The San Jose Mercury News:

Judge Ruth M. Friedman has ruled that the Department of Motor Vehicles may not dock the pay of an employee for time missed at work, because the employee is a mother of five, afflicted with "inadequate child care and inadequate public transportation" which are "more properly characterized as social problems rather than personal problems."

The case involves Leshbia Morones, a mother of five whose husband also works, and who was docked for 10.1 hours pay for being late 51 times during a 6 month period. Ms. Morones argued, "It's just very, very stressful to have to take care of five kids before going to work. It seems unfair for this agency not to take into consideration human things." "If there is unexpected traffic, or if she has car trouble, she will be late," Judge Friedman ruled.

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