Robinson v. The Chefs' Warehouse
Filing
263
ORDER DENYING IN PART AND GRANTING IN PART MOTIONS FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT AND DENYING MOTION FOR CLASS CERTIFICATION. Case Management Statement due by 10/3/2019. Further Case Management Conference set for 10/10/2019 at 10:00 AM in San Francisco, Courtroom 03, 17th Floor.Signed by Judge Richard Seeborg on 9/10/19. (cl, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 9/10/2019)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
8
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
9
10
SHAON ROBINSON,
Case No. 15-cv-05421-RS
Plaintiff,
11
United States District Court
Northern District of California
v.
12
13
THE CHEFS’ WAREHOUSE, INC., et al.,
Defendants.
14
ORDER DENYING IN PART AND
GRANTING IN PART MOTIONS FOR
SUMMARY JUDGMENT AND
DENYING MOTION FOR CLASS
CERTIFICATION
15
16
I. INTRODUCTION
17
This putative class action was originally filed by Shaon Robinson, who sought to represent
18
19
a class of delivery drivers employed by defendant The Chefs’ Warehouse West Coast, LLC.
(“CW”). Sean Clark subsequently joined as a named plaintiff. Thereafter, a motion for class
20
certification brought by Robinson and Clark was denied because, among other reasons, they both
21
had signed declarations in a prior action stating they understood CW’s policies regarding meal and
22
rest breaks, accurate timekeeping, and reporting any violations of those policies. They also had
23
expressly admitted that they were always provided with, and took, their meal and rest breaks, that
24
their supervisor insisted they take their meal breaks, that their time sheets were always accurate,
25
that they were always paid for all hours worked, and that they never worked off the clock.
26
Although theoretically Robinson and Clark might have been able to offer explanations as to why
27
those declarations did not foreclose their claims in this action, the declarations at a minimum
28
1
presented CW a potentially compelling basis to defend. As such, neither Robinson nor Clark were
2
similarly-situated to putative class members who did not sign declarations in the prior action,
3
requiring denial of the motion to certify.
The new named plaintiffs are Saul Prado and James Roberts. CW seeks summary
4
5
judgment against both Prado and Roberts, based on separate motions and arguments.1 Plaintiffs, in
6
turn, seek class certification. As explained below, CW’s motion for partial summary judgment
7
against Prado will be granted, but the motion against Roberts will be denied, as will plaintiffs’
8
motion for class certification.
9
II. BACKGROUND
10
CW describes itself as a “premier distributor of specialty food products” catering to chefs
United States District Court
Northern District of California
11
12
in restaurants, hotels, culinary schools, bakeries, and other food establishments. CW has two
13
California facilities, one in Northern CA, currently located in Union City, and one in Southern
14
CA, located in City of Industry. CW employs delivery drivers operating from each facility. CW
15
asserts that except during training, drivers typically drive by themselves with very little
16
management oversight, and they generally spend no less than 90-95% of their work day on the
17
road.
It is undisputed CW has a written meal and rest break policy that complies with the law.
18
19
The complaint is premised instead on the theory that, in actual practice, drivers are put under such
20
time pressures to complete their deliveries within certain windows that they are effectively
21
precluded, or at least strongly discouraged, from taking meal and rest breaks. CW denies that its
22
drivers cannot or do not take the requisite breaks. It explains that while it provides its drivers with
23
meal and rest breaks in compliance with California law, “the timing of breaks varies from day-to-
24
day and employee-to-employee depending on the delivery routes, daily activities (i.e. traffic,
25
26
27
1
Generally the court does not permit multiple motions for summary judgment. While judicial
efficiency warrants an exception in this instance, that does not mean it ordinarily is appropriate to
divide up summary judgment motions among issues or parties without advance leave of court.
28
CASE NO.
2
15-cv-05421-RS
1
problems with the truck, etc.) and most of all, individual preferences.” CW also asserts the
2
practices in Southern California and Northern California for ensuring compliance with the meal
3
and rest break policy differ in certain respects.
