SAN JOAQUIN, Calif. (Legal Newsline) – The judgment in a case involving Coastal Pacific Food Distributors Inc. has been reversed in part and affirmed in part.
The court affirmed May 22 the judgment of the San Joaquin County Superior Court with the exception of the ruling under the Private Attorneys General Act.
Plaintiff Terri Raines filed suit against Coastal Pacific alleging her 2014 termination was related to age and disability discrimination. She also alleges the company failed to provide and maintain accurate wage statements, as stated in the court opinion by Associate Justice Elena J. Duarte of California Court of Appeal, 3rd Appellate District.
According to the ruling, Raines was a billing clerk for Coastal Pacific from 1998 to 2014. She filed the suit against her employer alleging age discrimination, disability, discrimination and related claims. She also filed an amended complaint alleging that Coastal Pacific failed to maintain itemized wage statements for her and other employees.
In her suit, Raines requested recovery of statutory penalties and civil penalties under the Private Attorneys General Act of 2004 as well as attorney fees, costs and interest, as stated in the court opinion.
Following the filing of the lawsuit by Raines, Coastal Pacific filed for summary judgment or summary adjudication requesting that the plaintiff’s claims be dismissed. The lower court denied summary adjudication for the company and allowed recovery under the Private Attorneys General Act.
The two parties settled over the age discrimination claims but left the allegations under the Private Attorneys General Act were not resolved.
When taken to the appeals court, it was determined by the court that an injury doesn’t have to occur in order for the Private Attorneys General Act to be valid. The appeals court reversed the order in regards to the Private Attorneys General Act only.
Duarte stated, “In all other respects, the judgment is affirmed.”