$1,000,000 Class and Representative Action Settlement on Behalf of Agricultural Workers Granted Final Approval by the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California

On October 10, 2024, the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California granted final approval of a $1,000,000 class and representative action settlement in Miguel Gutiérrez v. New Hope Harvesting, LLC, et al. (Case No. 2:19-cv-07077-FMO-AFM).

The settlement is on behalf approximately 900 agricultural employees who performed fieldwork for the Defendants in the production of strawberries in California at any time between February 4, 2016, and April 26, 2024. The majority of the farmworkers who will receive money under this settlement are Mexican nationals who performed farm labor pursuant to the H2-A temporary agricultural workers program.

The lawsuit claimed that Defendants fail to properly pay overtime wages, provide adequate rest and meal periods, and reimburse expenses. Additionally, the plaintiff asserted a claim for civil penalties under the California Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA). The case also involved an opt-in claim under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), with several individuals joining as FLSA Opt-In plaintiffs. Defendants deny Plaintiffs’ allegations and deny they did anything wrong.  

The settlement also provide for significant injunctive relief. Specifically, the settlement provides that Defendants will enter a court-enforceable consent decree that is intended to address the labor violations alleged in this action, including that Defendants train their managers on employees’ labor rights. 

You can learn more about the settlement in the following document: