Employee Wage Litigation

Electronic Arts Settlements

Overtime Action on Behalf of Computer Graphic Artists

The firm represented computer graphic artists seeking to recover unpaid overtime compensation under California law from their employer, Electronic Arts, Inc., the world's largest producer of video games. The case was settled for $15.6 million, for approximately 618 class members. We believe this was the first class action filed involving recovery of overtime compensation for computer graphics artists in the video game industry.

The firm also represented computer graphic artists employed by Electronic Arts, Inc. in Florida in an action under federal law, the Fair Labor Standards Act. These employees also sought to recover unpaid overtime compensation and the case was settled for $785,000 for approximately 119 employees.

Overtime Action on Behalf of Computer Programmers

The firm represented computer programmers seeking to recover unpaid overtime compensation under California law from Electronic Arts, Inc. This case was settled for $14.9 million, for approximately 600 class members. We believe this was the first class action settlement involving recovery of overtime compensation for computer programmers in California.

Sony Computer Entertainment America, Inc. Settlement on Behalf of Computer Graphic Artists

The firm represented computer graphic artists seeking to recover unpaid overtime under compensation under California law from Sony Computer Entertainment of America, Inc. The company contended that the employees were not entitled to overtime pay because they were artistic professional employees. The firm obtained a settlement of $8.5 million dollars for the artists and the company agreed to pay overtime to certain artists going forward.

Liberty Mutual Insurance Company Settlement on Behalf of Auto Damage Appraisers

The firm represented auto damage appraisers in two collective actions under the federal overtime law, the Fair Labor Standards Act, seeking to recover under unpaid overtime compensation. One of the cases also included a separate class action claim under the Massachusetts overtime law. The company contended that the employees were not subject to the overtime laws because the employees were exempt administrative employees. The cases settled for $6.4 million dollars, for approximately 149 class members.

Angel Studios, Inc. Settlement on Behalf of Computer Graphic Artists

The firm represented computer graphic artists seeking to recover unpaid overtime compensation under California law from Angel Studios, Inc. The company contended that the employees were not subject to the overtime law because the employees were artistic professional employees. The case was settled for $2.75 million dollars for approximately 102 employees.

Cell Phone Retail Store Settlement on Behalf of Assistant Managers

The firm represented a class of Assistant Store Managers working in Massachusetts and Rhode Island cell phone retail stores seeking to recover unpaid overtime compensation and other wages under federal and Massachusetts law. The company did not pay overtime to the employees, claiming that they were managers exempt from the overtime laws. The case was settled for $975,000 for approximately 311 employees.

Olmeda v. AM Broadband LLC

The firm represented a class of cable technicians seeking to recover unpaid overtime wages under Massachusetts wage and hour laws and under the federal overtime law, the Fair Labor Standards Act. The case involved employees in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maryland, New York, Virginia, and Florida. The employees were paid on a piece rate basis for each installation performed and were not paid additional overtime compensation for each hour worked over 40 in each workweek. The case was filed in Springfield, Massachusetts and the Court ruled that the company had broken the overtime laws. Before a damages trial was to occur, the case settled for approximately $845,000 for approximately 246 employees.

Insurance Company Settlement on Behalf of Auto Damage Appraisers

The firm represented a class of auto damage appraisers who worked for an insurance company and were not paid overtime wages. The company claimed that the employees were exempt administrative employees who were not entitled to overtime. The case was a collective action under federal law and was ultimately settled for $820,000.

Steel Forging Company Settlement on Behalf of Metal Workers

The firm represented a class of metal workers in a Connecticut manufacturing facility seeking to recover unpaid overtime compensation under federal and Connecticut law. The company had paid them only time-and-one-half their hourly wage, without including certain production bonuses into the overtime rate of pay. The case was settled for $725,000 for approximately 80 employees.

Kane Merchandising Services, Inc. Settlement on Behalf of Crew Coordinators

The firm represented a class of employees responsible for merchandise lay-out services for retail stores seeking to recover unpaid overtime compensation under federal law. The company refused to pay overtime compensation to the employees, claiming that they were managerial employees who were not subject to the overtime laws. The case was settled for $690,000.

Car Wash Company Settlement of Behalf of Car Wash Attendants

The firm represented a class of car wash attendants in Massachusetts who were employed temporarily in the United States pursuant to H-2b visas, most of whom were recruited from Mexico and Central America. The employees sought to recover unpaid overtime compensation and other wages under Massachusetts law. The case was settled for $550,000 for approximately 96 employees, many of whom had returned to their homes in Central America.