Frequently Asked Questions
- What is this lawsuit about?
- Who is the Defendant?
- How do I know if I am part of the settlement?
- What can I get from the settlement?
- Do I have a lawyer in this settlement?
- How do I get more information?
- When and where will the Court decide whether to approve the settlement?
- Do I have to come to the hearing?
- Can I speak at the hearing?
- How do I get out of the settlement?
- How do I tell the Court if I don’t like the settlement?
- What happens if I do nothing?
- When will I receive my check?
- What are the tax implications?
- How was my award calculated?
- What is this lawsuit about?
Plaintiffs accuse the Company of violating the California labor laws by providing pay stubs that did not list the start date of the Company's weekly payroll period, failing to pay all wages due in a timely manner, failing to provide meal and rest periods, and failing to reimburse for business expanses.
Based on the same claims, Plaintiffs have also asserted a claim for civil penalties under the California Private Attorneys General Act.
Top - Who is the Defendant?
Morrow-Meadows Corporation.
Top - How do I know if I am part of the settlement?
If you worked for the defendant in California for any amount of time from August 5, 2011 to February 28, 2018.
Top - What can I get from the settlement?
The Plaintiffs are seeking (A) back wages, penalties, interest, costs, and attorneys’ fees for hourly employees who worked for the Company in California for any amount of time from August 5, 2011 to February 28, 2018 (“Class Members”), and (B) civil penalties under the California Private Attorneys General Act (“PAGA”) for hourly employees who worked for the Company for any amount of time between August 10, 2014 and February 28, 2018 (“Aggrieved Employees”).
Top - Do I have a lawyer in this settlement?
Yes, the attorneys representing the class are:
Arby Aiwazian
Joanna Ghosh
Yasmin Hosseini
Lawyers for Justice P.C.
410 Arden Avenue, Suite 203, Glendale, CA 91203
Telephone: (818) 265-1020; Fax: (818) 265-1021
William B. Sullivan
Eric K. Yaeckel
Sullivan & Yaeckel Law Group, APC
2330 Third Avenue, San Diego, CA 92101
Telephone: (619) 702-6760
Top - How do I get more information?
You can contact the Administrator:
Telephone: 1-866-880-1570
Email: [email protected]
or you may contact Class Counsel:
Arby Aiwazian
Joanna Ghosh
Yasmin Hosseini
Lawyers for Justice P.C.
410 Arden Avenue, Suite 203, Glendale, CA 91203
Telephone: (818) 265-1020; Fax: (818) 265-1021
William B. Sullivan
Eric K. Yaeckel
Sullivan & Yaeckel Law Group, APC
2330 Third Avenue, San Diego, CA 92101
Telephone: (619) 702-6760
Top - When and where will the Court decide whether to approve the settlement?
The Court will hold a Final Approval Hearing on July 3, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. in Department 9 of the Los Angeles Superior Court, located at 312 North Spring Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012.
Top - Do I have to come to the hearing?
You are not required to attend the Final Approval Hearing, although any Settlement Class Member is welcome to attend the hearing.
Top - Can I speak at the hearing?
The purpose of this hearing is for the Court to determine whether to grant final approval to the Settlement. If there are objections, the Court will consider them. The Court will listen to people who have made a timely written request to speak at the hearing. This hearing may be rescheduled by the Court without further notice to you.
Top - How do I get out of the settlement?
Submit a written and signed letter and a simple statement that you do not want to participate in the Class Settlement. The Administrator will exclude you based on any writing communicating your request to be excluded. Be sure to personally sign your request, set forth the case name and number of one of the Actions, your name, present address, email address or telephone number, the last 4 digits of your Social Security number, and include a clear statement that you wish to be excluded from the Class Settlement. You must make the request yourself. If someone else makes the request for you, it will not be valid. The Administrator must be sent your request to be excluded postmarked by April 9, 2024, or it will be invalid. Send your request to:
Morrow-Meadows Wage & Hour Administrator
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P.O. Box 301130, Los Angeles, CA 90030-1130 - How do I tell the Court if I don’t like the settlement?
A Participating Class Member who disagrees with any aspect of the Agreement may wish to object, for example, that the proposed Settlement is unfair, or that the amounts requested by Class Counsel or Plaintiffs are too high or too low. The deadline for sending written objections to the Administrator is postmarked March 11, 2024. Send your objection to:
Morrow-Meadows Wage & Hour Administrator
P.O. Box 301130, Los Angeles, CA 90030-1130Your objection must contain the case name and number of one of the Actions; contain your full name, current address, telephone number, last four (4) digits of your Social Security Number, your signature, and your approximate dates of employment with the Company; contain a written statement of all grounds for the objection accompanied by any legal support for such objection; and contain copies of any papers, briefs, or other documents upon which your objection is based.
Alternatively, a Participating Class Member can object (or personally retain a lawyer to object at your own cost) by attending the Final Approval Hearing. You (or your attorney) should be ready to tell the Court what you object to, why you object, and any facts that support your objection.
Top - What happens if I do nothing?
You will receive a Settlement Payment.
Top - When will I receive my check?
Assuming the Court grants Final Approval, the Company will fund the Gross Settlement Amount not more than fourteen (14) calendar days after the Judgment entered by the Court becomes final. The Judgment will be final on the date the Court enters Judgment, or a later date if Participating Class Members object to the proposed Settlement or the Judgment is appealed. Class members will be paid approximately 14 days thereafter.
Top - What are the tax implications?
Plaintiffs and Company are asking the Court to approve an allocation of 20 % of each Individual Class Payment to taxable wages and 80% to claims for interest, penalties, and other non-wage amounts. The Wage Portion is subject to withholdings and will be reported on IRS Form W-2. The Company will pay employer payroll taxes it owes on the Wage Portion. The Individual PAGA Payments are counted as penalties rather than wages for tax purposes. The Administrator will report the Individual PAGA Payments and the Non-Wage Portions of the Individual Class Payments on IRS Form 1099.
Although Plaintiffs and Company have agreed to these allocations, neither side is giving you any advice on whether your payments are taxable or how much you might owe in taxes. You are responsible for paying all taxes (including penalties and interest on back taxes) on any payments received from the proposed Settlement. You should consult a tax advisor if you have any questions about the tax consequences of the proposed Settlement.
Top - How was my award calculated?
The amount of your Individual Class Payment and PAGA Payment (if any) depend on how many Workweeks you worked at least one (1) day during the Class Period and/or PAGA Period.
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