Hamilton v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

Court: U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

Date: August 15, 2022

Issue on Appeal: Whether district courts have inherent authority to dismiss or manage unmanageable claims brought under California’s Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA), including whether such claims can proceed despite requiring extensive individualized inquiries.

RLC’s Position: The RLC argues that district courts must retain inherent authority to manage or dismiss unmanageable PAGA claims. Allowing such cases to proceed—regardless of complexity—would impose significant burdens on employers and courts, drive coercive settlements, and fail to meaningfully benefit employees. The RLC emphasizes that PAGA’s structure already creates substantial litigation pressure, and removing judicial tools to address unmanageable claims would exacerbate abuse, increase costs, and undermine fair and efficient resolution of disputes.

Other Amici: Chamber of Commerce of the United States; National Retail Federation.

Counsel: Jennifer B. Dickey and Jordan L. Von Bokern (U.S. Chamber Litigation Center); Gilbert C. Dickey (McGuireWoods LLP); Stephanie Martz (National Retail Federation); Deborah White (Retail Litigation Center).