Ricoh USA agrees to $2.2M deal in wage and hour suit

Printer giant Ricoh USA Inc. will pay $2.2 million to settle claims brought under the Private Attorneys General Act of wage and hour violations against a class of technicians and support workers in California, according to an order granting preliminary approval filed Monday.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley of San Francisco approved the settlement terms against the Malvern, Pennsylvania-based company over claims it failed to compensate named plaintiff Augusto De Leon for "meal and rest breaks, expense reimbursement, accrual and payment of sick leave, wage statements and maintenance of records," among other violations, according to court documents. The company has an office in Simi Valley and is authorized to do business in California. De Leon v. Ricoh USA, Inc., 18-CVF03725 (N.D. Cal., filed Jun. 22, 2018).

Both De Leon and Ricoh USA agreed to mediation in January to settle the claims following an initial round of discovery, court documents show. After attorney Lisa Klerman proctored a full day of mediation, attorneys for De Leon filed a second amended complaint in July to bring in claims related to a case filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court. Lopez v. Ricoh USA, Inc, 18STCV08926 (L.A. Super. Ct., filed De. 17, 2018).

As with PAGA claims, the proposed settlement class consists of all workers similar to De Leon's position, including "[a]ll current or former hourly non-exempt employees of defendants who held the position of technology service technician, field support representative, and/or other positions" between May 22, 2014 and Monday, court documents show.

Non-exempt employees who fall under that description and worked between May 22, 2015 and Monday are also eligible for a collective action under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, according to court documents.

The settlement will also cover the collective action, plaintiffs' attorneys' fees, and other administrate costs, according to court documents.

Per the settlement agreement, all class members will release the company from "all known and unknown wage claims" that occurred during the class periods, court documents show.

Notice of the settlement will be filed in December with a deadline of Feb. 2, 2020 for class members to either opt out or object to the settlement agreement, according to court documents.

Lawyers at Seyfarth Shaw LLP's office in San Francisco representing Ricoh USA declined to comment. Calls to attorneys at Clark Law Group in San Diego representing the plaintiffs were not answered by press time Monday.