As noted in prior orders, this is not the first time CW has been sued for an alleged failure
4
5
to provide meal and rest breaks. In 2012, an action filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court
6
entitled Gustavo Chicas v. The Chefs’ Warehouse West Coast, LLC (“the Chicas matter”)
7
advanced the same categories of wage and hour claims as alleged here, except for failure to
8
reimburse business expenses. Named plaintiffs Robinson and Clark were members of the Chicas
9
class, and the declarations they signed in that action precluded them from serving as named
plaintiffs as to the claims advanced here. The class representative plaintiffs now proposed in this
11
United States District Court
Northern District of California
10
action are James Roberts, a former driver in Northern California and Saul Prado, a southern
12
California diver.
13
II. DISCUSSION
14
A. James Roberts summary judgment
15
CW seeks partial summary judgment against Roberts on the First, Second, Third, Fourth,
16
17
Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, and Fifteenth claims for relief in the operative fifth amended complaint.
18
Those are all the claims asserted by Roberts except the Seventh claim for relief—“Failure to
19
Reimburse Expenses,” which apparently relates to cell phone usage, and which CW does not seek
20
to adjudicate at this time.
CW correctly observes that all of the claims on which it seeks summary judgment rise or
21
22
fall with the question of whether Roberts can show any violations of his rights to meal and rest
23
breaks.2 The motion for partial summary judgment is premised on Roberts’ inability to identify at
24
25
26
27
2
I.e., the first claim for relief asserts failure to compensate for all hours worked; the second claim
alleges failure to pay overtime wages; the fifth claim complains of a failure to furnish wage and
hour statements; the sixth claim alleges a violation of the obligation to pay final wages, and the
eighth claim advances a claim for failure to pay minimum wage. The fifteenth claim asserts unfair
business practices. All these counts turn on the alleged underlying rest and meal period violations.
28
CASE NO.
3
15-cv-05421-RS
1
deposition specific meal or rest breaks he missed. There is no dispute that CW’s official policies,
2
of which Roberts was aware, afford timely meal and rest breaks to non-exempt employees, require
3
them to record their time accurately, explicitly prohibit off-the-clock work, and
4
provide for disciplinary action against employees who work off-the-clock or record their time
5
inaccurately. Roberts admits that he received timely meal and rest periods throughout his
6
employment, and the manifests CW provided to Roberts with his daily schedule reserved time for
7
him to take them. There is also no dispute that Roberts signed and submitted 79 separate
8
timesheets to CW wherein he specifically attested he took the meal and rest periods authorized
9
under California law. According to Roberts’ deposition testimony he even finished his route early
“easily four times a week,” which CW argues confirms he had the opportunity to take meal and
11
United States District Court
Northern District of California
10
rest breaks throughout his workday.
12
In light of this, CW insists Roberts’ claims stand or fall based on his ability to recall
13
specific dates when CW purportedly failed to provide him with breaks. See, e.g., Amiri v. Cox
14
Commc’ns Cal., LLC, 272 F. Supp. 3d 1187, 1197 (C.D. Cal. 2017) (“When [an employer’s] off-
15
the-clock policy disavows such work, as consistent with state law, the employees clocking out
16
creates a presumption they are doing no work.”); Manigo v. Time Warner Cable, Inc., 2017 WL
17
5054368, at *4-5 (C.D. Cal. Oct. 17, 2017) (holding testimony that employees “generally missed
18
meal breaks” was insufficient to create a triable issue of material fact because they “failed to
19
identify a single instance in which they were deprived of the opportunity to take a meal break and
20
did not receive a penalty payment.”).
21
CW argues Roberts’ deposition testimony makes clear that he cannot meet his burden.
22
Q: Right. So is it -- so when I asked you: Okay, on which days in the
23
-- in the various workweeks did you not take or did you take a rest
24
break, and you told me you couldn’t recall?
25
A: Right.
