Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-azd-3_10-cv-08125/USCOURTS-azd-3_10-cv-08125-3/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 710
Nature of Suit: Fair Labor Standards Act
Cause of Action: 29:201 Fair Labor Standards Act

---

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

WO

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

Michael L. Taylor, on behalf of himself

and other persons similarly situated, et al.,

Plaintiffs, 

vs.

Autozone, Inc. et al.,

Defendants. 

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

No. CV-10-8125-PCT-FJM

ORDER

We have before us plaintiffs’ motion to clarify (doc. 79), which we construe as a

motion for reconsideration, and defendant’s motion for reconsideration of our order

conditionally certifying a Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”) class (doc. 80). 

I

We conditionally certified a class “of all AutoZone store managers employed

anywhere in the United States except California between July 16, 2007 and July 16, 2010.”

Order of May 24, 2011 at 10 (doc. 67). The class description is from plaintiffs’ motion for

certification, which states that the “class of prospective collective action members consists

of all persons who worked as AutoZone store managers in the three years before July 16,

2010,” and requests our authorization for dissemination of notice to all persons who worked

as store managers “during the three years prior to July 16, 2010.” Motion for Certification

at 5, 6 (doc. 28). However, elsewhere in the motion, plaintiffs request that the action be

certified on behalf of all managers employed between July 16, 2007, and the present. Motion

Case 3:10-cv-08125-FJM Document 87 Filed 06/14/11 Page 1 of 5
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

1

 We may not grant a motion to reconsider without providing an opportunity for

response. See LRCiv 7.2(g)(2). Because defendant addressed plaintiffs’ motion to

reconsider the class period in defendant’s separate motion to reconsider, no further response

is necessary. 

- 2 -

for Certification at 4. Plaintiffs’ proposed form of notice, which we approved, states that the

action is on behalf of all store managers employed from July 16, 2007 to the present. Copley

Declaration, ex. C, “Notice of Collection Action” (doc. 29-3). In its response to plaintiffs’

certification motion, defendant only addressed the class period in a footnote, arguing that the

class should not include all managers employed since July 17, 2007, because the complaint

filing only tolled the limitations period for plaintiffs’ claims, not the claims of individuals

who have not yet joined the class. See Response at 20 n.19 (doc. 37). 

In their motion to reconsider, plaintiffs contend the class should include store

managers employed from July 16, 2007 until the present, because this definition gives the

court “maximum flexibility and does not present any practical challenges,” and because

courts generally certify FLSA classes for individuals employed “to the present.” Motion at

2. Plaintiffs argue we should rely on the opt-in deadline of September 10, 2011 to provide

finality with respect to class membership. 

Defendant argues that the class should be store managers employed between May 24,

2009, and May 24, 2011, a period of two years prior to our order conditionally certifying the

class.1

 Defendant’s Motion to Reconsider at 18. Defendant argues that because the filing

of the complaint does not toll the statute of limitations for plaintiffs who have not yet

consented to join, it does not establish the eligibility period for all plaintiffs. Defendant also

argues that the two year statute of limitations period applies here, not the three year period

for willful violations, and therefore, the class period should extend back only two years. Id.

at 16. 

We conclude that the appropriate class is store managers employed between May 24,

2008 and May 24, 2011, a period of three years before conditional class certification. First,

an end date of “the present” creates a moving target and presents potential case management

Case 3:10-cv-08125-FJM Document 87 Filed 06/14/11 Page 2 of 5
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 3 -

problems. The interests of clarity and finality are better promoted by firm class period dates.

We will not leave open the door to motions for the joining of plaintiffs who learn of the

action after the opt-in period, and believe that they are members of a class that extends to

“the present.” A specified end date also helps ensure that plaintiff-specific discovery will

be completed in a timely manner. The class end date is the date we conditionally certified

the class, rather than the date plaintiffs’ complaint was filed, because judicial economy is

best served by including as many prospective plaintiffs with the same FLSA claim as is

practicable. 

