The Anatomy Of A Wage And Hour Class Action
Wage and hour class actions typically involve allegations that an employer has violated labor laws affecting a group of employees. Common issues include:
- Unpaid overtime
- Missed meal and rest breaks
- Incorrect employee classification
- Failure to reimburse business expenses
- Improper wage statements
What Employees Need To Know About Wage & Hour Class Actions
Sometimes unlawful actions by an Employer have many victims. A class action lawsuit allows Employees to join together in a lawsuit against their company. Anticouni & Ricotta is both the oldest and most respected Employment law firm on California’s Central Coast. We filed the first California Wage and Hour Class Action lawsuit over 50 years ago. Thousands of similar Wage and Hour Class Actions have been filed after our ground breaking lawsuit.
We have decades of experience dealing with all aspects of class actions. We will stand up for your rights, and others victimized by the actions of a negligent employer. We help workers enforce their rights for fair compensation and hold employers accountable for widespread non-compliance with employment standards. A class action typically follows these steps:
- Consult an attorney: Make sure the attorney is experienced in labor law. They will investigate the claim, gather evidence and interview potential class members to establish the scope of the alleged violations.
- Filing the lawsuit: If a valid claim exists, the attorney will file a lawsuit in the appropriate court. The complain will detail the violations and list the defendants.
- Class Certification: The court must certify the lawsuit as a class action. Once certified, other potential class members are notified and given the chance to join the lawsuit.
- Litigation: This can involve negotiations, mediation or going to trial.
- Resolution: If the case is successful, the court will approve the settlement or award damages, which are then distributed to the class members.
What Employers Need To Know About Wage & Hour Class Actions
Wage and hour class actions can pose significant risks to California employers. At Anticouni & Ricotta, we have extensive experience in this area of law, both in prosecuting and defending these cases. This unique perspective allows us to provide robust defense strategies for employers facing potential or actual wage and hour class actions. These lawsuits can result in substantial financial liabilities and damage to your company’s reputation. We are lawyers who will work diligently to help you address these challenges effectively.
We offer comprehensive services to protect your business:
- Compliance audits: We will review your policies and practices to identify potential vulnerabilities and recommend improvements.
- Policy development: We will assist in creating clear, compliant policies that help prevent wage and hour violations.
- Employee classification review: We will ensure that your employees are correctly classified to minimize the risk of misclassification claims.
- Training programs: We will develop and conduct training sessions for managers and human resources (HR) personnel on wage and hour law compliance.
- Litigation defense: If you’re facing a class action, we will vigorously defend your interests, aiming for a positive outcome.
Through our extensive knowledge of both sides of wage and hour disputes, we will provide a strong, multifaceted approach to protecting your business from potential class-action threats.
Our Proven Track Record In Wage And Hour Litigation
Our firm has been at the forefront of wage and hour class actions for over 50 years. We filed the first California wage and hour class-action lawsuit, paving the way for thousands of similar cases. This experience gives us unique insights into both sides of these disputes, allowing us to anticipate plaintiffs’ strategies and develop strong defenses.
The following chart illustrates some of the significant wage and hour class-action settlements that we have managed. While these represent cases we’ve prosecuted, this experience informs our defense strategies, helping us protect employers like you more effectively.
| Company | Settlements |
| American Title #1 | $ 1.25 million |
| American Title #2 | $ 1.175 million |
| Ampersand Holdings | $ 140,000 |
| Andrews International #1 | $ 7 million |
| Andrews International #2 | $ 700,000 |
| Applebee’s | $ 340,000 |
| AT&T | $ 2.5 million |
| Bank of America | $ 24 million |
| Big Dog USA | $ 360,000 |
| Bombay Company | $ 1,343,654 |
| Bridgestone | $ 417,700 |
| Cal Fed | $ 4.5 million |
| California Federal Bank | $ 4.4 million |
| Carl’s Jr. | $ 270,000 |
| Cingular | $ 515,400 |
| Crescent Jewelers | $ 820,000 |
| CVS | $ 7 million |
| Don Roberto Jewelers | $ 1 million |
| Eddie Bauer | $ 1.5 million |
| Express | $ 1.5 million |
| Fidelity Escrow | $ 142,500 |
| First Data | $ 685,000 |
| Foot Locker | $ 420,000 |
| Fox Transport | $ 180,000 |
| GSM | $ 600,000 |
| Harry’s Plaza Café | $ 165,000 |
| H.F. Ahmanson & Company | $ 1.65 million |
| Home Closets | $ 300,000 |
| Imogen | $ 981,000 |
| Investigative Agency (Confidential) | $ 85,000 |
| J.C. Penney Corporation | $ 3.25 million |
| Jordano’s | $ 475,000 |
| Limited Too | $ 955,000 |
| Lowe’s | $ 3.5 million |
| Manufacturing (Confidential) | $ 985,000 |
| Manufacturing (Confidential) | $ 600,000 |
| Medical (Confidential) | $ 1.985 million |
| Medtronic | $ 360,000 |
| Metson Marine | $ 100,000 |
| Natural Cafe | $ 300,000 |
| Nextel Communications | $ 1.7 million |
| Norwest | $ 2.285 million |
| Phillips-Van Heusen | $ 3.3 million |
| PLANETech | $ 375,000 |
| Protiviti Corporation | $ 2.4 million |
| San Diego Cellular | $ 146,000 |
| SEACOR Marine | $ 3.125 million |
| Select Comfort | $ 790,000 |
| Spectrum Apple | $ 210,000 |
| Sunglass Hut | $ 1.5 million |
| Tidewater #1 | $ 7.4 million |
| Tidewater #2 | $ 2.5 million |
| Time Warner Telecom | $ 145,000 |
| Too | $ 1.03 million |
| Van Heusen | $ 3 million |
| Victoria’s Secret | $ 4.25 million |
| Walgreens | $ 6.5 million |
| Wells Fargo #1 | $ 1.4637 million |
| Wells Fargo #2 | $ 4.5 million |
| Wells Fargo #3 | $ 525,000.00 |
| Western States Wireless | $ 1.5 million |
| Wilson’s Leather | $ 2.5 million |
Find Out How We Can Help
If you have questions about a potential wage & hour class action, contact Anticouni & Ricotta to schedule a consultation with experienced employment law attorneys. Call us at 805-699-5968 or send us an email.