Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani Partner Melissa J. Brown and Senior Counsel Jonathan R. Stuckel achieved a complete dismissal of all class action claims against their client, a healthcare employer, in a New Jersey state court action.
The plaintiff, a certified nursing assistant, alleged violations of the New Jersey Wage Payment Law, claiming unlawful wage deductions for breaks not taken due to alleged understaffing. The complaint alleged a class action on behalf of all employees at the client’s facility.
The GRSM team successfully argued that the plaintiff’s claims were preempted by federal labor law and barred by the terms of a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) governing the plaintiff’s employment. The team argued that the CBA required mandatory grievance and arbitration procedures, which the plaintiff failed to exhaust before filing suit. The court agreed, dismissing the complaint entirely based on the plaintiff’s noncompliance with the CBA and federal preemption under the Labor Management Relations Act.
This victory highlights GRSM’s robust Class Action practice and strength in defending employers in disputes involving complex labor law and collective bargaining agreements.