follow it.2 Further, Macy’s admits that bag checks E a [—1 Og occur off-the-clock, after Aggrieved Employees clock out, but before they the premises.3 Ba“so daggas All Aggrieved Employees are informed of Macy’s bag check policy during orientation, 095_m2 at wémefie Qfi“iée aagage which point they are given access to an electronic employee handbook accessible through Macy’s Eta-EOE m intranet.4 The policy requires Aggrieved Employees to enter and exit Defendant’s stores through a E- a ' O O U) designated employees doors.5 Upon exiting Macy’s-facilities, either at the end of their shifts or for MNNNNNNNNF—‘i—‘i—‘b—‘I—ib—lp—lt—ng—AH meal and rest breaks, Aggrieved Employees must approach the employee doors, often located next to the loss prevention office, and present their bags to Macy’s loss prevention employees for WQQM-D-WNi—‘OWOOQONM-DWNHO inspection.6 Aggrieved Employees are required to hold their bags open and allow Macy’s to look inside and, if asked by loss prevention, they were required to move items around to provide an 1 Exhibit “A,” Inspections and the Arrival and Departure of Associates Policy [MACYSOO7846- 007847]; Exhibit “B,” Employee Package Checks [MACYSOO7848-7849]. 2 Exhibit “C,” Deposition of Khristopher‘ Hamlin (“Hamlin Depo;”) at 71:7-16; 72: 17-24; 36: 10— 38:13. 3 Exhibit “C,” Hamlin Depo. at 77:23-78:6; Exhibit “D,” Deposition of Bahrt Arellano (“Arellano Depo.”) at 97: 1~25. While Mr. Arellano was de csed in the matter of Quinlan v. Macy’s, the parties have stipulated to use discovery from t iat case here to avoid duplication of discovery efforts. - 4 Exhibit “C,” Hamlin Depo. at 72:17~73:3; 32:14—25. Exhibit “A,” Inspections and the Arrival and Departure of Associates Policy [MACYSOO7846~ 5 007847 . '6 Exhibit “E,” Deposition of Yvonne Covarrubias (“Covarrubias Depo.”) at 100:18—101z8. -1- Plaintiffs’ Opposition to Defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment unobstructed view of their bags’ contents.7 Those Aggrieved Employees who purchase and leave the store with Macy’s goods must presenta receipt or otherwise prove to a member of loss prevention that the merchandise was paid for.8 If no loss prevention employee is present at the exit, Aggrieved Employees must seek one out to conduct the check? If multiple Aggrieved Employees are leaving the store at the same time, they must wait in line to have their bags checked, resulting in further delay. 1° In addition, to keep employees off-guard, Defendant also conducts bag \OOOQGNMAWNH checks at its general mall door entrances/exits.11 Aggrieved Employees who fail to comply with - the policy are subject to discipline, up to and including termination.12 'Plaintiffs’ investigation reveals that Aggrieved Employees are frequently if not always HO inspected, and are often delayed for considerable amounts of time. ‘3 While the length of the delays r—--- ’—‘ may vary, there is no dispute that Aggrieved Employees are not paid for this time for which, as set APC N P—‘ forth below, must be compensated. FLOOR H '03In. LEGAL ARGUMENT MW 94612 ASSOCIATES, BUILDING AT CA 89i—9aoo NINTH 4:» I—‘ A. LEGAL STANDARD , (5x0) & TOWER ATTORNEYS K1] 1—- OAKLAND. BROADWAY, Summary judgment should not be granted where,,as here, Defendant has failed to meet its TEL: COLE THE 1970 O'i r—‘ burden of persuasion that there is no triable issue of material fact. Aguilar v. Atlantic Richfield SCO'I'I' . H \1 Ca, 25 Cal. 4th 826, 850 (2001). Defendant, as the moving party, is entitled to summary judgment 00 t—‘ only if all the papers submitted show that there are no triable issues as to any material facts and \o ’—| that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 437(c)c. NO The role of the trial court in a summary judgment motion is to determine whether triable issues of N P-l NN 7 Exhibit “F,” Deposition of Atieh Zahabi (“Zahabi Depo.”) at 65: 17-66: 1. 3 Exhibit “C,” Hamlin Depo. at 107:7-1 11:22. - N U0 9 Exhibit “D,” Arellano Depo. at 98:7-1 1. 1° Exhibit “E,” Covarrubias Depo. at 68:4-6923; Exhibit “F,” Zahabi Depo. at 96 :18-97:4. NA ” Exhibit “C,” Hamlin Depo. at 1033-19; Exhibit “B,” Employee Package Checks [MACYSOO7848-007849]. N U! 2 Exhibit “A,” Inspections and the Arrival and De arture of Associates Policy [MACYSOO7846- 007847]; Exhibit “B,” Employee Package Checks FMACYSOO7848—7849]. 