Labor And Employment Law

A class action lawsuit against Pactrack, Inc., a California logistics company, ended in a $160,000 settlement in September 2024. Plaintiff Carmen Bustamante filed the case alleging that Pactrack failed to pay hourly workers for all hours worked, including overtime, and neglected to reimburse them for job-related expenses. The complaint also cited inaccurate pay stubs and violations of California labor laws. The Los Angeles Superior Court approved the settlement, providing financial relief to affected employees and resolving the wage and hour claims without trial.

A wage and hour class action against Metro Eighteen, Inc. ended with a $495,000 settlement approved by the Los Angeles Superior Court in September 2024. Plaintiff David Cancino alleged that the retail operator’s time-rounding system consistently favored the employer, causing employees to lose pay for minutes worked. The lawsuit accused the company of failing to issue accurate wage statements and engaging in unfair business practices. Metro Eighteen denied all wrongdoing but agreed to the settlement to resolve the claims and avoid a lengthy trial.

In a major California labor dispute, furniture retailer La-Z-Boy and its subsidiary LZB Retail, Inc. reached a $1.07 million class action settlement with former and current hourly employees. The lawsuit, led by Plaintiff Dustin Evers and filed in the San Diego Superior Court, accused the company of failing to pay workers for all hours worked and not providing required meal and rest breaks. The settlement, approved in September 2024, provided compensation to hundreds of employees for unpaid wages, penalties, and attorneys’ fees, closing a two-year battle over alleged wage and hour violations.

In a major employment class action, two former employees, Mario Arredondo Jr. and Miguel Rivera, sued Pinkerton Consulting & Investigations Inc. for systematic wage and hour violations. The lawsuit, filed in the San Diego Superior Court, claimed that the international security firm failed to pay hourly staff correctly, denied proper breaks, and issued inaccurate pay stubs. After extensive litigation, the parties reached a $1.35 million settlement in February 2025. The agreement, approved by Judge Gregory W. Pollack, provided compensation to approximately 85 employees for unpaid wages and penalties, concluding a significant California labor law dispute.

In a notable California class action, Robert Estrada led a lawsuit against TRC Companies, Inc., and TRC Companies, LLC, claiming widespread violations of state labor laws. The suit accused the national engineering firm of underpaying hourly employees, denying proper meal and rest breaks, and issuing inaccurate pay stubs. Filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court, the case culminated in a $2.2 million settlement approved by the court. The resolution provided direct relief to hundreds of affected employees and marked a significant labor compliance reckoning for TRC Companies.

A major California labor class action ended with a $1.89 million settlement between MD Hydration Inc. and former employee Yolanda Soto. Soto, representing a class of workers, alleged systemic violations of state labor laws — including unpaid wages, missed meal breaks, and inaccurate pay statements. The company faced additional penalties under the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) for widespread labor code breaches. The Superior Court of Los Angeles approved the settlement, which compensates affected employees and covers attorneys’ fees and civil penalties, closing a significant case in California’s ongoing wage enforcement efforts.

The class action Vijay Sheth vs. Icon Burger Acquisition LLC concluded with a $989,940 settlement after thousands of Smashburger employees alleged widespread violations of California labor laws. Filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, the case accused the company of denying meal and rest breaks, underpaying wages, and issuing inaccurate pay statements. While the company denied wrongdoing, it agreed to the settlement to avoid further litigation. The fund compensates affected employees, pays PAGA penalties, and covers attorney fees—ending a multi-year wage and hour dispute across California Smashburger locations.

The representative action, Rosario Zavala v. Post Acute Care Partners Inc., et al., filed in November 2023, asserted that the healthcare company violated numerous California Labor Code sections, including failures related to minimum wage, overtime pay, and providing compliant meal and rest periods. The lawsuit, brought under the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA), sought civil penalties on behalf of the state and the aggrieved employees. The case concluded with a court-approved PAGA Settlement on July 30, 2025, in the Superior Court of California, County of Orange. Post Acute Care Partners Inc. paid a $100,000 Gross Settlement Amount to resolve the civil penalty claims, with 75% of the fund allocated to the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency.

The class action lawsuit, Pary Al Zahawi, et al. v. The Kind Center, Inc., et al., targeted multiple cannabis industry employers for systemic violations of California wage and hour laws. Filed in December 2022, the complaint asserted that hundreds of current and former employees had been denied proper minimum wage, overtime pay, and mandated rest and meal periods. The defendants also faced claims under the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) for issuing inaccurate wage statements. The case concluded with a Final Order and Judgment Approving Class Settlement on July 14, 2025, which established a $2,800,000 Gross Settlement Fund to compensate the class members for their alleged labor law violations.

A major California labor dispute ended with a $5.1 million class action settlement against the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR). Plaintiffs, led by Jacqueline Carreon and others, alleged the State systematically violated wage and hour laws by denying rest and meal breaks to correctional staff. The lawsuit claimed the CDCR’s internal policies forced employees to remain on duty during breaks, resulting in unpaid time and stress. Following years of litigation and negotiation, the State agreed to resolve the case in July 2025, marking one of the largest wage and hour settlements against a California agency.

A seven-year legal battle over unpaid wages and labor code violations at Los Angeles International Airport ended with a $1.5 million settlement. Former employees James Miller, Ashley Leon, and Damesha Christopher led a class action against LS & Partners CA LLC and related Paradies Lagardère entities. They alleged the companies failed to provide proper meal and rest breaks, issue accurate wage statements, and pay final wages on time. The Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles, approved the settlement in March 2025, bringing financial relief to hundreds of airport retail and food service workers.

The lawsuit, Valles v. Talbert Architectural Panel & Door, Inc., was filed in December 2020 by former non-exempt employee Miguel Valles, who alleged the company had systematically violated the California Labor Code. The core claims centered on failures to pay correct minimum wages and overtime, denial of legally mandated meal and rest periods, and issuance of inaccurate wage statements. The defense strongly denied liability, asserting that the company adhered to all labor laws and that any issues were isolated. After intense litigation, the parties reached a comprehensive class action settlement, which the Superior Court granted preliminary approval. The agreement established a Gross Settlement Amount (GSA) of $575,000 to resolve all claims, including PAGA penalties, providing financial relief to hundreds of affected current and former employees.