Daily Journal

Verdicts & Settlements: Daniel Gonzalez, John Frye and Tony Ortiz, individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated v. City of Los Angeles, and Does 1 through 100, inclusive

Oshea Orchid, Attorney at Orchid Law PC

Matthew Helland, Attorney at Nichols Kaster PLLP

Case number: 5:23-cv-00222-SSS-ACCV

Settlement - $9,500,000

Facts

On February 10, 2023, Plaintiffs Daniel Gonzalez, John Frye, and Tony Ortiz filed a lawsuit against Defendant the City of Los Angeles on behalf of themselves and other similarly situated employees of Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) who worked on platoon shifts. The lawsuit alleges that the City required Plaintiffs and similarly situated LAFD employees who provided early relief to be held over at the end of their platoon shift while waiting for relief or because of a recall, between 6:30 a.m. and until up to 8:00 a.m., without proper overtime pay in violation of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Plaintiffs seek to recover back pay in an amount equal to the alleged unpaid overtime wages and liquidated damages (double damages) on behalf of themselves and other similarly situated employees.

The City denied the allegations, maintaining that Plaintiffs and similarly situated individuals were properly paid in accordance with the FLSA.

Result

The case settled for $9.5 million.