Court Approves $1.35 Million Settlement in Class Action Lawsuit against Classic Distributing and Beverage Group, Inc., Formerly Known as Miller Brands, Inc.

Business Editors/Legal Writers

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 15, 2004

A Los Angeles Superior Court judge has granted final approval to a class-wide settlement on behalf of 150 salaried sales representatives employed at Classic Distributing and Beverage Group, Inc., formerly known as Miller Brands, Inc., for the past five and a half years.

Under the settlement approved by Judge David M. Minning, Classic Distributing and Beverage Group, Inc. will pay $1.35 million to resolve claims for unpaid overtime by the salaried sales representatives, who had been classified as exempt from overtime by the company.

The plaintiff class was represented by the Quisenberry Law Firm of Century City. "We are very satisfied that the court has given final approval for the settlement on behalf of the company's hard working employees. The responsible thing to do was for the employer to pay its people for the long hours they spent making the business a success. This settlement shows that the company is willing to do that now," commented John Quisenberry.

In February, The Quisenberry Firm settled a similar action against Big Lots for failure to pay overtime to its managers and assistant managers, and the firm recently sued Wal-Mart for failing to pay overtime to its assistant managers in California.