Washington Employment Class Action Attorney
It is an unfortunate fact that if your employer is violating wage and hour laws and wrongfully withholding your pay, they are probably doing the same to other employees in Washington, too. Bad employment practices become habitual.
While the widespread nature of these violations is deplorable, it can provide one distinct advantage. Multiple violations mean there is the possibility of righting the wrongs through an employment class action lawsuit. And a class action lawsuit is often the most effective way to recover unpaid wages and ensure compliance with the law going forward.
If you work for a large health care provider, corporation, hotel, or other employer who you believe may be committing one or more forms of wage theft against employees, an experienced Washington employment class action attorney at Justice Law Corporation may be able to obtain a fair outcome for everyone who has been affected and force the employer to comply with requirements properly in the future. You can schedule a free consultation with our team to discuss the potential for recovery. Initiating a class action lawsuit enables you to enforce your rights and recover compensation for your losses. Because we operate on a contingency fee basis, you won’t have to pay any legal fees in advance. In fact, you won’t owe any fees at all until we win your case or reach a settlement.
What Is a Class Action Lawsuit?
In a class action lawsuit, the court essentially consolidates the claims of several people into one legal case. The claims must involve similar harm committed by the same parties. So, if an employer hasn’t been paying employees appropriate overtime wages, or has been requiring workers to perform tasks off the clock, or violating workers’ rights in other ways, those employees can all become a part of a class, and the court will consider remedies for violations that affect all of them.
A class action offers a more efficient way for workers to achieve justice. Because of the efficiency, attorneys are able to address violations that might be too small to justify a separate lawsuit. The outcome of a successful class action lawsuit requires employers to change the everyday practices that can deprive employees of their wages in small increments. When violations affecting multiple employees are considered simultaneously, the court can issue a legal determination that obligates employers to compensate for past losses and adopt appropriate practices going forward.
How an Employment Class Action Lawsuit Works
To enforce the rights of employees who have suffered from wage theft, discrimination, or other illegal practices through a class action lawsuit, an employee who has been subjected to these practices contacts a Washington employment class action attorney to discuss the situation. That employee will usually serve as the class representative, and they may be given additional compensation by the court in recognition of their service to others.
The attorney conducts an investigation to gather evidence showing how the employer has violated the law. For instance, interviews with numerous employees might reveal that the employer consistently demanded they perform clean-up work after clocking out for the day. Or, reviews of payroll statements might show that employees had wage deductions for breaks that should have been paid breaks.
In addition, the attorney will need to convince the court that the case qualifies for status as a class action lawsuit. The court will have to certify or approve the class. To convince the court that a class action is an appropriate way to address the wrongdoings in the case, an employment class action attorney in Washington will need to satisfy the court that:
- There are so many workers in the class that it would not be practical to have them participate individually in a lawsuit
- The person named to serve as class representative has suffered the same types of harm as others in the class
- The person named to serve as class representative will fairly represent their interests of the other employees in the class
- The members of the class are facing similar problems that will be addressed in the lawsuit, such as violations of wage and hour laws.
It can take considerable time to investigate and gather the evidence needed to show how an employer violated the rights of employees. During that time, the class representative and other employees in the class do not need to pay any legal fees.
At Justice Law Corporation, we firmly believe that employees deserve to be fairly compensated for all the work they perform for employers. We don’t think it would be right to require you to pay up front to get assistance to enforce your legal rights. When the case is over and we’ve recovered compensation for you, then our fees will be deducted at the end.
FAQs About Employment Class Action Lawsuits in Washington
Class action lawsuits are more complex than traditional lawsuits, and most people are not familiar with how these cases operate. As a result, we receive many questions about employment class action lawsuits. Here are general answers to some of the most frequently asked questions. If you contact us, the team at Justice Law Corporation would be happy to discuss how a class action might proceed in your particular situation.
What Types of Employment Law Issues Can Be Remedied Through a Class Action Lawsuit?
Any time an employer is violating a state or federal employment law in a way that affects numerous employees, there is the potential for a Washington employment class action attorney to address the violations through a class action claim. Many class action lawsuits involve issues collectively referred to as “wage theft” because employers have violated laws designed to ensure employees receive fair compensation for their work.
These lawsuits might involve failure to pay overtime, withholding pay for breaks that should be compensated, requiring off-the-clock work, or minimum wage violations. But there are many other issues that can be addressed through an employment class action as well, including requiring employees to sign non-compete agreements or overly broad confidentiality agreements, requiring employees to sign documents affirming that they won’t discuss their wages, failing to accurately provide salary information in a job advertisement, failing to account for sick leave correctly, requiring employees to buy work supplies without reimbursement, or making non-consensual deductions from employee pay.
Should an Employment Class Action Lawsuit be Filed in Federal or State Court?
This question requires a careful evaluation of the specific circumstances involved, as there are potential advantages and requirements that apply to cases brought in each court. Federal courts have jurisdiction over cases alleging violations of federal law, such as the Fair Labor Standards Act, but state courts can also hear these cases. If a class action involves employees in more than one state, then a federal court might be the appropriate venue for the lawsuit. When a case hinges on the interpretation of a Washington state law, then state courts might be better prepared to weigh the issues. Attorneys will consider numerous factors before determining whether to file a class action in state or federal court.
How Can I Tell Whether My Case Should Be Filed as a Class Action in Washington?
If you know or suspect that your employer is not abiding by federal or state employment laws and you believe that their violations are affecting many employees, then it is a good idea to talk to an experienced Washington employment class action attorney about the potential of your case. At Justice Law Corporation, we focus on employment law issues, so we can review the circumstances and determine whether it would be most effective to pursue your claim through a class action or an individual lawsuit.
What Does a Class Representative Do in a Class Action Lawsuit?
The class representative is often the hero of a class action lawsuit in many ways, although most of the work is undertaken by the legal team. The class representative is usually the person who takes the first step by contacting an employment law attorney to determine whether employees have a valid claim for compensation under the law. Generally, the class representative will have their name on the case, even though the rights of many employees are involved. When Justice Law Corporation is handling the case, the class representative will not need to pay any filing fees because our firm will cover those initial expenses and then get reimbursed from any settlement or judgment we win. At the end of the case, we will ask the court to award extra compensation to a class representative to thank them for their service.
What Are the Benefits of a Class Action Lawsuit Over an Individual Lawsuit?
When you serve as the class representative in a class action lawsuit rather than trying to pursue justice through an individual lawsuit, you have the opportunity to address many more forms of wrongdoing in the workplace. Some issues, such as failing to pay employees for break periods, can be difficult to address in an individual lawsuit because the amount of recovery for each employee might not be sufficient to justify the months of investigation required to produce evidence to win the lawsuit.
When the amount of wages wrongfully withheld from multiple employees is combined, it becomes feasible to invest the resources into seeking justice. A Washington employment class action lawyer may be able to take the case on a contingency fee basis. The legal team at Justice Law Corporation could work on a case for years without collecting any payment, knowing that we are fighting to obtain compensation for many employees who deserve better treatment. We only get paid our attorneys’ fees if we win compensation or reach a settlement, so employees do not need to risk their precious resources to seek justice through an employment class action lawsuit.
Contact a Washington Employment Class Action Attorney at Justice Law Corporation
It is not fair to let an employer continue to withhold wages or to violate the rights of workers. If you think your employer is violating the law, contact Justice Law Corporation for a free case evaluation and consultation. To get started, call us at 818-230-7502 or reach out online now.