18th Annual Workplace Class Action Report - 2022 Edition

TABLE OF CONTENTS Annual Workplace Class Action Litigation Report: 2022 Edition vii I. OVERVIEW OF THE YEAR IN WORKPLACE CLASS ACTION LITIGATION ........................1 A. Executive Summary ......................................................................................................1 B. Key Trends Of 2021......................................................................................................1 C. Significant Trends In Workplace Class Action Litigation In 2021 .................................4 (i) Class Action Settlement Trends....................................................................4 (ii) Class Certification Trends In 2021 ................................................................8 (iii) Government Administrative And Enforcement Trends ...............................16 (iv) The Continuing Impact Of COVID-19..........................................................19 (v) The Continuing Impact Of Arbitration..........................................................22 D. Complex Employment-Related Litigation Trends In 2021..........................................25 E. Likely Trends For The Future Of Workplace Class Actions In 2022 ..........................27 F. Conclusion ..................................................................................................................31 II. SIGNIFICANT CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENTS IN 2021.....................................................33 A. Top Ten Private Plaintiff-Initiated Monetary Settlements ...........................................33 B. Top Ten Government-Initiated Monetary Settlements ...............................................38 C. Noteworthy Injunctive Relief Provisions In Class Action Settlements........................40 III. SIGNIFICANT FEDERAL EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION CLASS ACTION AND EEOC PATTERN OR PRACTICE RULINGS..........................................................................43 A. Cases Certifying Or Refusing To Certify Employment Discrimination Class Actions ..............................................................................................................43 (i) First Circuit ..................................................................................................43 (ii) Second Circuit .............................................................................................43 (iii) Third Circuit .................................................................................................44 (iv) Fourth Circuit ...............................................................................................45 (v) Fifth Circuit ..................................................................................................45 (vi) Sixth Circuit .................................................................................................45 (vii) Seventh Circuit ............................................................................................46 (viii) Eighth Circuit ...............................................................................................47 (ix) Ninth Circuit .................................................................................................48 (x) Tenth Circuit ................................................................................................49 (xi) Eleventh Circuit ...........................................................................................50 (xii) District Of Columbia Circuit .........................................................................50 B. EEOC Pattern Or Practice Cases...............................................................................50 (i) First Circuit ..................................................................................................51 (ii) Second Circuit .............................................................................................51 (iii) Third Circuit .................................................................................................53 (iv) Fourth Circuit ...............................................................................................54 (v) Fifth Circuit ..................................................................................................55 (vi) Sixth Circuit .................................................................................................58 (vii) Seventh Circuit ............................................................................................60 (viii) Eighth Circuit ...............................................................................................63 (ix) Ninth Circuit .................................................................................................64 (x) Tenth Circuit ................................................................................................65 (xi) Eleventh Circuit ...........................................................................................65 (xii) District Of Columbia Circuit .........................................................................69 IV. SIGNIFICANT COLLECTIVE ACTION RULINGS UNDER THE AGE DISCRIMINATION IN EMPLOYMENT ACT ...........................................................................71 A. Cases Certifying Or Refusing To Certify ADEA Collective Action Claims .................71