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This settlement is closed!
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Ferrara Candy Company agreed to pay $1.5 million to settle a class action lawsuit that accuses the business of discriminating against potential workers simply because they are African-American.
Plaintiffs Brian Lucas, Aronzo Davis, Torrence Vaughans and Maurice Milton filed the class action lawsuit on behalf of themselves and all others seeking employment at the Ferrara Candy Company, either directly or through two staffing agencies known as Labor Power and REM.
According to the lawsuit, the company limited or completely excluded African-American workers from being hired by Ferrara for positions of Machine Operator, Mogul Cook, Engrosser, Janitor, Quality Control Technician or Shipping Clerk.
The plaintiffs claim that they were steered away from available jobs at Ferrara by the staffing agencies who instead hired Latinos for those positions.
Ferrara, Labor Power and REM denied all allegations of wrongdoing but decided to settle the class action lawsuit to avoid the cost of further litigation.
Who’s Eligible
The Ferrara Candy class action settlement is open to all Ferrara Direct Applicant Class Members and all African-Americans who sought a work assignment through REM or through Labor Power and were otherwise eligible to work at Ferrara but were not assigned or hired to work at the company between Feb. 27, 2009 and Dec. 22, 2015.
Potential Award
Varies.Â
The Ferrara Candy Company class action settlement will pay each Class Member who files a valid Claim Form an equal share of the $1.5 million fund, up to $7,500 each.
Proof of Purchase
N/A
Class Members must file a valid and timely Claim Form to receive a portion of the Settlement Fund.
Claim Form
Claim Form Deadline
05/03/2016
Case Name
Lucas, et al. v. Ferrara Candy Company, et al., Case No. 1:13-cv-01525, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division
Final Hearing
11/29/16
UPDATE: As of July 15, 2016 the final hearing was scheduled for July 21, 2016. Â However, on July 14, 2016 a joint motion was filed with the court requesting the final hearing be continued to September 2016. Â We appreciate your ongoing patience. Top Class Actions will continue to provide updates as we learn more.Â
UPDATE 2: On Sept. 8, 2016, the court granted a joint motion to reschedule the final hearing to November 3, 2016. Top Class Actions will continue to provide updates as we learn more.Â
UPDATE 3: On Nov. 4, 2016. the final hearing was rescheduled for November 29, 2016.
UPDATE 4: On Dec. 2, 2016, the court granted the Ferrara Candy Company settlement final approval. Â There is a 30 day period in which appeals can be filed. Â Claims will not be paid until after the appeals period expires, and there are not any appeals filed. Â Please keep checking Top Class Actions for updates. Â We will let our viewers know if any appeals are filed.
UPDATE 5: On Jan. 12, 2017, Top Class Actions viewers who filed valid claims for the Ferrara discrimination class action settlement began receiving checks worth as much as $904.82!
Settlement Website
Claims Administrator
Lucas v. Ferrara Candy Company
c/o GCG
P.O. Box 35100
Seattle, WA 98124-1100
888-586-9841
info@gardencitygroup.com
Class Counsel
Christopher J. Williams
Alvar Ayala
WORKERS’ LAW OFFICE, PC
Joseph M. Sellers
Shaylyn Cochran
COHEN, MILSTEIN, SELLERS & TOLL, PLLC
Defense Counsel
William Francis Dugan
Cintra Bentley McArdle
Richard Patrick McArdle
SEYFARTH SHAW LLP
Lisa Handler Ackerman
Kimberly Elizabeth Blair
WILSON ELSER MOSKOWITZ EDELMAN & DICKER, LLP
Regina Worley Calabro, Esq.
OGLETREE, DEAKINS, NASH, SMOAK & STEWART, P.C.
Kelly Meghan Ross
Tina B. Solis
NIXON PEABODY LLP
Jill C. Taylor
CITY OF CHICAGO – LAW DEPARTMENT
Join a Free Wage & Hour Class Action Lawsuit Investigation
If you were forced to work off the clock or without overtime pay within the past 3 years, you have rights – and you don’t have to take on the company alone. You may be eligible to join a free class action lawsuit investigation against your employer and seek compensation for unpaid wages.
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432 thoughts onFerrara Candy Company Discrimination Class Action Settlement
no one knows the amount we’ll receive
I need the whole seven thousand please and thank you!!
Hello SBS, did you have an interview with the company?
Hey Jason was it a African accent man who told you this.cause I was just told the same thing. I not going to receive any payment. I have been found which ineligible because I want to a interview. I told him i didn’t get hire and that what this settlement is about. He then tell me it is not and i will get a letter stated the reason. You’re correct it is about 300+ who will be told the same thing. I am with you on filling our own class actions lawsuit. Not going for this nonsense.
I do believe that there was over 1200 people who filed a claim but only 700 or 800 were approved at least that is what the courts were told.
I tried calling, and I just got the automatic message. How did you all get in touch with a person? Why would any of us that sent in paper work be denied?
312-795-9121
I had a interview but was not hire. I should be the first to get a check. This is totally rigged. Me and the other 300 will file our own lawsuit. This shit ain’t right at all.
Did they show u the video?
I don’t understand,if 300 people was denied,should that make payment amount go up instead of down?why we are getting a little under a 1,000 once taxes are taking out.what is the purpose of a w-9 form being sent to us,if they are still being taken out.something is really wrong.please respond back.it was not a lot of people filed from the start.i feel all claims should be approved if filed,if you know what I mean.
I think payments will go up…
So, it seems that if you had an interview then you were not approved.
These lawyer are crooks. How the hell I am not getting a check. I did all the forms and tax papers but now I am not eligible for the settlement. A letter has been sent to me to explain why. This is BS.
Hello Jason Riley, did you have an interview with this company and did not show up, or did they offer you a job?
Are you serious? What the number so I can call.
I was told I was not eligible for payment. I do not understand why. I will patiently wait on my denial letter..
Sharon, did you have an interview with this company?
I called the same number but talk to a woman and was told January 10th. I was also told I am on the list to receive a check. She couldn’t say how much cause this is when they are going to do the taxes on them. But she did say about 300 people will not be eligible for a settlement check. Them letters are going out this Friday. So that leave about 610-660 people left to get money.
my son recvd a denied letter stating he didn’t return his w-9/w-4 forms in on time,that is so untrue.not only is it a lie,but they sent them to him twice along with many others.and again it was mailed back in time.when taxes are taken out,then it really not necessary to return those forms back in when they are taking the taxes out anyway.once you mailed claims or doc. back,it is not our responbility to work their mail room too.when people start to doing crocky stuff.they start to make moves where they will loose in court.dates are so important,they may destroy whole forms,to try and show they are right,but I made copies to show when mailed. I will call Monday,to try to get this decision over turned.if anyone else recvd a letter like this ,please respond to this comment.
7stacks
did you state that you had a interview with ferrara?the lady that you talked to.i don’t believe she gave you wrong info,she told you what she saw,when it came to a end,changes was made,one set of papers reported to the court,and another set is reported to us.i believe the amount may be the whole 7500 or close to it.that why they did not tell the amount,they told when they are being mailed,they knew that the people that filed are going to be really angry.GOD IS LOOKING DOWN.
They did me the same way I ask them to return tax forms but they said they couldn’t.Have a lawyer to go over it like I have done.
I rec’d the same letter stating I didn’t send my forms back in time; then i got another letter stating i sent in to many forms and I should have only sent one form….they are stealing money; bcuz when I called to verify receipt of my forms the women said they didn’t get it so I resent,,,someone is in the pocket of this company