Women's Employment Rights Clinic

LATEST NEWS: Class Action Settlement for Former and Current Store Managers at Peet's Coffee & Tea

In Meyn, et al. v. Peet's, filed in Alameda County Superior Court, California Store Managers allege that they had to work "off the clock" without pay and to work through their meal periods in order to meet all of the job requirements that Peet's expected them to meet. On April 2, 2010, preliminary approval of a $2.6 million settlement was granted. The final approval hearing is on 9/1/10. Individualized notices were mailed to class members on 5/21/10. The claims deadline for former employees is 8/4/10. Class members who were still working for Peet's as of 3/14/10 do not need to submit a claim to receive their share of the settlement.

Goldstein Demchak, Baller, Borgen and Dardarian (GDBBD) partners Laura L. Ho and Roberta Steele have been appointed Class Counsel, along with Professor Marci Seville of Golden Gate University's Women's Employment Rights Clinic. For information about this case, you can call GDBBD at 1-800-822-5000 or call the Women's Employment Rights Clinic at 415-442-6675.

• Download PDF version of Notice to Current Employees (employed by Peet's on 3/14/10)
  
• Download PDF version of Notice to Former Employees (no longer employed by Peet's on 3/14/10)
  
• Download PDF version of Claim Form for Former Employees Only
  
• Download PDF version of Settlement Agreement
  
• Download PDF version of Peet's Order Granting Preliminary Approval of Class Action Settlement (04/02/2010)

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Join the Clinic. The deadline for fall '10 applications is May 20, 2010.

Clinic Application Form

About the Clinic

The Women's Employment Rights Clinic (WERC) of Golden Gate University School of Law, founded in 1993, believes that every worker has a right to decent wages and equal opportunity. In conjunction with community based organizations, WERC advocates for the rights of low-wage and immigrant workers through direct service, impact litigation and public policy work. WERC also serves the dual purpose of training the next generation of ethical, competent, and socially responsible professionals. WERC is one of a handful of clinical legal programs around the nation providing comprehensive services for workplace problems.

WERC operates an intake hotline staffed by law students, under the supervision of the clinic faculty and attorneys. The clinic advises, counsels and represents clients in a variety of employment-related matters including wage and hour violations, discrimination, workplace harassment, unemployment benefits, pregnancy and family/medical leave, and employment rights of the formerly incarcerated.

Law students work under the direct supervision of Clinic Director Marci Seville and Associate Professor and Clinical Staff Attorney Hina Shah. The staff also includes the Clinic Administrative Assistant, Fe Gonzalez.

Read the Alumni Magazine Article about the Women's Employment Rights Clinic in Golden Gate University School of Law Class Action, Fall/Winter 2004.

The Women's Employment Rights Clinic has moved to 40 Jessie Street, Suite 530 in the building across the alley from the main law school building.