Sullivan

Oracle Corporation (“Oracle”), a large software company, has employed hundreds of workers to train Oracle customers in the use of its software. During the period relevant to this suit, Oracle classified these workers as teachers who were not entitled to compensation for overtime work under either federal or California law. Three nonresidents of California brought a would-be class action against Oracle seeking damages under California law for failure to pay overtime. Plaintiffs performed only some of their work for Oracle in California. Plaintiffs’ first two claims are based on work performed in California. Their third claim is based on work performed anywhere in the United States.

The district court granted summary judgment to Oracle on all three claims, on the ground that the relevant provisions of California law did not, or could not, apply to the work performed by Plaintiffs. We reverse the summary judgment on the first two claims and affirm on the third claim.

I. Background

Oracle is a Delaware corporation with its principal place of business in California. Plaintiffs are “Instructors” — to use Oracle’s term — who trained customers to use Oracle software. The parties…