State court will approve $6.5 million class settlement in wage case against DCH Auto

December 19, 2017 – Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Kenneth R. Freeman indicated from the bench today that he will grant final approval to the settlement agreement reached in the firm’s second wage theft class action against DCH Auto Group and its parent entity Lithia Motors, Inc., the eighth largest automotive retailer in the U.S.  The class consists of clerical and other employees working for the car dealership chain in the State of California, who will each share in a $6.5 million common fund to compensate them for unpaid wages.  This is the second settlement the firm has concluded on behalf of DCH employees; the first, for just over $4 million dollars on behalf of a class of approximately 400 auto mechanics, was given final approval in May of this year.  An order and final judgment (no one objected to the settlement) is expected soon.

UPDATE – January 5, 2018 – The court entered today its order granting final approval of this class settlement.  The court also entered a $6,500,000 judgment consistent with the terms of the parties’ settlement agreement.