Parent company of Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk settles in $5.9 million class-action lawsuit – Santa Cruz Sentinel

SANTA CRUZ — Santa Cruz Seaside Co., which operates the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, recently settled a lawsuit in Santa Cruz County Superior Court ordering it to pay nearly $6 million to a group of current and former employees for unpaid minimum wage, rest periods and overtime. .

The lawsuit was filed in July 2023, and the eight total complaints in the case include accusations that the company does not provide meal breaks or overtime pay and has rounded hours to avoid paying employees. Santa Cruz Seaside Co. agreed to pay the settlement, which will be finalized in January 2025, despite denying all of the plaintiff’s claims in the case.

A spokesperson for Santa Cruz Seaside Co. told the Sentinel that the deal was pre-approved by the Santa Cruz County Superior Court on Sept. 17 and provided the Sentinel with this statement.

“As a century-old family-owned and operated company, the trust and well-being of our employees is vital to us and we care deeply about ensuring that everyone on our staff is treated and paid fairly,” the statement said. “While we deny the allegations in this case, we are pleased to accept this settlement and put this matter behind us.”

The significant $5.9 million payment will be paid to employees at Santa Cruz Seaside Co. between July 25, 2019 and August 11. After attorney fees are paid, the remaining payment will be given to the named current and former employees. According to the plaintiff receives approximately $7,500 court documents.

The documents allege that the named plaintiff, Santa Cruz County resident Travis Sanford, owned Santa Cruz Seaside Co. It states that she worked as a seasonal food service employee at the Santa Cruz Boardwalk from August 2016 to December 2021.

The class action complaint, filed in July 2023, outlines eight complaints filed by the plaintiff and states: “Defendants (Santa Cruz Seaside Co.) employed Plaintiff (Sanford) and other class members but did not pay them overtime wages and subsistence minimum wages.” failed to pay properly, failed to receive wages for all hours worked, failed to provide all meals and rest breaks to which they were entitled, failed to pay all wages on time upon termination, failed to provide accurate wage statements, failed to cover necessary job-related expenses, and failed to comply with the California Labor Code and applicable Industrial Welfare rules. and other relevant protections provided by the Commission Fees Order.”

The eight complaints are detailed in the July filing and begin with the class action lawsuit alleging that the plaintiff and others were not paid overtime when required by law. Document states that the plaintiff and other class members “regularly worked more than eight hours per day, twelve hours per day, and/or forty hours per week. However, Defendants failed to record Plaintiff’s and other class members’ actual work hours and knowingly and knowingly failed to pay all overtime wages owed to Plaintiff and other class members and failed to pay one and a half times the regular hourly rate for overtime. hour.”

Notices of the settlement have been sent to employees involved in the class-action lawsuit, and the Santa Cruz County Superior Court will hold a final approval hearing next year. Settlement checks will be distributed to members of the class action lawsuit following the hearing in January 2025.

To read the court documents, visit: santacruzcourt.org.