26
Q: . . . As you sit here today, you can’t tell me based on your
27
recollection which day you received a 30-minute break and which
28
CASE NO.
4
15-cv-05421-RS
1
day you didn’t receive a 30-minute break, correct?
2
A: Correct. May I ask a question?
3
Q: No.
4
A: Oh.
5
Q: I ask the questions[.]
6
A: Oh, I was just -- I was just wondering what you had for lunch
7
two and a half years ago. Today state (sic, today’s date) two and a
8
half years ago.
9
CW’s insistence that to survive summary judgment Roberts was required to identify from
memory specific dates on which he allegedly missed meal and/or rest breaks is not tenable.
11
United States District Court
Northern District of California
10
Roberts points to timesheets appearing to show instances in which he worked sufficient hours to
12
be entitled to a second lunch break, but did not take one. Even though such records may not prove
13
any violations, the records and Robert’s testimony that he was forced to miss breaks, and his
14
estimates as to how often that happened, create a triable issue of fact.
15
While the evidence to which CW points may be offered to impeach Roberts and to
16
undermine his credibility, it is not sufficient to warrant entry of judgment in CW’s favor as a
17
matter of law. CW’s overreach is manifest in its argument that Robert’s managers never told him
18
to falsify timesheets. As support, CW quotes Roberts’ deposition:
19
Q: And so back to my question, did anyone at Chef’s Warehouse tell
20
you to falsify your
21
time records?
22
A: If you’re asking me did they specifically say: James, falsify your
23
time records, no.
24
But if you’re asking me was I told: Just put something in there so we
25
can turn these time sheets in, yes.
26
27
From this, CW would have the court conclude as a matter of law that “Roberts’ managers
28
CASE NO.
5
15-cv-05421-RS
1
simply told him to complete and submit his timesheets” and “never told Roberts to falsify them.”
2
A trier of fact, however, could conclude that an instruction to “just put something in there” was
3
tantamount to directing Roberts to submit false time sheets, and it certainly could support an
4
inference that the timesheets are not completely reliable. CW is not entitled to summary judgment
5
against Roberts.
6
7
B. Saul Prado summary judgment
8
CW seeks partial summary judgment as to plaintiff Saul Prado’s meal and rest period
9
claims, and the claims that derive therefrom, on the grounds that California’s meal and rest period
laws are preempted by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Act of 1984, and its Regulations
11
United States District Court
Northern District of California
10
(“MCSA”), 49 U.S.C. § 31141, 49 C.F.R. 395.3, with respect to drivers in Prado’s circumstances.
12
Specifically, in December 2018, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (“FMCSA”)
13
issued a final order stating that the federal regulations governing the hours of service of drivers of
14
commercial motor vehicles (“HOS”) preempts California’s meal and rest break laws and these
15
laws may not be applied to drivers subject to the HOS regulations.
16
When CW filed its motion asserting this defense, plaintiffs’ initial response rested largely
17
on the procedural objection that the matter had not been pleaded as an affirmative defense. After
18
motion practice, CW was permitted to amend its answer to assert the defense, and plaintiffs were
19
given the opportunity to submit further briefing to address the merits of the preemption argument.
20
While plaintiffs’ opposition on the merits makes some efforts to argue that Prado’s claims are not
21
preempted, the primary thrust of their contentions is that the possible applicability of preemption
22
to the claims of other class members cannot be adjudicated at this juncture. Thus, plaintiffs argue,
23
even assuming summary judgment is granted against Prado, “the certification order would include
24
all drivers except Mr. Prado.”
25
That the claims of putative class members are not subject to the pending motion for
26
summary judgment against Prado is not controversial. Prior to certification, rulings do not bind
27
anyone other than the named plaintiffs and defendants. What plaintiffs appear not to recognize,
28
CASE NO.
