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LAWSUITS NEWS & LEGAL INFORMATION

Clothing Chain Wet Seal Settles Discrimination Class Action Lawsuit


This is a settlement for the Discrimination lawsuit.

Los Angeles, CA: Wet Seal has agreed to settle a national discrimination class action lawsuit filed by four current and former Wet Seal employees on behalf of themselves and a class of those similarly situated. The lawsuit alleges Wet Seal discriminated against African-American store management employees.

Specifically, the Plaintiffs claim that Wet Seal had a policy and practice of discriminating against African-American store management employees who worked at Wet Seal and Arden B. stores, in violation of 42 U.S.C. § 1981 and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. They allege that a policy of discrimination was adopted by the then-senior executives of the company, and resulted in targeting of African-American employees for demotion or termination, creation of a hostile work environment and denial of pay and promotions for African Americans because of their race and/or color.

On May 8, 2013, the parties reached a settlement of this employment discrimination class action lawsuit and filed papers with the Court seeking preliminary approval of the settlement. The proposed class consists of all African-American and/or Black persons who worked as store management employees (Store Assistant Managers, Co-Managers, Acting Store Managers, and/or Store Managers) at Wet Seal and Arden B. stores at any time from May 8, 2008 until June 12, 2013.

The Court granted preliminary approval of the settlement on June 12, 2013. The Court also scheduled a final approval hearing for November 18, 2013. Class members should expect to receive notice in the mail in mid-July of 2013.

If the Court gives final approval to the settlement, Wet Seal will pay $7.5 million, including up to $5,580,000 in payments to eligible class members. The settlement also provides injunctive relief, which means that Wet Seal' commitment to changes and enhancements to its policies and practices ensure that its policy of equal employment opportunity is available to all and that African-American and other store management employees are not discriminated against on the basis of race and/or color.

These include: creating and implementing new job selection criteria and procedures for store management and district director positions, posting store management and district director positions, providing all employees with regular non-discrimination training, partnering with organizations dedicated to the advancement and well-being of African Americans and other groups, and implementing a new Human Resources field compliance team.

For complete information about the lawsuit visit: http://wetsealdiscrimination.com/

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Published on Jun-19-13


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