Gutierrez
Gutierrez v. California Commerce Club, Inc.
Opinion
Opinion
Johnson, J.
Sergio Gutierrez and Hector Salazar filed the operative third amended class action complaint against California Commerce Club, Inc. (Club), alleging, among other things, that they and other similarly situated members of the putative class were injured by the Club’s unlawful policy and practice of denying meal and rest breaks to certain hourly, nonunion employees. The trial court sustained the Club’s demurrer without leave to amend, on the ground plaintiffs had failed to show the existence of a class, and dismissed the action as to all representative claims. We reverse. In this action, as in the vast majority of wage and hour disputes, class suitability should not be determined on demurrer.
BACKGROUND
The challenged ruling arises in the context of an order sustaining a demurrer without leave to amend. Accordingly, we accept as true the factual allegations of the operative pleading. (Tarkington v. California Unemployment Ins. Appeals Bd. (2009) 172 Cal.App.4th 1494, 1498, fn. 1 [ 92 Cal.Rptr.3d 131 ] (Tarkington).)
Initial complaint
In October 2006 Gutierrez filed a purported class action complaint, alleging three causes of action stemming from the Club’s alleged (1)…