Facts

The plaintiffs, Francisca Amaral, Nelva Hernandez, Angelita Moreno and Rodriga Ocegueda were employees of Cintas Corp. The plaintiffs provided services which consisted of washing and sorting uniforms, towels and mats pursuant to a contract with the city of Hayward. The city has a living-wage ordinance that requires a company contracting with the city for an amount of $25,000 or more, to pay its employees a living wage based on the Bay Area Consumer Price Index. The plaintiffs filed a class action lawsuit against Cintas, alleging violations of the living wage ordinance, Labor Code, and Business and Professions Code Section 17200, and breach of contract. The class included 215 employees that were employed between July 1, 1999 and June 30, 2003. The city of Hayward intervened on the plaintiffs' side.

PLAINTIFFS' CONTENTIONS:
The plaintiffs contended that they were third-party beneficiaries of the contract between the defendant and the city. The plaintiffs contended that the defendant violated the city's living-wage ordinance by paying them less than what they were entitled to under the ordinance. The plaintiffs further claimed that the city violated the California Labor Code when it failed to pay employees their full wages when due and failed to pay vacation time to employees who had resigned, or whose employment was terminated.

DEFENDANTÆS CONTENTIONS:
The defendant contended that the city ordinance did not apply to the
plaintiffs or to all hours worked by the plaintiffs. The defendant also argued that the ordinance was
unconstitutionally vague.

Specials in Evidence

The plaintiffs sought $800,000 and $300,000 for interest.

Damages

The plaintiffs sought an undisclosed amount in back pay and civil penalties for the state labor code violations.

Result

$805,243; The Hon. Steven Brick ruled that the city's living-wage ordinance applied to the plaintiffs.