The Orange County Register has settled a long-running lawsuit brought against it by a group of 5,000 carriers who deliver the daily newspaper, according to the paper and a lawyer representing the carriers.
The Register, part of Irvine-based Freedom Communications Inc., agreed to pay up to $22 million in damages in benefits for existing and future carriers. Although, the plaintiffs are also seeking an additional $12 million in legal fees.
The settlement still must be approved by Orange County Superior Court Judge David C. Velasquez, who is expected to announce a decision within the next 90 days.
The lawsuit, which alleged that the Register violated the California Labor Code, has been ongoing since 2003 when Santa Ana lawyer Daniel J. Callahan sued on behalf of the carriers.
The fight has been bitter at times. Velasquez at one point ruled during a trial that started in September that the Register couldn’t cover the trial because of concerns about bias. The paper later was allowed to cover it.
Callahan said he intends to pursue other newspapers that engaged in violation of labor codes.