6
15-cv-05421-RS
1
however, is that if the claims against Prado are dismissed, that is fatal to class certification of those
2
claims, unless Roberts can serve as an adequate representative of Southern California class
3
members as well as those in Northern California.3
Plaintiffs also do not seem to appreciate fully that in arguing that preemption may only
4
5
apply “as to some drivers for some periods of time,” they undercut the propriety of class
6
certification. While the presence of individualized defenses does not automatically preclude class
7
treatment, it is certainly relevant. See Hanon v. Dataproducts Corp., 976 F.2d 497, 508 (9th Cir.
8
1992) (“The certification of a class is questionable where it is predictable that a major focus of the
9
litigation will be on an arguable defense unique to the named plaintiff or to a subclass.”)
As to Prado, CW has shown that his rest and meal period claims are preempted. On
10
United States District Court
Northern District of California
11
December 28, 2018, the FMCSA, an agency of the United States Department of Transportation,
12
published an Order concluding that the California meal and rest break rules contained in California
13
Labor Code §§ 226.7 and 512, as applied to property-carrying commercial vehicle drivers, are
14
preempted by the FMCSA’s hours of service regulations. See California’s Meal and Rest Break
15
Rules for Commercial Motor Vehicle Drivers; Petition for Determination of Preemption
16
(“Order”), 83 Fed. Reg. 67470, 67470 (Dec. 28, 2018). The order was promulgated under 49
17
U.S.C. § 31141. See id. Under Section 31141, the Secretary of Transportation is authorized to
18
make a determination that state laws meeting certain criteria are preempted and may not be
19
enforced. 49 U.S.C. § 31141. The Secretary of Transportation’s authority to issue such
20
determinations has been delegated to the FMCSA Administrator. See 49 C.F.R. § 1.87(f) (2016).
21
Under Section 31141 judicial review of a DOT preemption determination may only be heard by a
22
circuit court. See 49 U.S.C. § 31141(f).
23
24
25
26
The prior order denying certification noted that “the Southern California and Northern
California facilities might require separate treatment” in any renewed certification motion. While
plaintiffs have proffered separate class representatives in response to that observation, no
definitive finding has been made that separate classes are required.
3
27
28
CASE NO.
7
15-cv-05421-RS
In Ayala v. U.S Xpress Enterprises, Inc., 2019 WL 1986760, at *3 (C.D. Cal. May 2,
1
2
2019), the court applied the Order to enter partial summary judgment on claims like those made
3
here, finding both that “retroactivity” was not at issue because the courts lack authority to enforce
4
the preempted laws, and that any challenge to the Order must be brought in United States courts of
5
appeal. Although Ayala is not binding authority, its conclusions appear sound and fully applicable
6
here.
Plaintiffs suggest Prado’s claims may not be preempted if he qualified as a “short haul”
8
driver, and that CW has failed to establish as a factual matter he was not a such a driver at any
9
relevant point in time. Plaintiffs have not shown, however, that the Order excludes short haul
10
drivers, even assuming there otherwise were a factual question as to Prado’s status during any
11
United States District Court
Northern District of California
7
particular period.
12
Finally, plaintiffs argue preemption would not preclude Prado from pursuing equitable or
13
contract claims based on the same alleged failures to provide meal and rest breaks. Plaintiffs have
14
not explained, however, why permitting recovery on any such theories would not impermissibly
15
render the preemption a nullity. Accordingly, the motion will be granted.
16
17
C. Class certification
18
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23 allows for the certification of a class when: “(1) the
19
class is so numerous that joinder of all members is impracticable; (2) there are questions of law or
20
fact common to the class; (3) the claims or defenses of the representative parties are typical of the
21
claims or defenses of the class; and (4) the representative parties will fairly and adequately protect
22
the interests of the class.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(a). Where these prerequisites are satisfied, a class
23
action may be maintained if, “the court finds that the questions of law or fact common to class
24
members predominate over any questions affecting only individual members, and that a class
25
action is superior to other available methods for fairly and efficiently adjudicating the
26
controversy,” Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(b)(3), or “the party opposing the class has acted or refused to act
27
on grounds that apply generally to the class, so that final injunctive relief or corresponding
28
CASE NO.
