Galdamez v. Biordi Construction Corp

In Galdamez v. Biordi Construction Corp., 13 Misc. 3d 1224[A], 831 N.Y.S.2d 347, 2006 NY Slip Op 51969[U], 2006 WL 2969651 (Sup. Ct. N.Y. County 2006), aff'd 50 A.D.3d 357, 855 N.Y.S.2d 104 (1st Dept 2008). the plaintiffs were a group of workers seeking unpaid wages. The court certified the class and noted that a class action was the superior method for adjudicating the workers' claims explaining as follows: According to plaintiffs, the class of workers numbering between 30 and 70 members has incurred an aggregate of approximately $1 million in damages...Yet, given the relatively small size of each claim, many members of the class would not be able to afford to pursue redress of defendants' Labor Law violations absent class certification. This furthers the "collateral public benefits" of the class action, which is "a means of inducing socially and ethically responsible behavior on the part of large and wealthy institutions which will be deterred from carrying out policies or engaging in activities harmful to large numbers of individuals." (Id.)