13 NQ For instance, Plaintiffs Covarrubias and Zahabi complain of being delayed for up to four and five minutes, respectively, as a result of bag checks. Exhibit “E,” Covanubias Depo. at 67:24- N '4 69:3; Exhibit “F,” Zahabi Depo. at 69: 18-70:4. Other Aggrieved Employees whom Plaintiffs’ counsel has surveyed complain of even longer delays. Plaintiffs’ counsel will bring an expert N 0° statistical analysis of the results of the survey disseminated to Aggiieved Employees to the . mediation. -2- Plaintiffs’ Opposition to Defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment fact exist, not to resolve those issues. Morgan v. F UJI Country USA, Inc., 34 Cal.App. 4th 127, 131 (1995). Due to the drastic nature of summary judgment and the importance of safeguarding the right to trial, the moving party's evidence is to be strictly construed. Brantley v. Pisaro, 42 Cal. App.4th 1591, 1601 (1996). A11 doubts are to be resolved in favor of the party opposing summary judgment. \OMQONMAWNr—t Ferrell v.Southern Nev. Off—Road Enthusiast Ltd, 147 Cal.App.3d 309, 313 (1983). The opposing party's affidavits or declarations are to be liberally construed. Fender v. Radin, 23 Cal.App.4th 1807, 1813 (1994). Theopposing party has no obligation to establish anything until and unless the moving party has met its burden. Consumer Cause, Inc. v. Smilecare, 91 Cal.App.4th 454, ‘468 (2001). Ultimately, if there is evidence from which a jury could find for the opposing party, the motion should be denied. Addressing the legal standard for granting summary judgment in Code of Civil Procedure APC section 43 70 a leading practice text in California stated: Considerable care must go into drafting the separate statement because the FLOOR LAW 94612 ASSOCIATES, BUILDING 891-9500 NINTH court has discretion to disregard matters not listed therein [citation]. AT CA Include only those facts which are truly material to the claims or defenses 8r TOWER (510) ATTORNEYS OAKLAND. BROADWAY. involved because the separate statement effectively concedes the COLE THE TEL- materiality of whatever facts are included. Thus, ifa triableissue is raised 1970 as to any of the facts in your separate statement, the motion must be SCOTT denied! (Well & Brown, Cal. Practice Guide: Civil Procedure Before Trial (Rutter Group 2008) 10.951, NNNNNNNNNi—‘r—‘P—‘P—‘HHHHp—np—A p. 10—35 (Rev.#1 2008).). Accordingly, in order for Defendant’s Motion to succeed itmust demonstrate that wQONM-D-WNb—‘OOOOQQUIAUJNHO there exists no triab‘leissue of fact regarding any of Plaintiffs’ claims after viewing all of the evidence in a light most favorable to Plaintiffs. As set forth below, Defendants have failed to meet this burden. B. PLAINTIFFS’ TIME WAITING FOR AND UNDERGOING SECURITY CHECKS CONSTITUTE COMPENSABLE “HOURS WORKED” The time Plaintiffs spent waiting for and undergoing security checks—from clock out to the exit, until they were tmly free to leave and out of Defendant’s control——Was compensable under California law. Defendant disagrees, relying heavily on one case currently on appeal, Frlekin v. Apple Inc. , 2015 US. Dist. LEXIS 151937 (N .D. Cal. Nov. 7, 2015), and multiple distinguishable cases upon which that very holding is based. -3- Plaintiffs’ Opposition to Defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment 1. Frlekin Ignores Black Letter California Law, Defendant argues Frlekin” is instructive, contending that Apple’s policy, “for all practical purposes, is identical to Macy’s random package check policy.” See MSJ at p. 10. Frlekin holds that bag check time is not compensable because it is not a'required work activity since employees can avoid the activity by not bringing bags to work. \DOOMONUIAUJNI—d It reaches this absurd conclusion by ignoring the plain language of the controlling Wage Order. The IWC Wage Orders define “hours worked” as (1) “the time during which an employee is subject to the control of an employer,” and (2)"‘a11 the time the employee is suffered or permitted