SAN JOSE, Calif. (CN) - A federal judge on Wednesday gave preliminary approval to a class-action settlement of employment claims against Ecolab that includes a $7.5 million settlement fund and over $2 million in attorney fees and costs.
According to plaintiff Nick Cancilla's class action, which consists of 580 people, the company hasn't been accurately paying its pest-elimination service specialists for overtime.
In his 7-page order U.S. District Judge James Donato said "the plaintiffs' claims meet the typicality requirement because they are all current or former employees of Ecolab and 'their claims arise from the same alleged events and course of conduct.'"
Donato approved the proposed settlement agreement, under which Ecolab will pay $7.5 million into a settlement fund that will be the source for attorney's fees and costs. Under the agreement the company will also set aside a reserve of $25,000 from the settlement to ensure that all participating class members will receive at least $100.
According to the order, the settlement money will be distributed based on the number of weeks each class member worked.
Donato set a final approval hearing for the settlement on Dec. 9.
Ecolab is a self-described international force in water, hygiene and energy technologies and services. The company it provides products and services to world businesses in food service, food processing, hospitality, health care, industrial and oil and gas markets to help keep their environment clean and safe, operate efficiently and achieve sustainability goals.
Neither Ecolab attorney Dawn Fonseca nor Cancilla's attorney Molly Brooks could immediately be reached for comment.
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