Gate Gourmet off-the-clock work $3.8M class action settlement

Gate Gourmet has agreed to pay $3.85 million as part of a settlement resolving a class action lawsuit claiming it required its workers to perform off-the-clock work.

Class members include all individuals who worked for Gate Gourmet in California as a non-exempt employee at any time between May 4, 2016, and Oct. 3, 2022.

California Gate Gourmet employees Mohammed Rahman, Alicia Noemi Bautista Diaz and Pascal Moore filed class action lawsuit. They claim they were among many Gate Gourmet employees required to perform off-the-clock work. Allegedly, this violated California labor law, as California requires employer to pay workers for all hours worked. 

The workers also claim this off-the-clock work denied them the benefits associated with their paid work, including rest and meal breaks, overtime pay and other associated benefits under California law. 

Gate Gourmet provides airline catering at over 200 airports, including in-flight and in airport lounges, according to the company’s website.

Gate Gourmet does not admit wrongdoing in response to these claims, but has agreed to settle the claims in the interests of avoiding the continued costs and risks of litigation. 

In addition to settling with workers, Gate Gourmet has reached a Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) settlement.

Class members are eligible to receive a proportional amount of the settlement fund, allocated after attorney fees and costs, settlement administration fees and class representative fees have been allocated.

In addition, class members who worked for Gate Gourmet between May 5, 2019, and Oct. 3, 2022, are eligible to receive a proportional share of the $96,250 PAGA settlement fund.

Class members who wish to object to or opt out of the Gate Gourmet settlement class must do so by Jan. 17, 2023. 

There is no deadline by which class members must submit a claim for their settlement payment. However, class members who wish to receive a digital payment must elect to do so by Dec. 16, 2022. All class members who do not elect to receive a digital payment will receive a Gate Gourmet wage-and-hour class action settlement check at the address on file.

Who’s Eligible

Individuals who worked for Gate Gourmet in California as a non-exempt employee at any time between May 4, 2016, and Oct. 3, 2022

Potential Award

Varies

Proof of Purchase

No proof of purchase applicable

Exclusion Deadline

01/17/2023

Case Name

Mohammed Rahman, et al. v. Gate Gourmet Inc., et al, Case No. 3:20-CV-03047-WHO in the U.S. District Court, Northern District

Final Hearing

01/25/2023

Settlement Website

GateGourmetSettlement.com

Claims Administrator

Rahman v. Gate Gourmet
c/o Atticus Administration
PO Box 64053
Saint Paul, MN 55164
gategourmetsettlement@atticusadmin.com
888-288-9994

Class Counsel

Randall B Aiman-Smith
Reed WL Marcy
Hallie Von Rock
Brent Robinson
AIMAN-SMITH & MARCY PC

Kane Moon
Allen Feghali
Lilit Ter-Astvatsatryan
MOON & YANG APC

Joseph Lavi
Vince C Granberry
Melissa A
HUETHER LAVI & EBRAHIMIAN LLP

Defense Counsel

Douglas J Farmer
Christopher M Cascino
OGLETREE DEAKINS NASH SMOAK & STEWART PC