Calif. Worker Lawsuit Accuses Costco of False Imprisonment

A class action lawsuit filed today against Costco Wholesale Corp. contends the national retailer has a routine store-closing policy that not only allegedly violates California labor laws but amounts to false imprisonment.

Filed in San Diego County Superior Court, the suit seeks injunctive relief and $50 million in damages from Costco over an alleged policy of requiring store workers to remain within locked stores for 15 minutes, unpaid, while managers remove jewelry from cases and check cash registers, reports the Los Angeles Times in its L.A. Now blog.

Plaintiff Mary Pytelewski, who works as a Costco warehouse clerk, also alleges that the company retaliated against her when she complained about this policy.

The Times blog post doesn't include any response from Costco, but an Associated Press report says that the company declined to comment on pending litigation.

Additional coverage:

PR Newswire: "Costco Employee Files $50 Million Class Action"