Facts

From April 8, 2016 to November 2017, Matua Kisni worked for Valassis Communications, Valassis Sales & Marketing, Harland Clarke Holdings and Frank Patano. On November 9, 2018, Kisini filed suit in federal court against his former employers asserting claims for Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) violations , wrongful termination, false promise/intentional misrepresentation, and Labor Code violations. The case was thereafter remanded to Los Angeles Superior and Kisni sought to represent outside sales employees who worked for the companies during a certain time frame.

PLAINTIFF'S CONTENTIONS: Generally, plaintiff contended that defendants discriminated against African-Americans with respect to the terms and conditions of employment and was thereafter terminated because of his race and because he served as a witness in a FEHA-related workplace investigation. Specifically as to defendant Patano, plaintiff alleged that Patano, who worked in human resources, made representations that he knew to be false when he first offered employment to plaintiff in order to induce him to accept the position. As to the representative claim, he alleged wage and hour violations, such as those pertaining to meal and rest breaks and others.

DEFENDANTS' CONTENTIONS: Defendants denied all contentions.

Result

The class claims were settled for a gross amount of $775,000.