Working Overtime but Not Getting Paid for It? Fair pay continues to be something that needs to be fought for – especially when it comes to overtime. When companies refuse to pay their workers for all time spent working, sometimes a class action lawsuit is just what’s needed to encourage them to change their ways. In this issue of our newsletter, you’ll find two new investigations looking to see if such cases can be filed, respectively, on behalf of merchandisers who set up in-store displays and registered behavior technicians who provide therapy for children and teens with autism. And, if you’ve been keeping up with previous issues, you’ll want to know that more items have been added to the list of haircare products under investigation for potentially causing scalp irritation and hair loss. Finally, we take a closer look at some vehicles from Fiat Chrysler that may be suffering from a defect that can cause problems with the cars’ heat and air conditioning. All this and more can be found just below. - Ty Armstrong, Writer/Community Manager |
| It seems like it wouldn’t be a proper newsletter without mentioning some sort of car trouble, so here’s your weekly dose. Some Jeep Wrangler, Dodge Journey, Dodge Avenger and Dodge Charger drivers have reported that there are inherent issues with their vehicles’ heat, defroster and air conditioning systems, which have led to costly repair bills that aren’t being covered under warranty. Attorneys looking into this issue have reason to believe that a defect may be to blame and that Fiat Chrysler could be held accountable. Specifically, it is suspected that a chemical reaction between coolant installed by Chrysler and aluminum components in the vehicles’ Pentastar V6 3.6-liter engines is causing sludge to build up in the heater core and other components of the heating and cooling systems. If lawsuits are filed and successful, they could help drivers get back the money they spent on repairs, as well as force Chrysler to find a fix for the problem. For a closer look at the investigation so far and information on what you could do to help get a lawsuit off the ground, head over to this page. |
Aussie Products Added to Hair Loss Investigation As the investigation into haircare products that can cause scalp irritation and hair loss moves forward, another brand has been called into question – as well as another ingredient that may be behind the problems consumers have been reporting. Several shampoos sold under the Aussie brand name contain sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) – a “surfactant” that works by trapping oil-based dirt and allowing it to be rinsed away by water. That’s how it’s supposed to work, and while it hasn’t been listed as a known carcinogen, the chemical has been found to have the ability to penetrate the skin and cause irritation. In fact, researchers in one study found that 42% of 1,600 individuals who received an SLS patch test developed an “irritant reaction.” A handful of other Aussie haircare products, including several mousses, have also been added to the investigation for containing DMDM hydantoin, the preservative at the center of the lawsuit involving TRESemmé. For a full list of Aussie products under investigation, as well as other brands attorneys are looking into, head over to this page. |
 Our settlements page is always being updated. Have you checked to see if you're covered by any open settlements? You can also check out the latest settlements as they happen by following us on Twitter. |
| Latest Settlements - Hy-Vee Data Breach
If you made a purchase at a Hy-Vee fuel pump, drive-thru coffee shop, or restaurant using a credit or debit card between December 14, 2018 and August 2, 2019, you may be included in this settlement. - UCLA Patient Abuse
This settlement aims to cover female patients who were seen for treatment by Dr. Heaps at one of three locations, which are outlined on the settlement site, between January 1, 1983 and June 28, 2018. - Six Flags Credit/Debit Card Receipts
If you visited one of several Six Flags parks (listed on the settlement site) between October 14, 2016 and September 28, 2017, used a credit or debit card for a purchase, and received a printed receipt you may be covered by this settlement. | | |
To view a complete list of settlements and to find out how you can file a claim, click here. |
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| | ~ In Other News ~ | If you work or have worked as a merchandiser and weren’t paid for drive time, you may have been illegally underpaid. Attorneys have reason to believe that the practice of paying merchandisers solely for time spent working in stores – and not for the time spent traveling between them – is a violation of federal law. Specifically, it is suspected these workers are missing out on time-and-a-half overtime pay because all their work time isn’t being accounted for. One lawsuit has already been filed against Premium Retail Services, Inc. claiming the company’s merchandisers are being deprived of wages for drive time and work performed off the clock – and more companies could soon come under fire. If filed and successful, class action lawsuits could help these workers recover the wages they were entitled to, but never received – including lost overtime pay. If you’re a merchandiser and haven’t been getting paid for your drive time or off-the-clock work, head over to this page for the details. |
| Attorneys working with ClassAction.org are taking a look at another field in which employees may be getting underpaid – and this time around, they want to hear from those who have worked as registered behavior technicians (RBTs) and board-certified assistant behavior analysts (BCaBAs). The new investigation centers on whether companies that provide therapy services to children and teens with autism, including Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) therapy, are paying these workers properly. If not, class action lawsuits could be filed against companies that are believed to be breaking the law. It is suspected that some companies are failing to pay their RBTs and BCaBAs overtime wages because they’re not accounting for tasks performed off the clock, such as meeting with supervisors or maintaining client notes, that push their weekly hours beyond 40. In some cases, these workers may also be getting illegally classified as independent contractors so that the company can avoid paying proper wages. If this sounds like something that happened to you or someone you know, you can find the details here. |
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