Washington Court Affirms $2.1 Million Judgment in Meal and Rest Period Class Action

Finding no error in the trial court’s ruling that plaintiff-armored car employees “were always engaged in active work duties when on the armored vehicles,” the Washington Court of Appeals has affirmed a $2.1 million judgment against an employer for failing to comply with Washington’s meal and rest period law. Pellino v. Brink’s Inc., 164 Wn. App. 668, 2011 Wash. App. LEXIS 2541 (Wash. Ct. App., Div. I, Nov. 7, 2011), recons. denied (Dec. 22, 2011). In addition, the Court agreed that the company engaged in a class-wide pattern or practice of failing to provide sufficient meal and rest period time also in violation of Washington state law.