Phillips, Erlewine, Given & Carlin LLP Announces Lithia Motors/DCH Auto Group to Pay Auto Mechanics Over $4 million to Settle...
August 25 2016 - 8:02PM
Business Wire
According to a Notice of Settlement filed today in the Los
Angeles Superior Court, Lithia Motors (LAD) and its recently
acquired subsidiary, DCH Auto Group, have agreed to settle all wage
and hour claims of current and former auto mechanic employees of
their nineteen California DCH dealerships.
The settlement agreement acknowledges that previous payments
made to some mechanics in the amount of $435,600 was a result of
the litigation, and provides for payment of an additional $3.6
million to the class, bringing the total value of the litigation to
the employees to over $4 million. As there are over 400 class
members, this is an average of around $10,000 per employee. The
agreement is subject to final approval by the court.
The settlement resolves several lawsuits and arbitrations that
had been filed against Lithia/DCH by its employees, accusing it of
numerous Labor Code violations, including failing to pay all wages
earned, failing to pay minimum wage, and failing to provide meal
and rest breaks. The mechanics further accused Lithia/DCH of
falsifying time records to show workers had taken meal breaks when
in fact they had not. The settlement announced today only affects
Lithia/DCH’s auto mechanic employees. Litigation continues on
behalf of Lithia/DCH’s other employees, including service writers,
salesmen, and clerical workers.
A lawyer for the employees, Nicholas Carlin, stated: “This is an
excellent settlement for these workers. DCH’s conduct was
unconscionable, in particular the clients’ allegations of
falsification of time records. We are delighted to have been able
to achieve this great result for the mechanics, and look forward to
obtaining justice for the rest of DCH’s employees.”
Mr. Carlin, a partner in the San Francisco law firm of Phillips,
Erlewine, Given & Carlin LLP, and Kirk Hanson of the Law
Offices of Kirk Hanson in San Diego are lead counsel for the
plaintiffs. The cases involved in the settlement are: Dale v.
Lithia Motors, Inc., et al., Los Angeles Superior No. BC586598;
Robles, et al. v. Tustin Motors, Inc., et al., Orange Superior No.
30101-2005-79414 CU-OE-CJC; Scott v. DCH Simi Valley Inc., et al.,
Los Angeles Superior No. BC526936; and Acevedo v. DCH Oxnard Inc.,
Ventura Superior No. 56-2014-00459096 CU-OE-VTA.
Phillips, Erlewine, Given & Carlin LLC represents workers,
consumers and creative people in individual and class actions
nationwide.
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Phillips, Erlewine, Given & Carlin LLPMara Lefkowitz,
415-398-0900mml@phillaw.com