Coleman v. Jenny Craig: California District Court Weighs in on Class Certification Post-Brinker

The recent decision by the federal district court for the Southern District of California in Coleman v. Jenny Craig, Inc. is a welcome decision for employers in the spate of post-Brinker meal break cases. In denying reconsideration of its decision denying class certification, the court rejected the plaintiff’s argument that a California Court of Appeal’s decision in Benton v. Telecom Network Specialists, Inc., previously discussed on this blog, was “controlling law.” In Benton, the court granted class certification after determining the theory of liability – that the employer violated the law by failing to adopt a California-compliant meal and rest period policy – was appropriate for class treatment.