Judge gives A&P suit class action status

NEW YORK New York State Supreme Court Judge Herman Cahn granted class certification to claims made by three former employers of The Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Co.'s stores, including Waldbaum's and The Food Emporium, that A&P has denied overtime pay to its hourly employees since 1998. The order issued by Judge Cahn enables thousands of A&P's hourly employees in New York state to participate in the suit against the company.

The lawsuit originated on June 24, 1998, when former employees of A&P brought a lawsuit in New York State Court alleging that A&P illegally allowed off-the-clock work throughout its stores, and even overtly manipulated employees' time records. The Court was asked to grant the case class action status to allow a larger group of hourly employees to be represented. Lieff, Cabraser, Heimann & Bernstein LLP and Outten & Golden LLP were appointed to serve as counsel for the case.