to work, whether or not required to do so.” See 8 Cal. Code Regs. §'11070 112(6). These are separate, independent elements, either of which defines H “hours worked” if met. Morillion, 22 Gal.4th at 582. H Furthermore, Defendant overlooks Frlekin’s reliance on distinguishable cases involving APC >4 commute time to support its conclusion that activities must be “required” in order to be FLOOR r—A compensable. Id. at *11-15. Commute time cases are inapposite for two reasons. First, employee MW ASSOCIATES, 9.151: BUILDING commute time is ordinarily not compensable. Cal. Lab. Code commute time— 891-9800 AT NINTH CA >-—A § 510(b). Second, D, (510) & TOWER ATTORNEYS p—a BROADWAY, unlike time spent in connection with bag checks—happens away from the workplace, before or OAKIAN TEL: COLE THE 1970 after the workday, and away from employer supervision. In contrast, bag checks occur throughout SCOTT the workday on the premises haw-AH of and under the direct supervision of the employer, and therefore are not comparable to commute time cases. N'H 2. “\IQUI-p-WNP—‘OVDOOQONM-DWNHO Plaintiffs and Aggrieved Employees Were Subject to Macy’s Control During Bag Checks The “control” prong imposes just one elemen : “control.” The very next clause of the same N sentence in the definition uses the word “required.” 1d. Different meanings are presumed by the N N application of different words. Rashidi v. Maser, 60 Cal.4th 718, 725 (2014) (“[W]here the M Legislature uses a different word or phrase in one part of a statute than it does in other sections . . N . it must be presumed that the Legislature intended a different meaning”) (citation omitted). If the “control” prong were intended to only encompass activities which the employer “required,” then N N ‘4 N It should be noted that FrIekin is currently on appeal to the Ninth Circuit and, while oral argument was held on July 11, 2017, the court has yet to issue a decision. -4- Plaintiffs’ Opposition to Defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment it would say so. Moreover, there is no logic in the definition only including, on the one hand, time spent subject to employer control, if it was required, but, on the other hand, including all the time the employee was suffered or permitted to work, whether it was required or not. The level of employer control is the determinative factor (id. at 587), and “this is not an oooxxcxm-tz'wwr—J instance in which the relevant law or appropriate standard is unclear.” PeIz v. Abercrombie & Fitch Stores, Inc., 2015 US. Dist. LEXIS 186789, *4 (CD. Cal. June 4, 2015) (denying employer’s motion for summary judgment in bag check case). Plaintiffs and Aggrieved Employees were subject to Macy’s control during bag checks because, even though they could engage in some limited personal activities (e.g., chatting, using their cell phones, etc.), they could'not “effectively use [the time] for their own purposes.” Mari/lion, 22 Cal.4th at 586 (citing Bono Enterprises, Inc. v. Bradshmv, 32 Cal.App.4th 968, 975 (1995)). Plaintiffs could not, for example, buy food or APC coffee from a nearby vendor, smoke a cigarette, enjoy the sunshine, drive his or her vehicle, or do FLOOR any other personal activity that requires being outside of a Macy’s store. Pelz, 2015 US. Dist. LDING LAW 94612 ASSOCIATES, 891-9800 NINTH AT BU] CA LEXIS 186789, *6 (finding bag check case facts “materially indistinguishable” from Morillion (510) 8r TOWER ATTORNEYS OAKLAND, BROADWAY. and holding off—the-clock bag check waiting periods were compensable.) TEL: COLE THE x970 _ a. Defendant’s Sleight of Hand SCOTT “Macy’s didn’t ‘require’ them to carry a bag .. ..” MSJ at 10 (emphasis in original). This characterization asks the Court to only the to what NNNNNNNNNt—‘Ht—‘r—IHHi—Ai—‘HH see bag, as opposed is inside and why an employee might want or OONQLIIAUJNr—‘OKOOOQO‘xm-D-WNt—‘O need to carry it to work. Defendant describes its inspection policy as “random” and something that employees “voluntarily submit to” by “choosing” to carry a bag to work. This plainly ignores the fact that “in real life people bring stuff to work.”15 The Ninth Circuit made this very point