Class Action Lawsuit Filed Against Sales and Marketing Leader Acosta Alleging Nationwide Wage Violations

Los Angeles, CA (March 2, 2011) – One of the nation’s largest in-store sales, marketing, and service companies, Acosta Sales & Marketing, owes back pay and other compensation to its merchandiser employees, according to a lawsuit filed in federal court in Los Angeles on March 2, 2011. The lawsuit claims Acosta does not pay its employees for all the hours they work, and fails to properly reimburse employees for expenses they incur on the job.

The lawsuit alleges that Acosta’s practices violate federal and state labor laws, and give the company an illegal, competitive edge over its competitors. Plaintiffs are seeking compensation for unpaid overtime and regular wages, reimbursement of all expenses, related penalties, and attorneys’ fees.

“It’s unfortunate that a company as large and well-connected as Acosta would take advantage of its most vulnerable employees,” said Lisa M. Bowman, one of the attorneys representing the Acosta employees. “Every dollar counts for these workers, especially in this economy, and Acosta should not be allowed to keep merchandisers’ hard-earned money for itself by requiring them to work for free.”

Matt George, another attorney for the employees, added, “Employees who work hard deserve to get paid for all of their work, and should be properly reimbursed for employment-related expenses.”

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of all current and former employees throughout the U.S. who worked as merchandisers at Acosta from March 2008 through the present. Although the exact number of workers affected is not known, Acosta employs thousands of merchandisers.

The law requires that any current and former employees who are interested in participating in the lawsuit must fill out a special form confirming their desire to join in the case. These forms can be obtained through the law firms of Schneider Wallace Cottrell Brayton Konecky LLP or Gibbs Law Group LLP, both located in San Francisco, California. There is no charge for contacting these law firms to obtain a form or to discuss your legal rights in this case.

The law firms of Schneider Wallace Cottrell Brayton Konecky LLP and Gibbs Law Group LLP represent the employees in the lawsuit. For more information regarding the class action case and the surrounding investigation, visit www.girardgibbs.com/acosta-merchandiser-lawsuit/ or contact Lisa Bowman of Schneider Wallace at (415) 421-7100 or Matthew George of Gibbs Law Group at 1-800-254-9493.

About the law firms representing the plaintiff-employees:
Schneider Wallace Cottrell Brayton Konecky LLP represents workers and consumers in class-action litigation matters around the country. For more almost two decades, the firm’s attorneys have handled matters involving civil rights, workplace benefits, disability rights, employment discrimination issues and consumer rights. The firm’s web site is www.schneiderwallace.com.

Gibbs Law Group LLP is one of the nation’s leading law firms representing plaintiffs in consumer and employment class actions in state and federal courts throughout the United States. The firm specializes in prosecuting cases involving securities, antitrust, defective products, telecommunications, unfair competition, and employment wage and hour issues.