In legal terms, "manageability" refers to how practical it is to handle a claim or case in the court system. When deciding whether to dismiss a claim, manageability is assessed based on the court's ability to handle the legal proceedings connected to that claim efficiently and effectively. While manageability concerns are common in class action suits, which often involve thousands of members, they have been a point of debate in California, particularly regarding Private Attorney General Act claims (PAGA).

As many readers know, PAGA claims arise when an employee sues on behalf of the State for penalties due to Labor Code violations affecting other employees. In recent years, there has been a split among California Courts of Appeal over whether PAGA claims, like class actions, can be dismissed due to manageability concerns. Now, with the California Supreme Court's decision in Estrada v. Royalty Carpet Mills, Inc. (2024), this split has finally been resolved.

In this case, Jorge Luis Estrada, an employee of Royalty Carpet Mills, Inc., had a legal dispute with his employer over Labor Code violations, specifically Royalty's failure to provide required meal periods. The case turned into a class action with a PAGA claim for Labor Code violation penalties.

After legal proceedings, the trial court dismissed the PAGA claim, citing manageability concerns. The plaintiffs appealed, and the Court of Appeal reversed the dismissal. In response, Royalty sought resolution from the California Supreme Court to decide whether trial courts can dismiss PAGA claims based on manageability.

Upon review, the California Supreme Court analyzed three main arguments brought by Royalty.

1. Broad Inherent Authority of Trial Courts: First, Royalty argued that California trial courts have broad inherent authority to dismiss any unmanageable claim for judicial economy, i.e., the efficient use of time, resources, and procedures within the legal system. However, the Court disagreed, emphasizing the limited inherent authority of trial courts, as outlined in previous case precedent.

2. Comparison with Class Claims and Other Representative Claims: Royalty then argued that California trial courts have the authority to dismiss PAGA claims on manageability grounds, similar to their ability to do so in class actions. Again, the Court disagreed, emphasizing the critical structural distinctions between class actions and PAGA claims. Notably, the Court clarified that the authority to bring a PAGA claim is expressly granted by the Legislature to rectify the under-enforcement of labor laws. This sets PAGA apart from class actions, which adhere to more conventional principles of equity.

3. Due Process Rights: Lastly, Royalty argued that California trial courts inherently have the power to dismiss PAGA claims for manageability to protect the due process rights of defendants. Here, the Court refrained from giving a definitive opinion on whether, and in what situations, due process concerns could justify dismissing a PAGA claim. However, the Court underscored that trial courts have various case management tools to handle complex cases, including those involving PAGA claims, without outright dismissal. The Court emphasized the availability of tools outlined by the Judicial Council and stressed that trial courts can limit evidence presentation or use other methods without completely dismissing a PAGA claim.

Ultimately, the California Supreme Court's decision in Estrada, while recognizing the importance of case management, establishes that the dismissal of a PAGA claim on grounds of manageability goes against a plaintiff's statutory rights and surpasses the inherent authority of trial courts. While this case is a win for PAGA, it is important to note that the Court did leave open the possibility that a PAGA claim could be dismissed for manageability if a defendant can show a violation of due process. To navigate the intricacies of PAGA claims, we highly recommend seeking competent legal counsel, as PAGA continues to be a source of contention in California's employment landscape.