Fresno PAGA and Class Action Attorneys: Fighting for Employee Rights in the Central Valley
When a California employer violates labor laws, the issue often affects dozens, if not hundreds, of workers. In Fresno and throughout the Central Valley, employees who have suffered wage theft, been denied proper breaks, or been forced to work off the clock have two powerful legal tools to seek collective justice: a Wage and Hour Class Action and a lawsuit under the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA). Our experienced Fresno employment lawyers are dedicated to utilizing both these mechanisms to hold large corporations accountable and recover compensation for groups of employees.
What is a PAGA Lawsuit?
The Private Attorneys General Act allows an aggrieved employee to step into the shoes of the State of California's Labor and Workforce Development Agency (LWDA) and sue their employer for civil penalties. PAGA is not about recovering your individual wages; it is about punishing the employer for systemic labor code violations affecting many employees.
- Representative Action: The employee acts as a "private attorney general."
- Penalties: The lawsuit seeks civil penalties for each violation.
- Distribution: Of the recovered penalties, 75% goes to the LWDA, and 25% is distributed to the affected employees.
- Key Benefit: PAGA claims are often exempt from mandatory arbitration agreements, allowing many employees to pursue their claims in public court.
How Does PAGA Differ from a Class Action?
While both are tools for collective relief in California wage law, they have significant differences. Choosing the right legal path is critical for maximizing recovery.
| Feature | PAGA Lawsuit | Wage & Hour Class Action |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Goal | To seek Civil Penalties for state labor law violations. | To recover Actual Damages (unpaid wages, missed break pay, etc.). |
| Court Approval | Does not require court certification. | Requires the court to certify the group of employees (the Class). |
| Compensation | Employee receives 25% of the penalty recovery. | Employee receives 100% of their proportional damages. |
| Arbitration Impact | Often allows claims to proceed in court despite arbitration agreements. | Can often be forced into private arbitration if an agreement exists. |
Common Wage Violations We Handle in Fresno
Many employers in the Fresno area commit the same labor code violations, making them prime targets for PAGA or class action lawsuits. These violations include:
- Failure to Provide Meal and Rest Breaks: Not allowing employees to take a timely 30-minute unpaid meal period or 10-minute paid rest period.
- Unpaid Overtime: Failing to pay time-and-a-half or double-time for hours worked beyond eight in a day or forty in a week.
- Off-the-Clock Work: Requiring employees to perform work tasks before clocking in or after clocking out.
- Misclassification of Employees: Incorrectly labeling workers as "Independent Contractors" or "Exempt" salary employees to avoid paying overtime and providing breaks.
Ready to Fight for the Rights of You and Your Co-Workers?
If you suspect your employer is engaging in widespread labor law violations, contact our Fresno PAGA and class action attorneys immediately. We offer a free, confidential consultation to review your situation and determine the best legal strategy to maximize recovery for all affected employees.
To speak to a Fresno Employee Lawyer,
call us today at (818) 783-7300
Relevant Links for Employees
Find out more about your rights and how we can help:
- Free, Confidential Consultation - Start your case review.
- Fresno Employee Lawyer Home - Learn about our full range of services.
- California Wage and Hour Class Action Lawsuits - General information on class actions.
- PAGA Lawsuits in the Central and Southern Valley - Learn about similar successful cases.
Our Firm: No upfront fees or costs
Contingency Fee Representation
All employment cases for employees are taken on a contingency basis. We are only paid a fee when and if we win your case, and we advance all litigation costs. Our goal is to make expert legal representation accessible to every hardworking employee.
Serving Fresno County
We have proudly served all of Fresno County since 1993.
The Employment Lawyers Group has successfully handled
2,000+
Separate California Employment Cases
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Sample Case Results
Employment Case
$18,402,868
Jury verdict for male visually harassed and subject to crude comments by a female manager
breach of commission contract
$1,150,000
Unpaid commissions of two plaintiffs
unpaid wages
$875,000
For 4 oil field service industry workers whose times worked were not recorded on timesheets and were on-call
Disclaimer: These results are based on the facts of these specific cases and do not guarantee or predict a similar result in any future case.
Practice Areas
Discrimination
Age, Disability, Family Medical Leave (FMLA/CFRA), Gender, National Origin, Pregnancy, Race, and Sexual Orientation claims.
Unpaid Wages & Overtime
Recovering earnings for Overtime, Bonuses, Commissions, Meal & Rest Breaks, and Prevailing Wage violations.
Sexual Harassment
Compassionate and effective representation for victims of sexual harassment and hostile work environment claims.
Wrongful Termination
Representing employees terminated in violation of public policy, contracts, or California and Federal law.
Leaves & Retaliation
Protecting employees who face adverse actions after reporting illegal activity or taking protected medical leave.
Whistleblowers
Advocating for employees who report fraud, waste, or abuse in their organizations under whistleblower protections.
Our California Locations
Bakersfield
5401 Business Park S, #214,
Bakersfield CA 93309
Los Angeles
Orange County
Riverside
Sacramento
777 Campus Commons Rd, #200,
Sacramento CA 95825
San Bernardino
San Diego
San Francisco
524 Union St, #400,
San Francisco CA 94133
San Jose
Sherman Oaks
Torrance
Ventura
Additional Sites
BostonLaborLaw.com
DcLaborAttorney.com
FresnoEmployeeLawyer.com
JobLawyer.net
MarylandLaborAttorney.com
ModemStud.com
VintageLosAngeles.org
WorkLawyerCA.info
About Firm Founder, Karl Gerber
Firm Founder, Karl Gerber, has been an employment wrongful termination attorney since 1993. He has represented a wide range of employees throughout California.
Mr. Gerber has won 51 of the binding arbitrations and jury trials he first chaired, and a number of his appeals are published. This deep trial experience is the foundation of the firm's strategic approach to litigation.
The employment attorneys employed by the Employment Lawyers Group have worked at the firm well in excess of five years, have also tried many different labor cases, and have all been extensively trained on employment wrongful termination by Karl Gerber.
Ready to Discuss Your Case?
Your rights as an employee matter. Contact us for a free, confidential case review.
Prefer to speak directly?
Call Us: (818) 783-7300