Ruling allows excessive-force and discrimination claims to be heard by jurors.
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Martin Garfinkel
Court of Appeals Affirms Rest and Meal Break Judgment for Class of Brink’s Armored Car Employees
The Washington Court of Appeals has affirmed a $1.3 million judgment in favor of a class of armored car drivers and messengers who were denied their rest and meal periods by their employer, Brink’s Incorporated. That judgment was reached after a four week trial in late 2009 in front of King County Superior Court Judge Michael J. Trickey. The court ruled that Brink’s Incorporated has to pay back wages, plus interest, to 182 drivers and messengers for the period between 2004 and 2007 because it did not allow them an opportunity to take rest breaks and meal periods. The employees worked as messengers and drivers on armored trucks out of branch offices located in Seattle and Tacoma and picked up and delivered cash and other valuables throughout Western Washington.
Under Washington state law, all employees are entitled to 10 minutes of rest break time for each 4 hours of work, and a 30 minute meal period after 5 working hours. The Court of Appeals affirmed that because of their continuous work responsibilities guarding the high value property on the trucks, the Brink’s employees had no personal time during the day when they could rest and eat.
“We are very pleased with the decision. These employees worked very hard under difficult conditions and faced considerable dangers every day. They deserved to be treated in compliance with the law,” stated one of the attorneys for the class, Adam J. Berger, of the Seattle firm of Schroeter, Goldmark & Bender. Although the original judgment was for $1.3 million, with additional post judgment interest, the total amount of back pay and interest is estimated to exceed $1.5 million.
More information about the class action case may be found on the website of class counsel, Schroeter Goldmark & Bender, at www.sgb-law.com.
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Schroeter Goldmark & Bender is one of the Pacific Northwest’s largest plaintiffs’ law firms, and has been assisting injured families and workers for more than 35 years.
SGB Attorneys Win Fight to Protect Increase in Washington State Minimum Wage Rate
SGB attorneys Martin Garfinkel, Adam Berger, Bill Rutzick, and Lindsay Halm representing the Washington Department of Labor and Industries and its Director Judy Schurke, were successful in defeating an effort by the Washington Farm Bureau, the Washington Restaurant Association, and the Washington Retail Association seeking to overturn L&I’s decision to increase the state minimum wage rate from $8.55 per hour to $8.67 per hour based on the provisions of RCW 49.46.020. SGB had been hired by the state to defend L&I because Attorney General Rob McKenna had advised against the increase. On behalf of L&I, SGB argued that the law mandated the $.12 per hour increase due to inflation over the past year. The business groups contended that no increase should be ordered until the national consumer price index exceeds its August 2008 level. Kittitas Superior Court Judge Scott Sparks upheld L&I’s decision, and as a result, the increase in the minimum wage will go into effect as planned on January 1, 2011.
Press Statement on Behalf of Victim of Police Attack
Seattle – May 13, 2010 – Martin Monetti is 21 years old and a graduate of Franklin High School. He lives with his mother, father, and two siblings in Seattle. On or about 1:30 a.m. on April 17, 2010, in the south Lake Union area, he was subjected to an unprovoked and illegal physical assault by two Seattle police officers, one of whom also used racist language. A number of other police officers observed the incident and did nothing to stop it. The assault and verbal attack was caught on videotape, which now has been broadcast on many TV news programs, as well as over the internet.
Mr. Monetti and his family are upset and very disappointed that members of the Seattle Police Department would engage in this unacceptable conduct. Their hope is that this incident will be used as an impetus for needed changes in the Department, so that this type of behavior will never happen again.
To members of the press, please be aware that this event, and the media firestorm surrounding it, has overwhelmed this family. They respectfully request that all questions be directed to their attorneys so that some semblance of normalcy can return to their lives. No press conference with Mr. Monetti and his family is planned at this time.
Mr. Monetti is represented by Schroeter Goldmark & Bender attorneys, M. Lorena González, Janet L. Rice and Martin S. Garfinkel. Schroeter Goldmark & Bender, one of the Pacific Northwest’s largest plaintiffs’ law firms, litigates cases for individuals who have been subjected to illegal conduct by corporations and government.
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Contact:
Hannah Gilbert, Legal Assistant
(206) 622-8000 or email
Declaración a la Prensa en Nombre del Víctima de Ataque Policíal
Jueves, 13 de Mayo de 2010—Seattle— Martin Monetti-Ramirez tiene 21 años, y se graduó de Franklin High School. Vive con su madre, padre, una hermana y un hermano en la Cuidad de Seattle. Durante o alrededor de la 1:30 a.m., en el 17 de abril del 2010, en el sur del lago de Lake Unión, fue sometido sin provocación e físicamente asaltado por dos agentes de la policía de Seattle, uno de los cuales también utilizo comentarios racistas. Varios otros policías fueron testigos a este incidente y no hicieron nada para darle alto a lo que le pasaba a Sr. Monetti-Ramirez. El asalto y ataque verbal fue capturado en video, y que ahora ha sido retransmitido en muchos programas de televisión de noticias, así como sobre el internet.
El Sr. Monetti-Ramírez y su familia están molestos y muy decepcionados de que miembros del Departamento de Policía de Seattle se comportaron en manera inaceptable y que fueron parte de este conducto inaceptable. Sus esperanzas son que este incidente será utilizado como un impulso para cambios necesarios en el Departamento, y así que este tipo de comportamiento no sucede otra vez mas.
A los miembros de la prensa, sea por favor conscientes de que este acontecimiento, y los medios de comunicación que le rodean, ha agobiado a la familia. Ellos solicitan que todas las preguntas sean dirigidas a sus abogados para que ellos se puedan recuperar alguna normalidad en sus vidas. No se planea ninguna conferencia de prensa con el Sr. Monetti-Ramírez y su familia en este tiempo.
El Sr. Monetti-Ramirez es representado por los abogados M. Lorena González, Janet L. Rice and Martin S. Garfinkel de Schroeter Goldmark & Bender. Schroeter Goldmark & Bender, es uno de los más grandes bufetes de abogados de demandantes en el pacifico de noreste, que litigan casos representando personas que han sido sometidos a conductas ilegales por corporaciones y el gobierno.