8
15-cv-05421-RS
1
declaratory relief is appropriate respecting the class as a whole.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(b)(2).
2
“[C]ertification is proper only if the trial court is satisfied, after a rigorous analysis,” that the
3
requirements of Rules 23(a) and (b) have been satisfied. See Comcast Corp. v. Behrend, 133 S.
4
Ct. 1426, 1432 (2013) (citations and internal quotation marks omitted).
5
The prior motion for class certification focused primarily on whether the then-named
6
plaintiffs and their counsel could adequately represent the class. While the question regarding
7
counsel was mooted by withdrawal of the attorney as to whom questions had been raised, the
8
motion was denied based on the fact that the named plaintiffs had signed declarations in the
9
Chicas matter arguably undermining their claims here. In light of that conclusion, it was neither
necessary nor appropriate to make a definitive finding at that juncture whether it would otherwise
11
United States District Court
Northern District of California
10
be appropriate for the claims to be litigated on a class-wide basis. The order observed, however,
12
that the decision in Ludosky McCowen v. Trimac Transportation Services (Western), Inc., 14-cv-
13
02694, provided support for the notion that class certification could be warranted for these claims.
14
As the case has subsequently unfolded, however, class certification does not appear
15
appropriate, for a number of interrelated reasons. First, as noted above, Prado’s claims are
16
preempted, which both eliminates him as a viable class representative and supports an inference
17
that the claims of many of the other putative class members may also be preempted. That, in turn,
18
implicates both commonality and numerosity.
19
Indeed, CW has shown there are now only seventeen Southern California drivers and five
20
Northern California drivers who have not either: (1) released their claims by signing individual
21
settlement agreements; (2) waived their right to participate in a class action by signing an
22
arbitration agreement with a class waiver; (3) stated in declarations in the Chicas matter that CW
23
provided them with meal/rest periods and pay for all hours worked; or (4) stated in declarations in
24
this action that CW provided them with meal/rest breaks and paid them for all hours worked.
25
Additionally twelve of the seventeen remaining Southern California drivers have either Class A or
26
Class B commercial licenses, implying they operate vehicles weighing over 10,000 pounds, and
27
would be subject to the FMSCA’s Order, thereby preempting their claims. Thus, while signing
28
CASE NO.
9
15-cv-05421-RS
1
declarations in the Chicas matter would not automatically preclude a class member from
2
recovering in this action, it appears there may be as few as five drivers in Northern California and
3
five in Southern California who do not face one or more hurdles or complete bars to recovery.
4
Although plaintiffs question the enforceability of the class action waivers, litigating that issue
5
likely will also require individual inquiries.
6
Finally, while CW’s opposition to class certification arguably goes too far in attempting to
7
defeat the merits of plaintiffs’ claims, plaintiffs appear to have, at best, individualized and
8
anecdotal evidence that drivers did not always get their rest and meal breaks, despite clear
9
company policy to the contrary, and the implementation of a number of procedures designed to
ensure compliance. The discussion above regarding the summary judgment motion against
11
United States District Court
Northern District of California
10
Roberts demonstrates the nature of the evidence. While Roberts raises triable issues of fact as to
12
his individual claims, plaintiffs have not explained how they would prove their claims on a class-
13
wide basis given the state of the record.
14
IV. CONCLUSION
15
16
The motion for partial summary judgment against plaintiff Roberts and the motion for
17
class certification are denied. The motion for partial summary judgment against plaintiff Prado is
18
granted. A further case management conference will be held on October 10, 2019, with a joint
19
case management conference statement to be filed one week in advance.
20
21
IT IS SO ORDERED.
22
23
24
25
Dated: September 10, 2019
______________________________________
RICHARD SEEBORG
United States District Judge
26
27
28
CASE NO.
10
15-cv-05421-RS
Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.
Why Is My Information Online?