Pennsylvania Court Limits Wage Claims to Three Years
Pennsylvania court confirmed a three-year statute of limitations for unpaid wage lawsuits.
Why it matters: This ruling resolves prior ambiguity around wage claim deadlines under Pennsylvania law, guiding employers and in-house counsel on compliance and litigation exposure.
- The Commonwealth Court ruled on October 21, 2026, that a three-year statute of limitations applies to unpaid wage claims.
- The case involved 20 employees suing Accuserv Pharmacy and North Huntingdon Medical for unpaid overtime between 2017 and 2019.
- The trial court initially applied a six-year statute of limitations, which was reversed on appeal.
- The court aligned the Pennsylvania Minimum Wage Act’s filing deadline with the three-year limit in the Wage Payment and Collection Law.
- Employers are required to keep payroll records for three years, matching the statute of limitations period.
On October 21, 2026, the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania issued a ruling clarifying the statute of limitations applicable to wage claims under the Pennsylvania Minimum Wage Act (PMWA). The court held that workers have three years to file lawsuits seeking unpaid wages, rejecting the trial court’s earlier decision that applied a six-year limitations period based on the state's Judicial Code.
The litigation arose from claims by 20 employees against Accuserv Pharmacy and North Huntingdon Medical for unpaid overtime wages covering work from 2017 to 2019. While the trial court had relied on the general six-year catch-all limit, the appellate court found this to be an error, emphasizing that the PMWA should be interpreted in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Wage Payment and Collection Law (WPCL), which includes a three-year statute of limitations.
According to Lee E. Tankle, Of Counsel at Ogletree Deakins, "The appellate court found the trial court erred in determining that a six-year statute of limitations applied to the employees’ claims." This decision finishes a long-standing debate over how the PMWA’s filing deadlines align with related wage laws.
The court also underscored that the PMWA mandates employers retain payroll records for three years, which supports applying the three-year statute of limitations to wage recovery claims. This clarification offers employers clearer guidance on litigation risk and compliance obligations related to wage disputes in Pennsylvania.
For legal and compliance teams, the ruling means that, moving forward, wage claims under the PMWA must be filed within three years from when the wages were due. This reduces uncertainty around potential exposure from older claims and aligns record-keeping with enforcement timelines.
More details about the case and analysis are available from Ogletree Deakins and the court opinion at Justia.
By the numbers:
- 20 employees sued — involved in unpaid overtime case
- 2017-2019 — period during which unpaid wages accrued
- 3-year statute of limitations — affirmed for wage claims in Pennsylvania