In Goldbaum v. The Regents of the University of California, 2011 DJDAR 339 (2011), the Fourth District California Court of Appeal decided a novel issue arising under the California Constitution and Labor Code § 218.5. Labor Code § 218.5 provides that a prevailing plaintiff is eligible to recover reasonable and necessary attorney fees on unpaid wage claims.

Michael Goldbaum (Goldbaum) was a professor at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). He was granted tenure by the University in 1979. In 2008, Goldbaum filed a complaint against the Regents of the University of California (Regents) for breach of contract. The complaint alleged that UCSD failed to report to the U. C. Retirement Plan (UCRP) that he had been an employee between 1977 and 1992. Goldbaum sought a determination that he was eligible for pension benefits for the complete period of his employment.

In response, U.C. Regents disputed Goldbaum’s eligibility and filed a Motion for Summary Judgment. While that motion was pending, the litigation was settled. Goldbaum then moved for his reasonable attorney fees under Labor Code § 218.5 characterizing the claim as one for unpaid wages and other benefits. The trial court denied the motion on the ground that the Regents had constitutional immunity to a claim for attorney fees.