Methodology
How We Collect and Verify Our Data
PAGA Tracker is built on public records filed through the California LWDA online portal. This page explains exactly how we source, process, and verify the data that powers our case search, settlement benchmarks, and firm analytics.
Our Data Pipeline
Five stages take raw public filings and turn them into structured, searchable case data.
LWDA Filing Collection
All PAGA documents are filed through the LWDA online portal — from initial notices to complaints, proposed settlements, and court orders. We systematically collect these public filings as they are posted, capturing employer names, plaintiff names, filing dates, alleged Labor Code violations, and associated case documents.
Case Lifecycle Tracking
Because the LWDA portal serves as the central repository for all PAGA filings, we can track each case from its initial notice through complaint, settlement, and final court order. This gives a complete picture of the case lifecycle without needing to piece together records from separate systems.
Settlement and Order Extraction
When a proposed settlement or court order is filed with the LWDA, we extract key data points: total settlement amount, class size, attorney fees, penalty allocation, court venue, presiding judge, and resolution date. These values are parsed from the filed documents and normalized into a consistent format.
Validation and Quality Checks
Every record passes through automated validation rules — checking for reasonable value ranges, consistent date sequences, and duplicate detection. Records that fail validation are flagged for manual review before being included in the dataset.
Continuous Updates
The dataset is updated on a rolling basis as new filings appear on the LWDA portal. Settlement amounts and case statuses are refreshed regularly to reflect the most current information available.
Data Source
California LWDA PAGA Filing Portal
The Labor and Workforce Development Agency operates the central online portal where all PAGA documents are filed — initial notices, complaints, proposed settlements, and court orders. Parties are required to submit proposed settlements to the LWDA at the same time they are submitted to the court. Because every stage of a PAGA case flows through this single portal, it serves as a comprehensive public record of the full case lifecycle. All PAGA filings received by the LWDA are public records and subject to disclosure.
Scope and Limitations
- Our dataset covers PAGA matters with notices filed through the California LWDA. Cases that were never noticed to the LWDA are outside the scope of this dataset.
- Settlement amounts reflect values from proposed settlement documents filed with the LWDA. Confidential or sealed settlements are not included.
- There may be a lag between a filing on the LWDA portal and its appearance in our database, depending on when records become publicly available.
- We do not provide legal advice. The data is intended for research and informational purposes only.
Explore the Data
See the methodology in action across our tools.