July 20, 2021
The full Ninth Circuit won't reconsider a panel ruling that upheld most of a $77 million win by flight attendants against Virgin America by holding that federal aviation laws don't preempt California break requirements, while also backing the airline's block-time pay policy, the court said Tuesday.
July 02, 2021
A U.S. Supreme Court ruling clarifying the limits of specific personal jurisdiction for automakers and a spate of Ninth Circuit rulings concerning California workplace regulations and the scope of federal preemption are among the biggest court decisions of the first half of 2021 impacting the transportation industry.
April 26, 2021
Virgin America and flight attendants embroiled in a long-running wage and hour battle have asked the full Ninth Circuit to revisit a panel's mixed ruling on the airline's block-time pay policy and its compliance with California's meal and rest break regulations, saying the decision has far-reaching implications for the airline industry.
February 23, 2021
Federal aviation laws do not preempt California requirements for meal and rest breaks because the Golden State's regulations have no direct implications for safety, the Ninth Circuit said Tuesday, upholding most of a $77 million win for flight attendants in a class action against Virgin America Inc.
January 14, 2021
Virgin America urged the Ninth Circuit on Thursday to overturn flight attendants' $77 million wage-and-hour win, along with a $6 million attorney fees award, arguing that federal aviation safety regulations preempt the Golden State's meal-and-rest break laws and the California Supreme Court's recent Ward and Oman rulings clear it of liability.
October 19, 2020
Virgin America Inc. flight attendants told the Ninth Circuit that their attorneys were properly awarded $6 million in fees and expenses after they won $77 million in a long-running dispute over California pay and rest breaks, saying their fees were already trimmed down.
July 21, 2020
Alaska Airlines and Virgin America asked the Ninth Circuit Monday to vacate nearly $6 million in fees awarded to attorneys for a certified class of flight attendants who won $77 million in a long-running dispute over pay and rest breaks.