Beck, et al. v. Boeing
Bird, et al. v. Barr (D.D.C.): Cohen Milstein represented a group of about 29,000 female employees who had claims of sex discrimination against The Boeing Company, Inc. The certified claims address discrimination in compensation for salaried employees, access to overtime work for hourly IAM employees, and promotions for both. In granting class certification, the court noted that “the data yields statistically significant results of adverse impact on female employees in every facility and at every level within the Puget sound area.”
Keepseagle v. Vilsack
Keepseagle, et al. v. Vilsack (D.D.C.): Cohen Milstein represented a certified class of Native American farmers and ranchers, who alleged that the USDA systematically denied the same opportunities to obtain farm loans and loan servicing that had been routinely afforded white farmers. On April 28, 2011, the Court granted final approval of a historic $760 million settlement with the USDA, which agreed to pay $680 million in damages to thousands of Native American farmers and ranchers and forgive up to $80 million worth of outstanding farm loan debt. On March 26, 2018 the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal by two objectors for review of the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit May 16, 2017 ruling, which affirmed the U.S. District Court’s April 20, 2016 decision approving the plan for distribution of $380 million in unclaimed cy pres funds from the historic settlement.
McDonald’s Wage & Hour Litigation
McDonald’s Wage & Hour Litigation (N.D. Cal., Sup. Crt. Alameda Cnty., Sup. Crt. Los Angeles Cnty., E.D.N.Y.): Cohen Milstein successfully represented McDonald’s workers in California and New York class action lawsuits in both federal and state courts. Total settlements exceeded $28 million. Plaintiffs claimed that the fast-food giant unlawfully denied payment for work and other benefits by failing to provide legally mandated meal and rest breaks, failing to pay overtime for overnight shifts, and failing to reimburse workers for the time and expense of cleaning required uniforms. Several of these lawsuits involved novel joint-employer issues, as McDonald’s operates through franchises. One of these suits involved a two week-long bench trial brought under the California Private Attorneys General Act statute, in which aggrieved employees are effectively deputized as private attorneys general pursuing labor code violations. PAGA is a novel and uncharted area of law. As a result, we successfully established legal precedents under PAGA and wage and hour law.
Aaron v. Pilgrim’s Pride Corp.
Aaron v. Pilgrim’s Pride Corp. (W.D. Ark.): Cohen Milstein represented 8,000 workers in 11 states in a wage and hour lawsuit, in which the workers sought redress for unpaid overtime. The $10 million settlement allowed class members to recover about 85% of the back pay owed them.
Walmart Litigation
Walmart Litigation: Originally filed as Dukes v. Walmart (N.D. Cal.), a high-profile gender discrimination class action, involving more than 1.6 million women, which went up to the Supreme Court in 2011 and defined class action law, continued after class certification was denied. Litigation against Walmart Stores has been ongoing since June 2001, in an effort dedicated to ensuring that women who have worked for Walmart over the years received equal pay and an equal chance at promotion. All outstanding litigation concluded in 2024.
Wells Fargo Fair Housing Litigation
14 Fair Housing Organizations and Cohen Milstein Announce Groundbreaking Fair Housing Agreement with Wells Fargo and HUD on Marketing and Maintenance of Foreclosed Properties On June 6, 2013, the National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA) and 13 of its member organizations announced a collaboration with Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. that will provide funds in 19 cities […]
Temporary Staffing Agency Litigation
Temporary Employment Staffing Agency Litigation (N.D. Ill.): Cohen Milstein is involved in a series of race-based discrimination class actions in Chicago, representing African-American laborers who allege that their temporary staffing agencies and their factory-clients engaged in a repeated and collusive practice of excluding African Americans from temporary laborer positions. On April 19, 2024, the last of the cases concluded. Approved settlements total more than $14 million.
Federal Aviation Administration Flight Service Litigation
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Flight Service Litigation (D.D.C.): Cohen Milstein represented plaintiffs in lawsuit against the Department of Transportation (DOT) and FAA for discrimination against 670 former Flight Service Specialists who live in nearly all 50 states after they were terminated by the FAA through the RIF. On April 28, 2021, the DOT and FAA agreed to a record-breaking $43.8 million settlement to end this 16-year-old age discrimination lawsuit.
Jock et al. v. Sterling Jewelers Inc.
Jock, et al. v. Sterling Jewelers Inc. (A.A.A.; S.D.N.Y.): Cohen Milstein represented a certified class of more than 69,000 female employees of Sterling Jewelers, one of the nation’s largest jewelry chains, in a nationwide Title VII gender discrimination and Equal Pay Act class arbitration. Claimants alleged that they were subjected to a pattern of gender-based pay and promotions discrimination. On November 15, 2022, the Arbitrator granted final approval of a $175 million settlement.