Alma Garcia v. Dolex Dollar Express, Inc.

I. Factual & Procedural Background

25 On February 1, 2023, Plaintiff Alma Garcia (“Garcia”) filed a complaint in Los Angeles 26 Superior Court individually and on behalf of others similarly situated against Defendant Dolex 27 Dollar Express, Inc. (“Dolex”), alleging violations of the California Labor Code and Business & 28 Professions Code—specifically: (1) Unpaid Overtime; (2) Unpaid Minimum Wages; (3) Unpaid Meal Period Premiums; (4) Unpaid Rest Period Premiums; (5) Failure to Provide Accurate Wage Statements; (6) Final Wages Not Timely Paid; (7) Failure to Reimburse Necessary Business Expenses; and (8) Unfair and Unlawful Business Practices. ECF No. 1-1 (“Complaint”). On March 17, 2023, Dolex removed the action to this Court. ECF No. 1 (“Notice of Removal”). The parties stipulated on April 14, 2023 to allow Garcia to amend the Complaint to add a ninth cause of action for violation of the Private Attorneys General Act (“PAGA”), which the Court granted. ECF Nos. 16, 20. Garcia filed the operative First Amended Complaint on April 24, 2023. ECF No. 21 (“FAC”). On April 25, 2023, the Court issued the Civil Trial Order in this case,…