Godiva negotiates settlement in series of wage and hour class actions

Client(s) Godiva Chocolatier, Inc.

Jones Day represents Godiva Chocolatier, Inc. in separate wage and hour class actions that challenge virtually every aspect of the Company's wage and hour practices in California and involve every current and former exempt and non-exempt employee who worked at any Godiva retail outlet since 2005.

Matters involve approximately 1,600 hourly employees of Godiva. The complaints in those matters assert causes of action for (1) violation of California Labor Code sections 510, 1198 (unpaid overtime); (2) violation of California Labor Code sections 226.7 and 512(a) (unpaid meal break premiums); (3) violation of California Labor Code section 226.7 (unpaid rest period premiums); (4) violation of California Labor Code section 204 (wages not timely paid during employment); (5) violation of California Labor Code sections 201 and 202 (wage not timely paid upon termination); (6) violation of California Labor Code section 226(a) (noncompliant wage statements); (7) violation of California Labor Code sections 2800 and 2802 (unreimbursed business expenses); (8) violation of California Labor Code section 1174(d) (failure to keep proper payroll records); and (9) violation of California Business & Professions Code section 17200; (10) intentional misrepresentation; (11) negligent misrepresentation; and (12) Fraud & Professions Code section 17200. These four cases have been resolved and the Los Angeles Superior Court granted approval of the parties' class action settlement agreement.

Sanchez v. Godiva Chocolatier, Inc., Case No. CV-09-05957-AHM (CTx) (C.D. Cal.); Davies v. Godiva Chocolatier, Inc., Case No. BC429547 (L.A. Sup. Ct.) (2011); Lippold v. Godiva Chocolatier, Inc., Case No. 3:10-CV-00421-SI (N.D. Cal.); Ghada El Hakei v. Godiva Chocolatier, Inc., Case No. RG10506482 (Alameda Superior Court) (2011)