recent New York State Supreme Court decision raises the bar for certifying an “opt out” class of unpaid interns seeking minimum or other wages, and provides valuable guidance for employers facing challenges to their unpaid internship programs. Rodriguez v. 5W Public Relations, Index No. 156571/14 (July 26, 2016). In Rodriguez, Justice Cynthia Kern denied class certification to named plaintiff Kristina Rodriguez and a putative class of individuals who interned with a New York City public relations firm. Rodriguez alleged that, since 2008, she and others were misclassified as unpaid interns when they were actually employees entitled to minimum wage pursuant to the New York Labor Law (“NYLL”) §§ 663 and 198.
Home > Federal Law Articles > Class Actions > Wage & Hour Class Actions > Manhattan Supreme Court Judge Refuses to Certify Class of Interns; Adopts Balancing Test Similar to Second Circuit’s Primary Beneficiary Test