Law Firm Settles Overtime Suit With Keebler
An Orange County Superior Court judge earlier this month signed off on a settlement of a $6.6 million overtime lawsuit against Kellogg Co.’s Keebler Co. brought by Garden Grove-based Gould & Associates.
About 300 Keebler territory managers charged they weren’t paid overtime because they were “improperly” classified as “outside salespeople,” according to the lawsuit.
The territory managers deliver Keebler products to supermarkets and other stores. Keebler makes ice cream cones, cookies, crackers and other snack foods.
The settlement requires each class member submitting a claim to get overtime pay for each week worked from Oct. 18, 1998 to the settlement date.
Overtime lawsuits have been common under a 2000 state law that requires nonexempt workers,generally those without managerial responsibilities,to be paid overtime if they work longer than 40 hours a week.
Employers have paid millions to settle overtime cases.
Several Orange County companies, including Anaheim-based apparel retailer Pacific Sunwear of California Inc. and Irvine-based Mexican fast food chain El Pollo Loco Inc., have been hit with the suits.
,Chris Cziborr
