Court Grants Preliminary Approval of California Univision Radio Account Executives Settlement for Unreimbursed Business Expenses
Contra Costa County Judge Barry Goode granted preliminary approval of a class action settlement for claims against Univision Radio, Inc., Univision Communications, Inc., and other Univision entities in California (“Univision Radio”) by current and former California employees selling radio advertising in any of the following job titles in the last five years: Account Executive, Senior Account Executive, Account Manager, Retail Account Executive, National Accounts Manager, and National Account Executive (collectively “Advertising Sales Representatives”).
Leonard Carder attorneys David Pogrel and Isaac Nicholson represent the workers in this case. Our client’s claims are that Univision Radio did not reimburse Advertising Sales Representatives for business expenses they paid out-of-pocket while working for Univision, including car expenses (i.e., mileage), cell phone expenses and money AEs spent “wining and dining” clients. The lawsuit sought to recover these expenses, as well as related penalties and interest.
We reached a settlement in November 2014 following approximately a year of negotiations and a private mediation. Univision Radio will pay $950,000 to settle the claims for 71 Advertising Sales Representatives. If the Court grants final approval of the settlement in June 2015, eligible class members will receive a share of the settlement fund based on the number of weeks they worked as an Advertising Sales Representative in California from September 30, 2009 through September 30, 2014 (the “Settlement Period”). If approved, each class member will receive over $67 for each week worked, with many people receiving over $16,000.
A Notice of Settlement was scheduled to mailed to all eligible Advertising Sales Representatives on March 23, 2015. If you have not received a notice and think you are eligible (if you worked an Advertising Sales Representative in California from September 30, 2009 through September 30, 2014), please call our office at (510) 272-0169. You do not need to file a claim to recover your portion of the settlement, but we must ensure that the settlement administrator has your correct address so that your settlement check arrives safely.