Vegas Casino Must Pay Workers $9.8 Million

LAS VEGAS (CN) - Las Vegas' enormous Cosmopolitan Casino will pay $9.75 million to settle employees' federal class action on overtime pay.

U.S. District Judge Richard F. Boulware II on Wednesday granted preliminary approval to lead plaintiff Darlene Lewis's complaint of unpaid overtime and work done off the clock.

The Cosmopolitan, a resort casino that opened in December 2010, is one of the world's largest hotels, with 2,995 rooms.

Attorney Mark R. Thierman, who took the case pro bono, seeks $3.25 million in fees and costs.

A settlement hearing is scheduled Dec. 4. Lewis and Thierman will file a second amended complaint upon the settlement's final approval .

Lewis worked in customer service from November to May 2012 and, like her coworkers, had to obtain her daily bank, pick up a communications radio and change into and out of her work uniform before and after each shift, with no pay for the time it took.

Lewis claimed it took her at least a half hour each day to accomplish her work tasks off the clock.

Thierman, who filed the complaint in August 2012, was not immediately available for comment Thursday. Nor were Cosmopolitan officials.

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