Second, we extend the period to three years before the date of conditional certification

because plaintiffs have adequately alleged a willful violation of the FLSA. The statute of

limitations for violations of the FLSA is two years, with a three year exception for willful

violations. 29 U.S.C. § 255(a). Defendant argues that plaintiffs have not adequately alleged

a wilful violation, see Motion to Reconsider at 16, but defendant did not make this argument

in its response to plaintiffs’ motion for conditional certification, and has not explained the

delay. See LRCiv 7.2(g)(1).

Putting aside the timeliness of defendant’s argument, we conclude that plaintiffs’

allegations of wilfulness are sufficient. An FLSA violation is willful if the “employer either

knew or showed reckless disregard for the matter of whether its conduct was prohibited by

the statute.” McLaughlin v. Richland Shoe Co., 486 U.S. 128, 133, 108 S.Ct. 1677, 1681

(1988). Plaintiffs assert that defendant’s classification of its California store managers as

non-exempt, while classifying all other managers as exempt, demonstrates willfulness.

Taylor Complaint, ¶ 13 (doc. 1). Defendant argues California managers are subject to more

stringent state laws, and also that its classification is justified because another court

concluded that an assistant store manager was properly classified as exempt. Motion to

Reconsider at 17 (citing Cofield v. Autozone Stores, Inc. et al., 02-CV-2436-RDP (D. Ala.

Aug. 31, 2005). But the ruling of another court made almost six years ago with respect to

another position does not mean plaintiff cannot state a claim for a wilful violation. A fact

finder could believe that if defendant is in violation of the FLSA, its previous experience

Case 3:10-cv-08125-FJM Document 87 Filed 06/14/11 Page 3 of 5
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 4 -

litigating a similar issue evidences its knowledge or reckless disregard for plaintiffs’ FLSA

status. The same is true of its different status for the California store managers. 

We therefore amend our Order of May 24, 2011 (doc. 67) to conditionally certify a

class of all AutoZone store managers employed anywhere in the United States except

California between May 24, 2008 and May 24, 2011.

II

Defendant moves for reconsideration of our order granting conditional class

certification. Because defendant’s motion does not identify any matter overlooked or

misunderstood, we do not order a response from plaintiffs. See LRCiv 7.2(g)(2).

We deny a motion for reconsideration “absent a showing of manifest error or a

showing of new facts or legal authority that could not have been brought to [our] attention

earlier with reasonable diligence.” LRCiv 7.2(g)(1). We grant reconsideration in only

“highly unusual circumstances,” when we are “presented with newly discovered evidence,

committed clear error, or if there is an intervening change in the controlling law.” Carroll v.

Nakatani, 342 F.3d 934, 944 (9th Cir. 2003) (applying Fed. R. Civ. P. 59(e)). 

Defendant argues that we committed clear error in not considering the merits of

plaintiffs’ FLSA claim. However, defendant made this argument in its opposition to

plaintiffs’ motion to certify. See Response to Motion to Certify at 12. A motion for

reconsideration may not repeat “any oral or written argument made by the movant in support

of or in opposition to the motion that resulted in the Order.” LRCiv 7.2(g)(1). Defendant

also argues that we should apply the more stringent certification standards of Rule 23, Fed.

R. Civ. P. However, defendant did not assert this argument in its response to plaintiffs’

motion to certify, and has not explained its failure to do so. Accordingly, we need not

consider it now. Finally, defendant argues that collective action will not advance the interest

of judicial economy. However, we stand by our original conclusion that conditional

certification promotes the “efficient resolution of the members’ FLSA claims.” Order of

May 24, 2011 at 8. We therefore deny defendant’s motion to reconsider (doc. 80). 

III

Case 3:10-cv-08125-FJM Document 87 Filed 06/14/11 Page 4 of 5
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 5 -

IT IS ORDERED GRANTING IN PART AND DENYING IN PART plaintiffs’

motion to clarify (reconsider) (doc. 79). IT IS ORDERED amending our Order of May 24,

2011 (doc. 67) by substituting the dates “May 24, 2008 and May 24, 2011,” for the dates

“July 16, 2007 and July 16, 2010” on line 6 at page 10. 

It goes without saying that plaintiffs must amend the notice to conform with this order.

IT IS ORDERED DENYING defendant’s motion to reconsider (doc. 80).

DATED this 13th day of June, 2011.

Case 3:10-cv-08125-FJM Document 87 Filed 06/14/11 Page 5 of 5