Benitez, et al. v. Western Milling, LLC, Kruse Investment Company, Inc, and Perfection Pet Food, LLC

Class Action Settlement Information

This class action was filed on behalf of non-exempt hourly employees who worked at Perfection Pet Food’s pet food plants and/or warehouse in Visalia, CA during the time period November 2, 2012 through January 21, 2020. The workers seek damages and penalties for missed meal and rest periods and derivative violations of the California Labor Code. The workers allege that their employers refused to authorize and permit them to take all of the off-duty rest periods to which they were entitled, and refused to provide them with all of the off-duty meal periods to which they were entitled, along with other related claims. Defendants deny that they violated any laws, and assert that the workers were paid all wages owed to them and that they took all of the breaks to which they were entitled.

The Court has granted preliminary approval and scheduled a hearing to consider the workers’ motion for Final Approval of the settlement on May 20, 2020, at 9:30 a.m. in Courtroom 7, on the 6th Floor of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California. The Court’s preliminary approval order and other relevant documents can be viewed below: