Case Information
Cathers v Mount Saint Marys University.
Superior Court of California County of Los Angeles
Case No. 22STCV02941
About This Case
COURT APPROVED NOTICE OF CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT AND HEARING DATE FOR FINAL COURT APPROVAL
(Cathers v Mount Saint Mary’s University)
The Superior Court for the State of California authorized this Notice. Read it carefully! It’s not junk mail, spam, an advertisement, or solicitation by a lawyer. You are not being sued.
You may be eligible to receive money from an employee class action lawsuit (“Action”) against Mount Saint Mary’s University ("MSMU") for alleged wage and hour violations. The Action was filed by former MSMU employee Cadyn Cathers (“Plaintiff”) and seeks (1) unpaid wages (including without limitation, pay for all hours worked, premium pay resulting from failing to authorize and permit paid rest breaks, and, when applicable, payment for all wages due at termination), penalties, and unreimbursed remote work/business expenses, incurred by adjunct instructors (“Class Members”) who worked for MSMU during the Class Period (January 25, 2018 through May 9, 2023); and (2) penalties under the California Private Attorney General Act (“PAGA”) for adjunct employees who worked for MSMU during the PAGA Period (October 26, 2020 through May 9, 2023) (“Aggrieved Employees”).
MSMU will not retaliate against you for any actions you take with respect to the proposed Settlement.
SUMMARY OF YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS AND OPTIONS IN THIS SETTLEMENT
You Do Not Have to Do Anything to Participate in the Settlement | If you do nothing, you will be a Participating Class Member, eligible for an Individual Class Payment and an Individual PAGA Payment (if any). In exchange, you will give up your right to assert the wage claims against MSMU that are covered by this Settlement (Released Claims). |
You Can Opt-out of the Class Settlement but not the PAGA Settlement | If you do not want to fully participate in the proposed Settlement, you can opt-out of the Class Settlement by sending the Administrator a written Request for Exclusion. Once excluded, you will be a Non-Participating Class Member and no longer eligible for an Individual Class Payment. Non-Participating Class Members cannot object to any portion of the proposed Settlement. You cannot opt-out of the PAGA portion of the proposed Settlement. MSMU must pay Individual PAGA Payments to all Aggrieved Employees and the Aggrieved Employees must give up their rights to pursue Released Claims. |
Participating Class Members Can Object to the Class Settlement but not the PAGA Settlement | All Class Members who do not opt-out (“Participating Class Members”) can object to any aspect of the proposed Settlement. The Court’s decision whether to finally approve the Settlement will include a determination of how much will be paid to Class Counsel and Plaintiff who pursued the Action on behalf of the Class. You are not personally responsible for any payments to Class Counsel or Plaintiff, but every dollar paid to Class Counsel and Plaintiff reduces the overall amount paid to Participating Class Members. You can object to the amounts requested by Class Counsel or Plaintiff if you think they are unreasonable. |
You Can Participate in the Final Approval Hearing | The Court’s Final Approval Hearing is scheduled to take place on March 8, 2024. You do not have to attend but you do have the right to appear (or hire an attorney to appear on your behalf at your own cost), in person, by telephone or by using the Court’s virtual appearance platform. Participating Class Members can verbally object to the Settlement at the Final Approval Hearing. |
You Can Challenge the Calculation of Your Pay Periods | The amount of your Individual Class Payment and Individual PAGA Payment (if any) depend on how many pay periods in which you worked at least one day during the Class Period and how many pay periods you worked at least one day during the PAGA Period, respectively. If you disagree with either of these numbers, you can challenge it. |
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