during the Frlekin oral argument. Here, Defendant asks the Court to believe employee choice renders itspolicy lawful. Employees “choose” to bring food to eat on meal breaks. Employees “choose” to bring a water bottle to drink from on rest breaks. Employees “choose” to bring personal effects, medications, jackets and extra clothing, or any other number of items that might not fit into a wallet or small coin purse. It is not unreasonable for Defendant to ‘5 See httns://www.youtube.com/watch?v=‘l‘ib9gRWPJ04 at 14:00. . -5- Plaintiffs’ Opposition to Defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment compare an employee’s receipt with the contents of their Macy’s shopping bag. However, Defendant conflates the “choice” of making a Macy’s clothing purchase on a break With carrying a bag containing necessities—clothing layers to prepare for unusually hot or cold weather, foods and liquids to sustain the httman body, and other things people need to manage their daily lives. Plaintiffs did not personally experience searches on meal and rest breaks, but food bags \DOOQONUI-b-UJNH and containers are still subject to search at the end of a shift (presumably when they are empty). Would Defendant contend that, while California law requires employers to provide meal breaks, an employee “voluntarily submits” to a bag search by bringing food? California law also imposes requirements on employers to provide time and space‘for mothers to express breastmilk. Cal. Lab. Code § 1030 et seq. Would bringing a breast pump and related items in a bag be about “employee choice” and “personal convenience” such that it should be subject to search off—the-clock? The APC law provides for meal breaks and breastfeeding accommodations because of their fundamental FLOOR importance, not as opportunities for employers to cut corners. ‘ LAW 94612 ASSOCIATES, BUILDING AT CA 891—9800 NINTH Defendant’s sleight of hand directs the Court’s attention toward a simplified notion of S: TOWER (510) ATTORNEYS OAKIAND. BROADWAY, employee choice and away from the actual character and impact of its bag search policy. Here, 1'81; COLE THE Plaintiffs were subject to Macy’s control during bag checks and such time constituted “hours X970 SCO’I'I‘ worked” under the applicable Wage Order. NNNNNNNNNHHF—‘HHHHj—Ip—IH 3. Plaintiffs and Aggrieved Employees Were Suffered or Permitted to WNQU‘I-PWNHOWOONQM-bwmh—‘o Work During Bag Checks California law also defines “hours worked” as “all the time the employee issuffered or permitted to work, whether or. not required to do so.” 8 Cal. Code Regs. § 11070 fil2(G). This test is separate and distinct from the “control” test and provides an “independent” basis for liability under the Wage Order. Mendiola v. CPS Security Solutions, Inc. , 60 Cal.4th 833, 839 (2015). Friekin held that the employees did not “work” during bag checks because (a) they “did not conduct” the bag checks and merely “passively awaited” as the checks were conducted, and (b) because the bag checks were not “integral and indispensable” parts of the employees’ job duties. Frlekin at *33—34. This was error, as bag checks easily meet the “suffered or permitted to work” test under California law. -6- Plaintiffs’ Opposition to Defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment a. Bag Cheeks Were “Work” Because They Were Exertion that Benefited Defendant First, the bag checks were “work” because they were exertion that benefited Defendant. See Befancourt v.Advantage Human Resourcing, Inc., 2014 US. Dist. LEXIS 123504, *17 (N .D. Cal. Sept. \OOONOXUI-bWNt-fl 3, 2014) (Black’s Law Dictionary defines “work” as “mental exertion to attain an end, especially as controlled by and for the benefit of an employer.”). As explained in Mendiola, “[A]n employer, if he chooses, may hire a man to do nothing, or to do nothing but wait for something to happen.” Mendiola, 60 Cal.4th at 840 (quoting Armour & Co. ‘vi Wautock, 323 US. 126, 133 (1944)). Even idle, “on-call” time may be compensable “work” if the time “benefit[s] the employer.” Id; see also id. at 841 (whether time is “primarily” for employer’s benefit is a relevant factor); cf Tennessee