Thomas Beltran, et al. v. Olam Spices and Vegetables, Inc.
United States District Court, Eastern District of California, Fresno Division, Case No. 1:18-cv-01676-JLT-SAB
If you were employed at Olam West Coast, Inc.’s (“Olam” or “Defendant”) Fresno, Firebaugh, Hanford, Lemoore, Gilroy, and/or Williams locations in California in one or more positions which were classified as non-exempt and/or hourly non-exempt at any time during the period from July 7, 2011 to September 22, 2021, you may be eligible to receive payment from a proposed class action settlement and proposed collective action settlement.
A proposed class and collective action settlement (“Settlement”) has been reached in this case that resolves, in one lawsuit, the claims initially filed in four lawsuits alleging that Olam violated the federal Fair Labor Standards Act and California wage-and-hour laws and the California Business Professions Code. The lawsuit alleges that defendant Olam West Coast, Inc. failed to pay wages for all time worked, failed to pay minimum and overtime wages in the amount required by law, failed to provide meal or rest periods as required by law, failed to pay final wages in a timely manner upon the end of employment, failed to pay all wages due during employment, failed to provide accurate itemized wage payment statements, failed to maintain adequate payroll records, and failed to reimbursing all business expenses incurred, and thereby violated California law and the federal Fair Labor Standards Act.
The litigation involves four separate actions:
- Thomas Beltran, et al. v. Olam West Coast, Inc. filed in the Fresno County Superior Court, Case No. 15CECG02993 (“Beltran Action”);
- Maria Claudia Obeso Cota v. Olam West Coast, Inc. filed in Fresno County Superior Court, Case No. 16CECG00081;
- Alexander Solorio v. Olam West Coast, Inc. filed in Fresno County Superior Court, Case No. 16CECG00513; and,
- Juan Rivera, et al. v. Olam West Coast, Inc., filed in Santa Clara Superior Court, Case No. 16CV300758.
On April 11, 2018 a Third Amended Class Action Complaint for Damages & Enforcement Under the California Labor Code § 2698, Et Seq. consolidating the plaintiffs and allegations in the Settled Actions into one case, was filed in the Beltran Action. The settlement reached between the parties in the Settled Actions, to resolve the Settled Actions and Released Claims, is the subject of this notice. The Beltran Action was removed to Federal Court as Thomas Beltran, et al. v. Olam Spices and Vegetables, Inc., Eastern District of California, Fresno Division, Case No. 1:18-cv-01676-JLT-SAB.
Defendant denies that it did anything wrong and argues that it has complied with all employment laws. Defendant entered into this Settlement only to resolve this lawsuit and the four underlying actions.
Honorable Judge Dale A. Drozd of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California (“Court”) has preliminarily approved the Settlement. However, payments will not be distributed unless the Court grants final approval of the Settlement and then only in the manner and amount as provided for in the Settlement as finally approved.
Review the Notices linked above for additional information regarding the FSLA Settlement and/or the Class Settlement.
You may also complete an Opt In Form for the FLSA Settlement using the link at the top of this page.