FOLLOW US

A pet product manufacturer has agreed to a $975,000 settlement to resolve a proposed class and collective action claiming it failed to compensate employees for time spent putting on and taking off personal protective equipment (PPE), according to court filings in Colorado federal court.

Former employees Dustin Viveros, Jacob Martinez, and Ravan Fitts-Jourden filed a motion for preliminary approval Friday, announcing the agreement with PetDine LLC, aimed at ending allegations that the company violated both federal and state wage laws.

Settlement Details

The deal allocates $325,000 for attorney fees, up to $16,000 for litigation expenses, $16,500 for administrative costs, and $4,000 service awards for each of the named plaintiffs.

The lawsuit, filed in May, accused PetDine, which operates facilities in Illinois and Colorado, of failing to pay hundreds of production workers for the time spent donning and doffing essential PPE before and after shifts.

Legal Representation and Comments

Kevin J. Stoops of Sommers Schwartz PC, counsel for the workers, declined comment Monday. Representatives for PetDine LLC also did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The preliminary approval marks a critical step toward finalizing the settlement and distributing compensation to affected workers.