Update to California Meal Period Cases
On January 14, 2009, the California Supreme Court granted review in Brinkley v. Public Storage, Inc. which, like Brinker Restaurant Corporation v. Superior Court, held that employers are only required to “provide” meal and rest breaks and, absent a policy or practice which discourages or prevents employees from taking their meal and rest breaks, claims for missed meal and rest breaks are not suitable for class treatment. As expected, the Supreme Court is holding the Brinkley case pending determination of the earlier Brinker Restaurant case. This means there will be no activity in Brinkley until Brinker Restaurant is decided.
The opening brief in Brinker Restaurant was filed on January 20, 2009. Respondent and amici (friends of the court) briefs will follow, as well as the final reply brief, a process that can take several months. At that point the case will be scheduled for oral argument. Check back on this blog for the progress of Brinker Restaurant.
This blog entry was authored by AnnaMary Gannon.
