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Class action against Domino's to proceed
Domino's has lost its bid to strike out underpayment claims levelled by a class action, meaning that proceedings against the fast-food giant can proceed to trial on its merits.
Jerome Doraisamy
In June 2019, plaintiff firm Phi Finney McDonald filed a class action against Domino's, alleging systemic underpayment of thousands of delivery drivers and in-store workers employed across franchise outlets nationwide over a five-year period.
The claim, brought on the behalf of delivery drivers and in-store workers employed across Domino's’ Australian franchise network, alleges that the provision of entitlements under the Fast Food Industry Award 2010 – under which they should have received casual loading, penalty rates, three-hour minimum shifts and laundry allowances – was systematically avoided between June 2013 and January 2018.
On Tuesday, 13 April, the Federal Court of Australia dismissed Domino's attempt to strike out underpayment claims that had been alleged. In a 71-page judgment, Justice Bernard Murphy determined that the case against the fast-food giant can proceed to trial on its merits.
His honour rejected Domino's’ complaints about the pleadings, and urged the company to resolve further concerns through case management as opposed to taking a more technical approach to the class action.
“I have no doubt that Domino's understands the case it has to meet, and in my opinion, its complaints about the ambiguity, embarrassment and delay that is said will arise from the alleged deficiencies in the pleading were exaggerated,” His honour espoused.
Responding to the striking out of the application, Phi Finney McDonald principal Brett Spiegel, who is representing the applicant, Riley Gall, said: “We are pleased with the Court’s decision that allows the case to go forward.
“Domino’s workers should not have to wait any longer for their claims to be determined.”
Jerome Doraisamy
Jerome Doraisamy is the editor of Lawyers Weekly. A former lawyer, he has worked at Momentum Media as a journalist on Lawyers Weekly since February 2018, and has served as editor since March 2022. He is also the host of all five shows under The Lawyers Weekly Podcast Network, and has overseen the brand's audio medium growth from 4,000 downloads per month to over 60,000 downloads per month, making The Lawyers Weekly Show the most popular industry-specific podcast in Australia. Jerome is also the author of The Wellness Doctrines book series, an admitted solicitor in NSW, and a board director of Minds Count.
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