GEICO claims adjusters in California who allege they were denied timely meal and rest breaks are covered by an $8.5 million settlement that a federal court preliminarily approved in November 2026. Notices with each worker’s deadlines are expected from a settlement administrator; no settlement website has been published yet.
What Happened?
A federal magistrate judge in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California has granted preliminary approval of an $8.5 million settlement between Government Employees Insurance Co. (GEICO) and its claims adjusters, according to a November 10, 2026 report by VitalLaw. The case is Reloj v. Government Employees Insurance Co., No. 3:21-cv-01751. The settlement resolves class action, collective action and California Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) claims.The lawsuit, brought by a former auto damage adjuster, alleges that he and other adjusters regularly worked more than eight hours a day without proper meal and rest breaks. GEICO has not admitted wrongdoing, and the court has not ruled on the claims.
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How the Deal Got Here
The court turned down an earlier version of the settlement on January 20, 2026, Bloomberg Law reported, saying the plaintiff needed to narrow the claims that workers would release and give potential class members more explanation. The revised settlement won preliminary approval in November; the court found that differences among adjusters did not defeat class treatment, according to VitalLaw.Who Is Covered and What Comes Next
The settlement covers non-exempt GEICO claims adjusters, with California class and PAGA claims and a federal collective under the Fair Labor Standards Act. The exact job titles, time periods, payment formula and deadlines have not been published online. In settlements of this kind, the administrator mails or emails each worker a notice with an estimated payment and deadlines to opt out or object; workers in a federal collective often must return a consent form to share in that part of the money. A final approval hearing will be scheduled before any payments go out.OpenClassActions.com will update this page with the class definitions, deadlines and settlement website once they are available.
Questions
What is the GEICO adjuster settlement about?
A former auto damage adjuster alleges that GEICO claims adjusters regularly worked more than eight hours a day without proper meal and rest breaks. GEICO agreed to an $8.5 million settlement of class, collective and PAGA claims without admitting wrongdoing.
Has the GEICO adjuster settlement been approved?
It received preliminary approval in the Southern District of California, reported November 10, 2026, after the court rejected an earlier version on January 20, 2026. Final approval will be decided after workers receive notice.
Do GEICO adjusters need to file a claim?
The deadlines and any required forms have not been published online. They will be set out in the notice the settlement administrator sends to covered workers.
Sources
- VitalLaw: Court grants preliminary approval of $8.5 million settlement for GEICO adjusters (Nov. 10, 2026)
- Bloomberg Law: GEICO workers lose bid for early nod in $8.5 million wage deal (Jan. 22, 2026), citing Reloj v. Government Employees Insurance Co., No. 3:21-cv-01751 (S.D. Cal.)
