CHAVEZ v. CONVERSE INC (2019)

MEMORANDUM **

Converse requires its retail employees to undergo “off the clock” exit inspections every time they leave the store. Seeking compensation for these exit inspections, plaintiff Eric Chavez brought the instant class action on behalf of himself and similarly situated Converse employees. The District Court granted summary judgment for Converse, holding the Chavez’s claims were barred by the federal de minimis doctrine, which precludes recovery for otherwise compensable amounts of time that are small, irregular, or administratively difficult to record. The California Supreme Court subsequently held in Troester v. Starbucks Corp., 5 Cal.5th 829, 235 Cal.Rptr.3d 820, 421 P.3d 1114 (2018), that the federal de minimis doctrine does not apply to wage and hour claims brought under California law.¹

For substantially the reasons given in the related case, Rodriguez v. Nike Retail Services, Inc., No. 17-16866, we hold that the District Court erred in granting summary judgment based on the federal de minimis doctrine. We likewise hold that on the current record there are no alternative grounds for affirmance. Accordingly, we reverse and remand for further proceedings consistent with Troester.

Each party shall bear its own costs on appeal.

REVERSED AND REMANDED.

FOOTNOTES

1.   We assume familiarity with the facts and procedural history of this case.