Coal, 321 US. at 598 (“work” includes “physical or mental exertion APC (whether burdensome or not) controlled or required by the employer and pursued necessarily and FLOOR 12 primarily for the benefit of the employer”). Moreover, if “immediate control” is exercised over an LAW ASSOCIATES, 946 BUILDING AT CA 891-9800 NINTH activity that “benefit[s] - the employer,” there is no question that the time “must be (510) 8: TOWER ATTORNEYS OAKLAND, compensated.” Ghazaryan v. Diva Limousine, Ltd. , 169 Cal.App.4th 1524, 1535 (citation omitted), BROADWAY, TEL: COLE THE 1970 cited with approval in Mendiola, 60 Cal.4th at 841. of “work.” They involve “exeition” or SCO'IT The bag checks meet this plain—language definition “effort,” including NNNNNNNNNi—‘Hl—‘HD—AHHHHy—l finding a loss prevention employee, standing in line, presenting bags for OOQmm-pHOQWQONUI-b-WNfio inspection, opening intemal pockets, complying with employer directions, etc. The bag checks “attain an end”——name1y, confirming that employees are not stealing merchandise—which benefits Defendant by deterring and preventing theft, both present and future. See .Mendiola, 60 Cal.4th at 481 (theft—prevention activities “primarily benefit” the employer). Furthermore, the? bag checks not only involved “exertion” to “attain an end,” for the benefit of Defendant, but also involved “immediate control” by the employer. See Ghazaryan, 169 Cal.App.4th at 1535. Consistent with Meudiola, the bag checks in this case were compensable “work.” Id. . -7- Plaintiffs’ Opposition to Defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment h. Frlekin Improperly Relies on a Less Protective Federal Standard that Finds No Support in California Law Frlekin also holds that bag checks are not “wor ” because they are “peripheral activities” with “no relationship” to the employees’ job responsibilities. Frlckin at *33. This argument is factually and legally incorrect. F actually, bag checks do relate to employees’ job responsibilities. Defendant’s employees \OOO\I0\M-I>UJNu—n . must handle itsmerchandise in order to perform their duties (e.g., stocking shelves, ringing up customers, processing returns, etc.). If Defendant’s employees were not required to have access to its merchandise, bag checks would be unnecessary. Legally, in holding that “peripheral activities” we non-compensable under California law, Frlekin effectively imported the less-protective standard of the federal Portalito-Ilortal Act, under which “preliminary and postliminary” activities are non-compensable. 29 U.S.C. § 254(a), cited APC in Moriliion, 22 Cal.4th at 589; see also Murphy v. Kenneth Cole Productions, Inc, 40 Cal.4th FLOOR 1094 (2007) (California employment law is “to be construed broadly in favor of protecting LAW 94612 BUILDING workers”) (emphasis added). SEASSOCIATES, The Frlekin decision cites Integrity Staffing Solutions, 89x-9800 Inc. NINTH AT CA v.Busk, (510) TOWER ATTORNEYS OAKLAND, BROADWAY, 135 S.Ct. 513, 518 (2014), which was a case out of Nevada involving the Fair Labor Standards TEL: COLE THE 1970 Act, for the proposition that bag checks “lacked the integral or indispensable relationship to the SCOTT employees’ job responsibilities.” Frlekin at *34. Although Frlekin was not applying federal law, the standard it used mirrored it, leading to an outcome identical NNNNNNNNNFHi—ly—nn—Ap—np—HFH to Busk. _ This ruling contravened the California Supreme Court’s repeated admonition that the IWC OOQONUI-AUJNHOKDOOQCRUI-bwwt—‘O has never adopted the federal standard for “hours worked.” ll/Iendiola, 60 Ca1.4th at 843; Morillion, 22 Ca1.4th at 590-92; Bono, 32 Cal.App.4th at 977; see‘also Martinez v. Combs, 49 Cal.4th 35, 68 (2010). This ruling also disregarded the lWC’s decision to amend the Wage Orders in 1947, “[i]n response to” the enactment of the Portal-to-Portal Act, in order “to provide employees with greater protection than federal law affords.” Martinez, 49 Cal.4th at 59-60. The ruling ignored the fact that when the IWC wishes to adopt a federal standard, it knows how and does so explicitly, as shown in, for example, Wage Order 4 itself. Morillion, 22 Ca1.4th at 592. Wage Order 4, which applies to the health care industry, explicitly defines “hours worked” as being based on the federal standard. 