Facts

Ronald Balanag and Javier Graciano worked as an hourly nonexempt employee for Laptalo Enterprises, Inc. and initiated a putative class action suit against his employer alleging various wage and hour claims under California's Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA).

PLAINTIFFS' CONTENTIONS: Plaintiffs contended that defendant had a consistent policy of failing to provide timely payment of properly calculated regular and overtime wages due at termination. Plaintiffs also contended that defendant failed to provide accurate wage statements or meal breaks as prescribed by the law and often made plaintiffs work off the clock. These excess hours were unrecorded in plaintiffs' wage statements as they should have been. Plaintiffs further contended that defendant did not provide rest breaks and often cut plaintiffs' breaks short. Defendant failed to comply with California Industrial Commission Wage Order and Title 8 of the California Code of Regulations.

DEFENDANT'S CONTENTIONS: Defendant denied the contentions.

Result

The court approved a $600,000 settlement award including $210,000 in attorney fees and $17,500 in administrative costs. The court also allocated $12,000 to PAGA penalties, 75 percent of which was payable to the Labor and Workforce Development Agency. Each named plaintiff received $10,000.