Final settlement is due soon. PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK

Judge Robert L Hess is scheduled to review a final settlement in an employment-related lawsuit against Crown Equipment Corp and its California operation, Crown Lift Trucks, on 22 May.

Judge Hess issued a preliminary approval order on 27 January, according to plaintiffs' attorney Jean-Paul Le Clercq. "The order specifies the timing of the final approval hearing and the class notice process. We mediated on one day, but resolved it over the phone with the mediators' help after the mediation ended."

John Maxa, Crown vice president and general counsel, comments: "Crown is pleased that the parties have resolved the last remaining class claim, after all others had been dismissed. The class settlement claims administration process is under way, and the court has set a hearing date of May 22, 2014. At that time, the details of the settlement will be finalised and approved."

Attorneys for five former Crown field service technicians sued Crown in Los Angeles Superior Court in June 2010, claiming that Crown failed to provide meal and rest periods, pay overtime wages, furnish accurate wage and hour statements and pay all wages earned. Among five causes of action in the court filing, the suit says the actions violate California Labor Code employment laws and regulations and, further, that Crown's conduct constitutes unlawful competition in violation of the California Business and Professions Code.

Privately held New Bremen, Ohio-based Crown manufactures a variety of materials handling equipment including narrow-aisle and very-narrow-aisle stacking units, narrow-aisle reach trucks, counterbalance trucks, high-level stock pickers, turret trucks, walkie stackers, work assist vehicles, hand pallet trucks, powered pallet trucks, rider pallet trucks and LP-gas trucks.