More than 70 temporary, foreign workers can proceed with a $10-million lawsuit against a company operating Denny's restaurants in British Columbia.

Supreme Court of B.C. Justice Shelley Fitzpatrick released a ruling Monday, certifying a class-action suit against Northland Properties Corporation, which operates Denny's Restaurants and Dencan Restaurants Inc.

The lawsuit was filed by plaintiff Herminia Vergara Dominguez who said she was recruited from the Philippines and came to Canada in January 2009.

"A class proceeding will substantially advance this litigation in terms of an overall resolution of the common issues which addresses the need for judicial economy in its approach," wrote Fitzpatrick in her ruling.

"In addition, recognizing the vulnerable situation in which these temporary workers find themselves, a class proceeding will provide the access to justice that they require in an environment that will be of assistance to them.

"Finally, behaviour modification is no doubt required if these claims are ultimately proven."

According to court documents, Dominguez and the other plaintiffs paid thousands of dollars in recruitment fees to an employment agency in Richmond, B.C. and were promised work in Canada.

They allege, however, that when they began working in Canada the defendants failed to provide the promised work, didn't pay overtime and failed to reimburse expenses, such as travel fees.

In its defence, the company argued it had no knowledge of and had not received any recruitment fees.

The company said it had also offered to reimburse the workers' travel fees and by August 24, 2011 had actually paid 15 people for their airfare.

Arguing against certification, it said Dominguez failed to prove she was an appropriate representative in the suit, didn't show "sufficient commonality" among the class-action members, and argued the size of the action was just too small.

Christopher Foy, one of two lawyers who filed the lawsuit, applauded Monday's ruling.

"The court correctly concluded that class certification here is a vastly superior method of adjudication because the common issues will only have to be heard and decided once, thereby promoting judicial efficiency and access to justice," he said in a statement.

Foy said a document known as a Notice to the Class will provide information on the case's next steps.