A California judge recently approved an unpaid wages class action settlement, to resolve the numerous minimum wage allegations against Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. and Sheraton Operating Co.
The unpaid wages class action settlement amounts to $850,000 to resolve the claims that the hotel chain had wrongfully withheld wages, for hundreds of bellhops and housekeepers at the W Hollywood Hotel in Los Angeles.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge William F. Highberger approved the unpaid wages class action settlement, which is estimated to provide approximately $1,090 to the 440 class members and $283,333 in legal fees.
The unpaid wages class action settlement applies to all current and former hourly minimum wage employees who worked at the W Hotel in Hollywood from Feb. 14, 2010 to the date of the settlement’s approval.
The unpaid wages class action settlement covers three proposed minimum wage class action lawsuits filed in February 2014, by the employees of the W Hotel in Los Angeles. The employees alleged Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. and other associated hotels had violated numerous minimum wage protocols.
Overview of Unpaid Wage Class Action Allegations
The bellhops and cleaning maids alleged they were routinely denied rest periods and meal breaks, as well as overtime benefits and compensation for occupational expenses.
In addition, these employees allege their gratuities and service charges were never properly distributed to them.
During the hearing, it was pointed out that the plaintiffs’ lawyers had requested a massive amount to settle the legal fees. Judge Highberger stated that he would “hash it down somehow to get it under the lid”, in order to make it work with the unpaid wages class action settlement.
The legal fees of the plaintiffs are significantly high due to the fact that there were five specialized law firms representing the plaintiffs.
The minimum wage class action lawsuit was filed by plaintiffs Joseph Sylvester and Anthony Wiktor on Feb. 14, 2014, who were employed as bellhops since the hotel’s opening in 2010.
Plaintiffs Earl Minor and Edna Martinez, who worked as housekeepers, filed their minimum wage lawsuits days later. As named plaintiffs in the unpaid wages class action settlement, each of them will receive an increased reward of $10,000 from the settlement.
According to Sylvester’s lawsuit, the hotels had regularly required employees to work over four hours without a rest break and over five hours without a meal break. Even when they did get meal breaks, the plaintiffs and other class embers were required to carry radios so they could respond to any requests or questions made by customers or managements.
If they were called, employees would have to immediately end their meal breaks to return to work. Hotel managers also required employees to work over eight hours a day or over 40 hours a week without overtime pay.
Furthermore, employees were also required to change into their uniforms before clocking in and out before changing at the end of the day.
The Starwood Hotels wage and hour class action lawsuits are: Joseph Sylvester et al. v. Starwood Hotels and Resorts Management Company et al., Case No. BC536399; Earl Minor v. Starwood Hotels and Resorts Management Company et al, Case No. BC536890; Edna Martinez v. Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. et al, Case No. BC537737, in the Superior Court of the State of California, County of Los Angeles.
Join a Free California Overtime, Wage & Hour Class Action Lawsuit Investigation
If you were forced to work off the clock or without overtime pay in California within the past 2 to 3 years, you have rights – and you don’t have to take on the company alone.
ATTORNEY ADVERTISING
Top Class Actions is a Proud Member of the American Bar Association
LEGAL INFORMATION IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE
Top Class Actions Legal Statement
©2008 – 2026 Top Class Actions® LLC
Various Trademarks held by their respective owners
This website is not intended for viewing or usage by European Union citizens.
Get Help – It’s Free
Join a Free California Wage & Hour Class Action Lawsuit Investigation
If you were denied overtime, breaks, or minimum wage by your employer in California, you may have a legal claim. Fill out the form below for more information.
An attorney will contact you if you qualify to discuss the details of your potential case.
Please Note: If you want to participate in this investigation, it is imperative that you reply to the law firm if they call or email you. Failing to do so may result in you not getting signed up as a client, if you qualify, or getting you dropped as a client.
E-mail any problems with this form to:
[email protected].
ATTORNEY ADVERTISING
The choice of a lawyer is an important decision and should not be based solely on advertisements.
PAID ATTORNEY ADVERTISEMENT: THIS WEB PAGE IS AN ADVERTISEMENT AND THE PARTICIPATING ATTORNEY(S) ARE INCLUDED BECAUSE THEY PAY AN ADVERTISING FEE. It is not a lawyer referral service or prepaid legal services plan. Top Class Actions is not a law firm. Top Class Actions does not endorse or recommend any lawyer or law firm who participates in the network, nor does it analyze a person’s legal situation when determining which participating lawyers receive a person’s inquiry. It does not make any representation and has not made any judgment as to the qualifications, expertise or credentials of any participating lawyer. No representation is made that the quality of the legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers. The information contained herein is not legal advice. Any information you submit to Top Class Actions does not create an attorney-client relationship and may not be protected by attorney-client privilege. Do not use the form to submit confidential, time-sensitive, or privileged information. All photos are of models and do not depict clients. All case evaluations are performed by participating attorneys.
