Starbucks settles suit over overtime pay with 350+ assistant managers

[Omaha Steve]

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/352413_sbux23.html

Case covered 356 assistant managers

By CRAIG HARRIS
P-I REPORTER

Nearly three years after a Starbucks assistant manager in Houston alleged that he was forced to work off the clock, the Seattle-based coffee giant has settled an overtime wage case with the former employee and roughly 350 other workers.

The settlement comes as Starbucks is fighting at least two other major lawsuits, in which employees allege they were not legally compensated.

Starbucks and James Falcon earlier this month agreed to end the Houston case just before it was headed to trial in U.S. District Court. Terms of the settlement, which needs the court's approval, were not disclosed. The next hearing is March 4.

"This resolution will hopefully provide fair compensation to the participants," Martin Shellist, lead counsel for the plaintiffs, said in a phone interview Friday.

Shellist said the case covered 356 assistant managers from around the country who had joined the suit and worked at Starbucks after March 11, 2002. Those who had not previously joined the suit are not eligible to receive any settlement money.

Starbucks and its attorney did not return calls, and Falcon could not be reached.

FULL story at link.