Top Class Actions  |  July 18, 2022

Category: Closed Class Actions

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This settlement is closed!

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Cannabis cultivator tending plant - riverview farms settlement
(Photo Credit: Dmytro Tyshchenko/Shutterstock)

Riverview Farms Inc., a cannabis cultivation operation, has agreed to a settlement of $825,000 after a class action lawsuit accused the company of violating wage-and-hour requirements. 

Class members are nonexempt cannabis cultivators who worked for Riverview Farms at 22938 Potter Road and 23092 Potter Road in Salinas, in Monterey County, California, between Oct. 1, 2015, and Dec. 31, 2019. 

The lead plaintiff, Alicia Cruz Bravo, alleged in a lawsuit Riverview Farms did not pay class members overtime for hours worked in excess of eight hours per day, or 40 hours per week. 

The plaintiff further alleged Riverview Farms provided class members with inaccurate wage statements, which could violate the law, and accused Riverview Farms of failing to pay all wages owed upon termination and unfair competition under the Business and Professions Code Section 17200. 

The settlement was reached after three mediation sessions over a six-month period. The plaintiff’s counsel reviewed thousands of pages of redacted class member time and payroll data produced for the years 2018 and 2019.

On its website, Riverview Farms says it is a third-generation family operation, having grown into the largest female-minority-owned and operated cannabis company in the world. It employs 100 people who work 365 days a year, with 75% of the workforce being female.

The settlement agreement states Riverview Farms is not admitting guilt, but has agreed to the settlement to avoid the cost of proceeding with a trial.

After attorney fees and administrative costs, the net settlement amount to class members is approximately $532,000. Approximately 600 people would be included in the class, with an average settlement payment amount of $887 per class member.

Class members are expected to receive at least one payment by November 2022, with a possible second payment in February 2023. The second distribution will be based on the pro-rata share of any undistributed funds after the first payments are processed.

All class members should receive notice and do not need to do anything more to receive their share of the settlement. Class members will be bound by a Release of Claims, meaning they cannot sue the defendants for any of the claims named in the lawsuit and settled through the settlement. 

Class members may object or opt out of the Riverview Farms class action settlement by Aug. 25, 2022. 

The final approval hearing is scheduled for Oct. 14, 2022.

No claim form is required for participation in this settlement.

Who’s Eligible

Class members are nonexempt cannabis cultivators who worked for Riverview Farms at 22938 Potter Road and 23092 Potter Road in Salinas, in Monterey County, California, between Oct. 1, 2015, and Dec. 31, 2019. 

Potential Award

Average settlement amount of $887 per member

Proof of Purchase

No proof of purchase applicable

Object or Opt Out Deadline

08/25/2022

Case Name

Alicia Cruz Bravo v. Riverview Farms, Inc., Case No. 19CV003943, in the Superior Court of the State of California County of Monterey

Final Hearing

10/14/2022

Settlement Website
Claims Administrator

Riverview Farms Settlement
c/o Atticus Administration
PO Box 64053
St. Paul, MN 55164
RiverviewFarmsSettlement@atticusadmin.com
800-372-8104

Class Counsel

Santos Gomez
Maria Esmeralda Vizzusi
LAW OFFICES OF SANTOS GOMEZ

Defense Counsel

Anthony Raimondo
James D. Miller
Ryan W. Porte
RAIMONDO & ASSOCIATES

James Fitzpatrick
Laura L. Franklin
FITZPATRICK & SWANSTON

Christine H. Long
BERLINER COHEN LLP

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12 thoughts onRiverview Farms wage-and-hour $825K class action settlement

  1. Tammy nunnally says:

    Add me

  2. Shawn rigby says:

    Please add me

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