In California, a class action lawsuit against Farmers Insurance Exchange awarded 2,400 insurance adjusters what is believed to be the biggest award of its type. The plaintiffs argued and successfully persuaded the Alameda County Superior Court that the adjusters were entitled to overtime pay because they exercised very little discretion and thus should have been classified as nonexempt workers. Labor employment experts predict that the size of the award will prompt more white-collar exempt workers to sue for overtime pay and encourage California employers to review their pay practices.
See "Massive Award in Overtime Lawsuit", Lisa Girion, Los Angeles Times, July 10, 2001