Facts

Juvenal Gaona Vargas, individually and on behalf of all members of the settlement class, brought a class action complaint against Cal-Citrus Labor Service, Inc., Fancher Creek Packing, Inc., Visalia Citrus Packing Group, Inc., and Cecelia Packing Corporation, alleging various Labor Code violations. The class included all current and former non-exempt employees of Cal-Citrus Labor Service, Inc. in California who were subject to Wage Order 14 and performed work for five days or more for Cecelia Packing Corporation, and/or Fancher Creek Packing, Inc., and/or Visalia Citrus Packing Group, Inc. at any time from February 7, 2016, to April 26, 2021. Wage Order 14 is a California regulation that sets working conditions for agricultural workers, including workers that harvest agricultural goods on farms owned by the Packing Group.

PLAINTIFF'S CONTENTIONS: Plaintiff alleged that defendants failed to: pay all earned overtime wages; pay all earned minimum wages; timely pay all weekly wages due or final wages due; provide all legally required meal and rest periods; provide accurate and itemized wage statements; and reimburse necessary business expenses for its California employees during the relevant time period. Further, plaintiff contended that defendants as a result of these violations, engaged in unlawful business practices and were liable for civil penalties under the Labor Code Private Attorneys General Act.

DEFENDANTS' CONTENTIONS: Defendants denied all contentions.

Result

Defendants agreed to jointly pay $625,000 to resolve all claims.