Cintas, North America's largest uniform and laundry company, was sued in 2003 by workers in Hayward and Los Angeles for violations of those cities' living wage ordinances. Cintas responded to the suits by seeking to overturn those living wage laws. In 2005 an Alameda County judge ordered the company to pay 1.4 million in wages, interest and state penalties. Cintas appealed, arguing that employees at its San Leandro facility were not covered by the Hayward law, but a state appeals court ruled against the company, as did the California Supreme Court.