California Universal Protection Service Unpaid Overtime Settlement

Benefits from a $30 million class action arbitration settlement are now available for security professionals who are current or former employees of Universal Protection Service.

Current and former employees can qualify for payment if they worked as a security guard or in a similar position between Feb. 26, 2011 and Nov. 22, 2017.

Claimant Robert Stone brought this action in private arbitration, raising claims under federal and California employment law.

Stone alleges respondent Universal Protection Service LP failed to pay minimum wage and overtime rates for all qualifying hours worked. He further alleges Universal Protection Service violated requirements governing meal breaks, rest breaks and waiting times, and that the company failed to reimburse employees for necessary business expenses.

Stone sought recovery of unpaid wages, injunctive relief, and penalties under the California Private Attorneys General Act.

Universal Protection Service continues to deny Stone’s claims but agreed to the settlement in the interest of avoiding the cost of further litigation.

The settlement also resolves similar claims raised elsewhere by plaintiffs Brittany Cole, Andres Medina and Melonie Goodrum. All three of those plaintiffs and Stone serve as class representatives in this arbitration.

Under terms of the settlement, Universal Protection Service will pay a maximum $30 million. This amount will cover a $15,000 award to each of the named class representatives, class counsel’s attorney fees and costs, the costs of administering the settlement, and a payment to the California Labor & Workforce Development Agency.

The remaining settlement funds will be distributed among qualifying Class Members who submit valid and timely claims, according to the number of weeks they worked for Universal Protection Service during the relevant period.

Universal Protection Service says that, as required by law, it will not retaliate against any employees for participating in this settlement.

Class Members can exclude themselves from the settlement or object to its terms by submitting a written request no later than Feb. 14, 2018.

Who’s Eligible

The Class covers any person employed in California by Universal Protection Service LP or any of its successors as a non-exempt security professional – for example, security guards, or jobs with similar titles and duties – at any time from Feb. 26, 2011 through Nov. 22, 2017.

Potential Award

Individual settlement payments will be based on the number of work weeks the Class Member worked during the class period, which runs from Feb. 26, 2011 to Nov. 22, 2017.

Payments will be adjusted for Class Members who already settled a portion of their claims through another settlement referred to as the Davis/Mitchell-Straub settlement or who opted out of that settlement.

The settlement website does not offer an estimate of individual payment amounts but provides this formula: “Individual Settlement Payment = Individual Work Weeks ÷ Class Work Weeks × Net Settlement Amount.”

Proof of Purchase

Class Members may submit a claim online using the Claim ID found in their mailed settlement notice. Claim Forms may also be submitted via mail.

Class Members may need to submit a filled-out IRS Form W-9, if applicable.

Claim Form

CLICK HERE TO FILE A CLAIM »

NOTE: If you do not qualify for this settlement do NOT file a claim.

Remember: you are submitting your claim under penalty of perjury. You are also harming other eligible Class Members by submitting a fraudulent claim. If you’re unsure if you qualify, please read the FAQ section of the Settlement Administrator’s website to ensure you meet all standards (Top Class Actions is not a Settlement Administrator). If you don’t qualify for this settlement, check out our database of other open class action settlements you may be eligible for.

Claim Form Deadline

2/14/2018

Case Name

Stone v. Universal Protection Service LP, Case No. 01-15-0002-7497, before the American Arbitration Association

Final Hearing

3/22/2018

Settlement Website

www.UPSsettlement.com

Claims Administrator

Robert Stone v. Universal Protection Service LP
c/o ILYM Group Inc.
P.O. Box 2031
Tustin, CA 92781
Phone (855) 309-1484
Fax (888) 845-6185
claims@ILYMGroupClassAction.com

Class Counsel

Heather Davis
PROTECTION LAW GROUP

Peter R. Dion-Kindem
THE DION-KINDEM LAW FIRM

Lonnie C. Blanchard, III
THE BLANCHARD LAW GROUP APC

Norm Blumenthal
BLUMENTHAL NORDREHAUG & BHOWMIK

J.D. Henderson
LAW OFFICE OF J.D. HENDERSON

Defense Counsel

Richard J. Simmons
Jason W. Kearnaghan
Cassidy M. English
Michael T. Campbell
SHEPPARD MULLIN RICHTER & HAMPTON LLP

Join a Free California Wage & Hour Class Action Lawsuit Investigation

If you were forced to work off the clock or without overtime pay within the past three years in California, you have rights – and you don’t have to take on the company alone.

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