Wage and Rest Break Claimants Settle California Suit Against Starbucks

The plaintiffs in putative class litigation alleging inaccurate wage statements and denial of required meal breaks have filed a motion for preliminary approval of a class action settlement brought against Starbucks in 2008. York v. Starbucks Corp., No. 08-7919 (C.D. Cal., W. Div., motion filed May 10, 2013).

Without admitting liability, the company has apparently agreed to pay $3 million to resolve the claims of California Starbucks employees who fall into one or two subclasses: (i) the “Meal Break Settlement Subclass,” including “all persons employed by Starbucks within the state of California in the job categories of café attendant, barista, or shift supervisor during the period from December 2, 2004, to January 31, 2013”; and (ii) the “Wage Statement Settlement Subclass,” including “all persons employed by Starbucks in the state of California in the job categories of café attendant, barista, shift supervisor, assistant store manager, or store manager during the period from December 2, 2007, to January 31, 2013.”

The agreement does not include attorney’s fees, although a procedure for
their determination is established in the proposal, and the agreement provides
Starbucks with a limited right to cancel if five percent or more of the class
members “validly and timely opt out of the Settlement or submit timely written
objections.” The motion has been scheduled for a June 10 hearing.