Motion for Final Approval of Settlement Granted 3.24.14

At a public hearing on March 24, 2014, pursuant to the Order Preliminarily Approving Settlement and Providing for Class Notice entered January 21, 2014 (“Preliminary Approval Order’’), the parties moved for Final Approval of the Class Action Settlement, Approval of the Class Representative Award, Attorneys’ Fees and Costs.

The Court found that Notice to the Settlement Class, including the mailing or re-mailing of the Notice of Pendency of Class Action as set forth in the Settlement Agreement, has been completed in conformity with the Preliminary Approval Order, including mailing of individual notice to all members of the Settlement Class who could be identified through reasonable effort.  The Court found that this notice was the best notice practicable under the circumstances, that it provided due and adequate notice of the proceedings and of the matters set forth therein, and that it fully satisfies the requirements of California law and due process.  Finally, there were no objectors or parties seeking intervention. 

The Court found that the Settlement was fair and reasonable and a result of an arm’s length negotiations. Neither the Settlement Agreement nor the settlement constitutes an admission or concession by Extron or any of the other Released Persons, nor does this Order and Judgment constitute a finding of any kind by the Court, regarding the validity of any of the claims asserted in the Litigation or of any wrongdoing by Extron or any of the other Released Persons.  Richard E. Quintilone,II, Esq., Quintilone & Associates, 22974 El Toro Road, Suite 100, LakeForest, CA  92630-4961, (949) 458-9675, is hereby confirmed and appointed as Class Counsel.  Class Counsel fees and litigation costs were confirmed. Named Plaintiff Krystle Castro appeared at the hearing and was confirmed and appointed as representative of the class.  The Court awarded Ms. Castro an enhancement payment in the total amount of $1,500.00 for her work as the Class Representative. 

The Court appointed ILYM Group, Inc. as the parties’ chosen Settlement Administrator, under which Defendant agreed to pay the reasonable expenses of the Settlement Administrator up to a maximum of $8,000.00. Finally, the Court approved the payment to the California Labor & Workforce Development Agency in the total amount of $750, with $250 going to the Net Settlement Proceeds for the Class.

Based upon the current timeline of events, Class Members who did not opt out should expect to receive payment by the end of April 2014. 

Linquist v. Extron - Status of the Appeal 3.14.13

CASE UPDATE:  Plaintiff Gwen Linquist filed her opening brief for the appeal of the trial court's denial of the Motion for Class Certification on February 20, 2013, Appellate Court Case No. G047340.  

The Defendant Extron Electronics aka RGB Systems Inc. opening brief is currently due March 28, 2013. To review the status of the appeal, the schedule for oral arguments or to receive email notifications about the case, simply login to the California Court of Appeal, Fourth District, Division Three's website and enter the appellate case number:

http://appellatecases.courtinfo.ca.gov/search.cfm?dist=43

If you are planning on pursuing your individual claims during the pendency of the appeal or have questions about the case please contact Richard E. Quintilone II, Esq. at req@quintlaw.com or Fernando Guzman (habla espanol) fxg@quintlaw.com via Quintilone & Associates online www.quintlaw.com or via phone 949.458.9675 or fax 949.458.9679.

Motion for Class Certification & Mediation

The filing date of the Motion for Class Certification has been continued until June 28, 2012. The investigation process is still on going.

Please be advised that mediation for the above referenced matter has begun. A mediation conference is a voluntary procedure available to parties in a lawsuit.  Any decision reached is not binding unless agreed to by all parties.  Any witnesses who have information or evidence they deem relevant to the resolution of this case should contact Attorney Richard E. Quintilone II, Esq. via email at req@quintlaw.com

About The Case

A lawsuit has been filed in the Orange County Superior Court (Case No. 30-2009-00300442) by Gwen Linquist (“Plaintiff”) against Extron Electronics (“Extron”). Plaintiff seeks to bring this lawsuit on behalf of herself and a proposed class of current and former employees employed by Extron in California at any time between September 8, 2005 and the present.

Plaintiff is a former employee of Extron and has alleged that Defendant Extron failed to pay all time worked as well as overtime to its Buyer classification of employees in California during the relevant time period, and failed to allow all employees proper overtime pay and to take mandated meal breaks, appropriate rest periods, provide itemized statements, pay wages twice monthly, and pay wages upon termination of employment, as well as unlawful competition and business tactics. Extron denies these allegations and denies that this should be a class action.

The first step in the legal process is a determination by the Court as to whether the lawsuit should proceed as a class action. To complete their investigation, the Plaintiff’s lawyers would like to communicate with you about the above alleged Labor Code violations.

Plaintiff is represented by the law firm of Quintilone & Associates:

Richard E. Quintilone II, Esq.
Michelle E. Harvey, Esq.
QUINTILONE & ASSOCIATES
22974 El Toro Road, Suite 100
Lake Forest, CA 92630-4961
Tel: 949.458.9675
Email info@quintlaw.com
http://www.quintlaw.com/

If you are a former or current California employee of Extron who was employed as a Buyer (International, Senior and/or Domestic, etc.) as well as a non-exempt employee (usually, but not always) paid by the hour, then Quintilone & Associates would like like to discuss your wages, hours and working conditions.

PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT EXTRON AND ALL CALIFORNIA EMPLOYERS ARE STRICTLY PROHIBITED FROM RETALIATING AGAINST EMPLOYEES FOR PARTICIPATING IN OUR INVESTIGATION. If you feel that you or other workers have been subjected to retaliation or intimidation, please contact us or the California Department of Industrial Relations, Division of Labor Standards Enforcement immediately. See http://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/

Please contact us at the phone number or email address above so we may continue our investigation of the allegations in this case.