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Grocery chain Smart & Final reached a tentative $19 million agreement in a class-action lawsuit claiming employees were not properly paid. The employees alleged the Los Angeles-based chain failed to properly calculate overtime pay and also neglected to pay for all hours worked. The suit also alleged other compensation was not paid.

An FTC administrative proceeding has been filed against the Internet Marketing Group, Inc., and affiliated businesses OneSetPrice, Inc., RPM Marketing Group, Inc., National Events Coordinators, Inc.; First Choice Terminal, Inc.; First Choice Terminal, Inc.; and B & C Ventures, Inc., on behalf of consumers who bought into multipurpose public access Internet terminal and telephone calling card business ventures since August 2001. The action accuses the defendants of making false and unsubstantiated earnings claims, and misrepresenting their cancellation and refund policies, in violation of the FTC's Franchise Rule and Telemarketing Sales Rule.

Is it right for a company to take out life insurance on its employees so that it can make a profit from its workers' death? A class action has been filed against Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. on behalf of widows of former New Hampshire Wal-Mart employees who allege that the company purchased life insurance policies on more than a thousand employees without their knowledge in violation of their right to privacy and in breach of the company's fiduciary duties to its employees.

A class action lawsuit has been filed in the Southern District Court of Mississippi against Levis Strauss & Co for violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) which establishes minimum wage, overtime pay, recordkeeping, and child labor standards affecting full-time and part-time workers in the private sector and in Federal, State, and local governments. Class members seek unpaid overtime, punitive damages, attorney's fees and costs of the litigation.

On October 7, 2003, the court rejected the parties' proposed settlement of a class action against Mueller Refrigeration Products Company of Hartsville, Tennessee, on behalf of African-Americans who applied for employment with Mueller at any time since October 25, 1998, and were not hired. The court held a fairness hearing on July 31 but did not announce its decision until October 7.

A statewide collective action has been filed in Massachusetts against the Town of Agawam and the Agawam Police Department. The action is brought on behalf of all Agawam police officers who have not been paid proper overtime compensation for all hours worked in excess of 40 per week. The action is brought under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act and seeks statutory damages, liquidated damages and injunctive and declaratory relief. As a collective action, all potential claimants are required to "opt-in" to the case in order to be considered a part of the class. The officers have requested that the court issue notice to all potential claimants.