8 Cal. Code Regs. § 11040 112(K) (“Hours worked” means “the time during which an -8-. Plaintiffs’ Opposition to Defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment >— employee is suffered or permitted to work for the employer, whether Or not required to do so, as N interpreted in accordance with the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act.”) (emphasis U.) added). Wage Order 7, which governs this case, contains no such qualifying language. 8 Cal. Code L Regs. § 11070 1|2(G). m Because California law “differ[s] substantially” from the federal standard (Morillion, 22 O‘ Cal.4th at 590, 594), Busk is not applicable to employee’s bag check claims under California law. . \l See Ceja—Corona v. CVSPharm., Inc., 2015 US. Dist. LEXIS 5118, *11 (ED. Cal. Jan. 14, 2015) 00 (state law security screening claims still viable in light of Busk) KC C. PLAINTIFF S’ BAG CHECK TIME IS NOT DE MYNIMIS Does California wage and hour law require employers to pay for all off-the-clock work that the employer either knows or should know is occurring? This is a question currently pending APC before the California Supreme Court following the Ninth Circuit’s request in Troester v. Starbucks FLOOR Corp, 2016 11.8. App. LEXIS 23587, 2016 WL 8347245, (9th Cir. June 2, 2016) mw 94612 ASSOCIATES, BUILDING AT 891-9800 NINTH Defendant argues that the time Plaintiffs spent waiting for and undergoing back checks was CA & TOWER (510) OAKLAND. ATI'ORNEYS BROADWAY, de minimis. Whether work time is de minimis is analyzed under- a three—prong test that considers TEL: COLE THE 197° (l) the practical administrative difficulty of recording the additional time; (2) the aggregate amount of compensable time; of the additional work. Lindow SCO'I'I‘ and (3) the regularity v. United States, 738 F.2d 1057, 1063 (9th Cir. 1984). The DLSE has ad0pted this test in evaluating claims under California law. DLSE Opinion Letter 1994-02—03—3 at p. 4. First, Defendant’s bag search policy is a loss prevention measure intended to catch and deter theft. If the administrative difficulty of implementing this policy is justified by the loss it prevents, then Defendant should either bear the minimal practical burden of repositioning time clocks such that employees may clock out after waiting for and undergoing bag checks, or find another way to compensate employees for time spent under Defendant’s control and engaged in an activity that solely benefits Defendant; . Second, the aggregate amount of compensable time was not de minimis. Defendant relies on cases that favor weaker federal labor laws to California’s substantially more protective scheme. For example, Labor Code § 510 provides, in pertinent part: “Any work in excess of eight hours in -9- Plaintiffs’ Opposition to Defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment one workday and, (my work in excess. of 4091101118 in anyone workweek and the-first eight‘hours :w‘orked 0n the seventh day of workin any one workvteek shall .be. compensated atetherate of no less thantone‘ and one-half time's thei'egular rate 15 of pay for an‘ employee.” (emphasis added), Humvee Defendant contends? that even teammates should be deemed 'd‘e mininiis. California’s expansive .xofioe'xlmmfmwtou—r regulatory framewbrk provides signifiiia'nt,protection 'd employees and ample irISti'uction,for courts 'to IeSiSt,n10Vement toward “less protective approaches. This issue is currently. ’ under consideration by j(he Galiforiiia Supreme Celia. See; I'lfo‘esr, supra. .‘Third, Defendant claims the additional work was not regu‘lari Plaintifflzahabi could not recall the total number of searches, but identified Up to fiv’e'that she could. (SMUF $15, 20); Similarly, Plaintiff “Covamlbi'asrecalled/roughly twenty, but‘eould'not: conclude it was not more. (Ids at-"J 28),. See lindow at 1063 (“Courts have granted relief for claims that might have been ‘ minimalm a daily basis but, when aggregate.d,3amounted fo‘asubSt’antial sum?’2and 5‘liappenI] with aifai‘r‘ainofint Of regularity?) mw 9461': 'IV. COLE‘g