In a significant legal move, a class action lawsuit has been filed against a major healthcare provider in California, alleging multiple violations of labor laws. On December 2, 2024, Asefash Rivera filed the complaint in the Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara, targeting Stanford Health Care for failing to adhere to various wage and hour regulations.
The case unfolds with Rivera representing herself and over 100 other hourly, non-exempt employees who claim that Stanford Health Care has consistently violated California's labor laws. According to the complaint, the alleged infractions include failure to pay for all hours worked—particularly overtime—failure to pay minimum wage, rest and meal break violations, failure to reimburse business expenses, and issuing inaccurate wage statements. The plaintiff argues that these practices are not only unlawful but also constitute unfair business practices under California's Business and Professions Code §17200.
Rivera contends that she and her colleagues were often required to work off-the-clock during their breaks without compensation. "Plaintiff reports that she and her coworkers were often asked by managers to continue working after clocking out for their meal breaks," the complaint states. This practice allegedly resulted in unpaid wages and insufficient rest periods, which are violations of sections 226.7 and 512 of the Labor Code. Additionally, Rivera accuses Stanford Health Care of not reimbursing employees for mandatory business expenses such as using personal cell phones for work-related communications.
The lawsuit seeks several forms of relief from the court. These include compensatory damages for unpaid wages including overtime and penalties for missed breaks; restitution for business expenses; injunctive relief requiring Stanford Health Care to comply with all applicable labor laws; statutory penalties; interest on unpaid wages; reasonable attorneys' fees; and any further relief deemed appropriate by the court.
Representing Rivera is Nazo Koulloukian from Koul Law Firm APC based in Los Angeles. The case is being overseen by Judge P. Hernandez under Case ID 24CV453093.