Monte v. Image Distribution Services (Fontis Solutions)

Monte v. Image Distribution Services (which does business as Fontis Solutions) is a putative class action against Fontis on behalf of Account Executives in California. It is a salesperson class action against Fontis Solutions brought under California law, filed on September 26, 2016.

If you believe you qualify to be a class member or would like more information about this class action lawsuit, reach out to Strauss & Strauss, APC by calling (805) 303-8115 or contacting us online today.

What is the latest update in the case? 

Last updated: March 24, 2020 at 19:18 pm

The case is currently in progress. No trial date has been set. The parties are still in the “discovery” phase, meaning that we are gathering information to prepare for trial. When we are able to obtain a trial date, which cannot happen right now due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we will post it here.

Details about class certification and claims not certified.

On January 7, 2019, the court certified the class, but left some issues unresolved. Primarily, the court did not certify the claim for defective paycheck stubs because Plaintiff Monte did not work for Fontis within the one-year statute of limitations period for a claim for penalties for defective paycheck stubs (Lab. Code, § 226(e)). The parties subsequently reached an agreement whereby another plaintiff would be named as a co-class representative with Plaintiff Monte, and this other plaintiff would have standing to pursue the paycheck stub claim. The parties also worked out the language in a class notice that would be sent to the class members.

On June 5, 2019, the court signed the order certifying the class — including the paycheck stub claim — and naming Plaintiffs Monte and Conrad Lund as class representatives. The law firms of Strauss & Strauss and Da Vega Fisher Mechtenberg, LLP now represent the class of “All persons employed by Image Distribution Solutions as Account Executives at any location in California at any time since September 20, 2012” with respect to the claims for deductions from wages, defective paycheck stubs, unfair competition, and the failure to timely pay final wages (claims 2, 4, 5, and 6 as numbered in the following section). The class notice approved by the court was mailed to the class members on June 21, 2019. A copy of the class notice is attached to the order certifying the class, which can be found below.

If you believe you have any claims against Image Distribution Services (Fontis Solutions) for unpaid overtime, unreimbursed job-related expenses, minimum wages, or unpaid rest periods, such claims will not be resolved in this lawsuit, so you should contact Strauss & Strauss and/or Da Vega Fisher Mechtenberg, LLP as soon as possible to discuss your options.

What is the case about?

Plaintiff Larry Monte (“Plaintiff”) has filed a proposed class action lawsuit against Image Distribution Services (“Fontis Solutions”). Plaintiff seeks to represent all employees who worked for Fontis Solutions as salespersons in California between September 26, 2012 and the present. Plaintiff alleges that he and those similarly-situated employees have not received full and correct pay for all hours worked. The specific claims made are:

1. Failure to pay overtime premium wages (Labor Code § 510)
2. Unauthorized deductions from wages (Labor Code §§ 221-224)
3. Failure to reimburse job-related expenses (Labor Code § 2802)
4. Unfair competition (Business and Professions Code § 17200)
5. Pay stub violations (Labor Code § 226)
6. Failure to timely pay final wages (Labor Code § 203)
7. Failure to pay minimum wages (Labor Code §§ 1194, 1197, 1194.2)
8. Failure to provide legally compliant rest periods (Labor Code § 226.7)

Fontis denies Plaintiff’s allegations and contends that it fully complied with California law. Fontis also contends that Plaintiff may not bring his lawsuit as a class action or for the benefit of any employees other than himself.

The Court has not yet decided these issues, but the court has certified a class as to claims 2, 4, 5, and 6.