Capstone Law APC Wins Final Settlement Approval in Hard-Fought Starbucks Wage Dispute
Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) November 08, 2013 -- After nearly five years of arduous litigation, Capstone Law APC has obtained final approval of a $3.0 million class settlement for current and former Starbucks employees who were allegedly subjected to various wage violations, including denial of meal breaks and receiving improper wage statements. The case is Summer York et al. v. Starbucks Corp., case No. 2:08-cv-07919, before the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.
On Monday, October 28th, the Hon. Judge Gary Feess issued an order granting Capstone’s motions for approval of the settlement. In addition, Judge Feess granted in full Capstone Law's request for fees and costs in the amount of $1.9 million. The initial complaint was filed in 2008, and plaintiffs’ counsel prevailed despite sweeping changes in the law and in class action jurisprudence since that time.
With a $3 million total settlement designated for employee relief, participating class members will on average receive about several hundred dollars each with some class members receiving nearly $900, an unusually high recovery for this type of case, according to Matthew Theriault, lead counsel in York and a partner at Capstone Law APC. “This was a long, but well-fought battle involving developing, cutting edge issues. I'm very proud of the fact that, when the dust finally settled, about 10,000 class members were able to receive a substantial sum of money,” said Theriault.
As to the $1.9 million awarded by the court for attorneys’ fees and costs, Judge Feess noted that “the total award [...] is within the range of Plaintiffs’ attorneys’ reasonable lodestar amount, plus costs.”
In addition to monetary relief, Starbucks agreed to modify its meal and rest break policies in order to allow employees to take uninterrupted breaks as required by law. These changes “will inure to the benefit of thousands of current and future Starbucks employees,” Theriault remarked.
The Order approving the settlement and attorneys’ fees is available here.
If you wish to discuss this or any other matter with us, please contact the following attorney:
Stephen Gamber, Esq., Capstone Law APC
1840 Century Park East, Suite 450, Los Angeles, CA
Phone: 310-556-4811
Email: Stephen.gamber(at)capstonelawyers(dot)com
Visit the Capstone Law APC website for more information about the firm, or visit our blog, the Impact Litigation Journal.
SOURCE: Capstone Law APC
Stephen Gamber, Capstone Law APC, http://Capstonelawyers.com, +1 (310) 556-4811, [email protected]
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