Agents Secure Certification Victory Over Farmers Insurance


On February 26, 2021, in Irene Parry et. al. v. Farmers Insurance Exchange et al., Case. No. BC683856 (L.A.S.C.), California Superior Court Judge Amy D. Hogue certified a class of California insurance agents appointed by Farmers Insurance Exchange and affiliated companies.

Judge Hogue granted Plaintiffs’ motion for class certification, adopting the Plaintiffs’ class definition of “All individuals who signed a Farmers Agent Appointment Agreement and worked as a Farmers agent in the state of California,” from November 16, 2013 forward. Additionally, the court appointed Plaintiffs Irene Parry and Jeanette O’Sullivan as class representatives and Crueger Dickinson LLC, Wexler Wallace LLP, Nelson & Fraenkel LLP, and Greg Coleman Law PC as class counsel.

Charles Crueger, one of the designated class lawyers stated, “We are happy with the Court’s decision and look forward to addressing the merits and a trial on Farmers’ misuse of the independent contractor designation.”

Plaintiffs in this case allege that Defendants treated the Class Members, captive insurance agents, as employees under California law, and as a result violated California law by not reimbursing the Class Members for the business expenses they incurred running Farmers’ agencies. Plaintiffs filed their motion for class certification on October 16, 2020. A copy of the court’s February 26, 2021 order certifying the class can be found at https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5fc65ccf3dfdd95b60fa6bc8/t/603cef1ef34f6a4fbeccbca4/1614606111433/Order.pdf

“The order granting certification is clear and provides a roadmap of the important and necessary next steps to holding Farmers accountable,” said Edward A. Wallace of Wexler Wallace LLP.

For more information, contact Charles Crueger, Crueger Dickinson, (414) 273-8474, cjc@cruegerdickinson.com

About Wexler Wallace LLP

Wexler Wallace is a high-stakes litigation law firm with a commitment to excellence and the achievement of meaningful relief for those they serve. Nationally recognized as a leading law firm in complex class action and multidistrict litigation, Wexler Wallace frequently serves as Co-Lead Counsel and other leadership roles against some of the largest and most powerful corporations in the country.

About Crueger Dickinson

Crueger Dickinson is a boutique litigation firm that leads or has been appointed to leadership positions in some of the most complex cases in the nation, including litigation involving the opioid crises, water pollution, vaping products, and independent contractor misclassification cases.

About Nelson & Fraenkel

Nelson & Fraenkel is a Los Angeles based law firm that specializes in handling high-stakes legal matters on behalf of plaintiffs, including in the areas of complex product liability, personal injury, securities, class action, antitrust, insurance bad faith, and business tort litigation.

About Greg Coleman Law PC

Greg Coleman Law has successfully prosecuted complex class actions around the country, obtaining class certification, and appointment of lead counsel resulting in hundreds of millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts in the areas of ERISA, employment law, product liability, consumer cases and all related categories of class litigation.

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