Current and former non-exempt, hourly employees of Automotive Recovery Services, Inc. and related entities in California are covered by a $470,000 wage and hour settlement. The settlement website lists no claim deadline; the deadline to opt out, object or dispute is December 28, 2026.
What Is the Settlement About?
Automotive Recovery Services, Inc. has agreed to a $470,000 settlement of a wage and hour lawsuit brought on behalf of its California workers, Knudson v. Automotive Recovery Services, Inc., No. CIVSB2423391, in San Bernardino County Superior Court. The case was filed in August 2024 and settled in September 2026, according to a PAGA case listing published by the California Business and Industrial Alliance.The lawsuit alleges violations of the California Labor Code, including unpaid overtime and minimum wage for off-the-clock work, missed meal and rest breaks, inaccurate wage statements, late final wages and unreimbursed business expenses. It also seeks penalties under the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA). The company has not admitted wrongdoing by settling, and the court has not ruled on the claims.
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Who Is Covered?
The case covers current and former non-exempt, hourly paid employees who worked for Automotive Recovery Services, Inc. and related entities in California. The lawsuit’s class period begins July 19, 2020; the settlement’s end date for the class period has not been published online. Class members should have received a notice from the settlement administrator, CPT Group, Inc.How Is the Money Divided?
The PAGA listing reports these amounts from the $470,000 gross settlement:- Attorney fees: $156,667
- Litigation expenses: $25,000
- PAGA penalties: $30,000, of which $10,500 is listed as the individual PAGA payment to employees
- Settlement administration: $10,000
- Service award to the named plaintiff: $10,000
The listing counts about 206 employees and 17,300 workweeks. In California wage settlements, each worker’s share is usually based on the number of workweeks each person worked during the class period, and the notice mailed to each class member states that person’s estimated payment and workweek count. The final amounts depend on court approval of the fees and costs.
Key Dates
- December 28, 2026: deadline to opt out, object or dispute the workweek count, per the settlement website
- February 11, 2027, 8:30 a.m.: final approval hearing, Department S37, San Bernardino County Superior Court
The official settlement website lists no claim-filing deadline. In California wage and hour settlements, class members who do not opt out are usually paid automatically from the employer’s records, and PAGA payments generally cannot be opted out of. The class notice controls how payments work in this case.
Questions
Who is covered by the Automotive Recovery Services settlement?
Current and former non-exempt, hourly paid employees who worked for Automotive Recovery Services, Inc. and related entities in California during the class period, which begins July 19, 2020.
Does the settlement require a claim form?
The official settlement website lists no claim deadline, only opt-out, objection and dispute deadlines of December 28, 2026. In California wage settlements, class members who do not opt out are usually paid automatically; the class notice mailed by CPT Group sets out how payments work in this case.
How much is the Automotive Recovery Services settlement?
The gross settlement is $470,000. A published PAGA case listing reports $156,667 in attorney fees, $25,000 in litigation expenses, $30,000 in PAGA penalties, $10,000 for settlement administration and a $10,000 service award, across about 206 employees and 17,300 workweeks.
When is the final approval hearing?
February 11, 2027 at 8:30 a.m. in Department S37 of the San Bernardino County Superior Court.
Sources
- Official settlement website (CPT Group, Inc.): important dates and final approval hearing
- California Business and Industrial Alliance PAGA lawsuit listing: filing date, settlement date and settlement amounts for Knudson v. Automotive Recovery Services, Inc., No. CIVSB2423391
