Hensley v. Eckerhart

Holding a civil-rights plaintiff can recover attorney's fees for claims that "involve a common core of facts or will be based on related legal theories," even if only one of those claims arises under a fee-shifting statute

Amchem Prods., Inc. v. Windsor

Holding that courts are "bound to enforce" Rule 23's certification requirements, even where it means decertifying a class after they had reached a settlement agreement and submitted it to the court for approval

Farrar v. Hobby

Holding that an award of nominal damages, but not purely declaratory relief, suffices for prevailing party status

Pennsylvania v. Del. Valley Citizens' Council

Holding that a party may be entitled to attorneys' fees for postdecree enforcement work under the fee-shifting provision of the Clean Air Act, analogizing and relying in part on lower court decisions allowing fees under § 1988 for "post-judgment monitoring"

Eisen v. Carlisle Jacquelin

Holding that individual notice to class members identifiable through reasonable efforts is mandatory in (b) actions

Texas Teachers Assn. v. Garland School Dist

Holding that where party seeks attorney's fees pursuant to fee-shifting statute, "no fee award is permissible until the [party] has crossed the statutory threshold of prevailing party status" (internal quotation marked omitted)

Barrentine v. Ark.-Best Freight Sys.

Holding that Fair Labor Standards Act claims may be brought in federal court notwithstanding an arbitration provision in a CBA

Hanlon v. Chrysler Corp.

Holding that " common nucleus of facts and potential legal remedies dominate[d]" over "idiosyncratic differences between state consumer protection laws" where a nationwide class of minivan buyers’ claims turned on "questions of [the manufacturer’s] prior knowledge of the [vehicle’s] deficiency, the design defect, and a damages remedy"

Staton v. Boeing Co.

Holding that "named plaintiffs ... are eligible for reasonable incentive payments" in addition to reimbursement "for their substantiated litigation expenses, and identifiable services rendered to the class directly under the supervision of class counsel"

Lynn's Food Stores, Inc. v. United States

Holding that settlement of an FLSA claim must be approved by either a court or the Department of Labor

Section 1983 - Civil action for deprivation of rights

Holding liable any state actor who "subjects, or causes [a person] to be subjected" to a constitutional violation

Section 1981 - Equal rights under the law

Granting equal rights to "make and enforce contracts" without regard to race

Rule 23 - Class Actions

Holding that, to certify a class, the court must find that "questions of law or fact common to class members predominate over any questions affecting only individual members"

Section 17200 - Unfair competition defined

Prohibiting unlawful business practices

Section 216 - Penalties

Holding employers liable for “unpaid minimum wages, or their unpaid overtime compensation”

Section 1920 - Taxation of costs

Referring only once to "expenses," and doing so solely to refer to special interpretation services provided in actions initiated by the United States

Section 226 - Itemized statement of wages

Providing only statutory penalties

Section 1021.5 - Attorney's fees in action resulting in enforcement of important right affecting public interest

Providing that "a court may award" attorney's fees "to a successful party "

Section 218.5 - Award of attorney's fees

Providing a right of action for unpaid wages

Section 226.7 - [Effective until 1/1/2027] Work during meal, rest, or recovery period

Stating that employers are required to "provide an employee a meal or rest or recovery period in accordance with a state law"

Section 296-126-092 - Meal periods - Rest periods

Stating that "[e]mployees shall be allowed" meal and rest periods

Section 210.110 - Definitions

Providing six factors to determine if an individual is an employee for purposes of the Illinois Minimum Wage Law, 820 ILCS 105

Section 839-020-0050 - Meal and Rest Periods