U.S. District Court preliminarily approves $1.5 million class action settlement. To see a copy of the Court’s Notice of Class Action Settlement, Claim Form and Procedures, Exclusion Procedures, and Final Approval of Settlement Hearing, click here.  If you are a current or former Sales Associate or Manager of U.S. Remodelers, Inc. (U.S. Home Services) and/or U.S. Home Systems, Inc. who was employed in California at any time between the dates of July 3, 2003 and August 24, 2009, you are a member of the class and should have received a copy of the Court’s Notice.

If you have not received this document, please contact the Claims Administrator as soon as possible to request copy of this document and the Claim Form:

U.S. Remodelers Litigation
c/o CPT Group, Inc.
16630 Aston Street
Irvine, California 92606
Toll free number: (888) 844-3063

In order to make a claim and potentially receive a settlement award, you must must complete and return the Claim Form you should have received, which must be post-marked no later than November 7, 2009. If you fail to complete and return the Claim Form within the foregoing time, you will be barred from participating in the settlement. To see a copy of the Claim Form, click here.

March 20, 2008 – Counsel for plaintiffs seeking witnesses and evidence in lawsuit against U.S. Remodelers.   Click here to fill out Questionnaire (pdf) or (Word).

The law firm of Helmer • Friedman LLP represents plaintiffs in a potential class action lawsuit against U.S. Remodelers, Inc. and its parent corporation, U.S. Home Systems, Inc. The lawsuit seeks to recover: (1) deductions that were unlawfully taken from the commissions earned by California Sales Associates from July 3, 2003, to the present time; and (2) reimbursements for expenses incurred by California Sales Associates during the same time period.

The lawsuit alleges that U.S. Remodelers unlawfully required that its California Sales Associates “insure” the company against business losses and alleged “overhead” expenses by deducting two types of losses and expenses from the employees’ earned commissions. First, the lawsuit alleges that U.S. Remodelers deducted a co-called “administration” or “permit” fee (typically in the amount of $250.00) from salespersons’ commissions. Second, the lawsuit alleges that U.S. Remodelers deducted amounts from each California Sales Associate’s commission when they under-measured the customer’s kitchen or other area to be re-faced or made other mistakes.

The lawsuit also alleges that U.S. Remodelers failed to reimburse its California Sales Associates for the expenses they incurred in the course of performing their job duties and responsibilities including, among other expenses, the following:

  1. Home Depot Uniforms – The lawsuit alleges that some California Sales Associates purchased shirts and other items of clothing with The Home Depot name or logo for which they have not been reimbursed in violation of Labor Code Sections 450 and 2802.
  2. Home Depot Business Cards – The lawsuit alleges that some California Sales Associates purchased business cards with The Home Depot name or logo for which they were not reimbursed in violation of Labor Code Sections 450 and 2802.
  3. Home Depot Thank You Note Cards – The lawsuit alleges that some California Sales Associates purchased Thank You Note Cards with The Home Depot name or logo for which they were not reimbursed in violation of Labor Code Sections 450 and 2802.
  4. Fax Machine and Laser/Ink Jet Cartridges – The lawsuit alleges that some California Sales Associates purchased a fax machine and/or laser/ink jet cartridges for which they were not reimbursed in violation of Labor Code Sections 450 and 2802.
  5. Copy Machine/Ink Cartridges and/or Copying Costs – The lawsuit alleges that some California Sales Associates purchased a copy machine and/or spent money to make copies of documents for which they were not reimbursed in violation of Labor Code Sections 450 and 2802.
  6. Computer and Internet Connection – The lawsuit alleges that some California Sales Associates purchased a computer and maintained an internet connection for which they were not reimbursed in violation of Labor Code Sections 450 and 2802.
  7. Cell Phone and Cellular Service – The lawsuit alleges that some California Sales Associates purchased a cell phone for which they were not reimbursed in violation of Labor Code Sections 450 and 2802.
  8. Overnight Delivery Service Costs – The lawsuit alleges that some California Sales Associates incurred costs and expenses using overnight delivery services such as FedEx for which they were not reimbursed in violation of Labor Code Sections 450 and 2802.
  9. Pens, Paper, Envelopes, and Other Office Supplies – The lawsuit alleges that some California Sales Associates purchased pens, paper, envelopes, and other offices supplies for which they were not reimbursed in violation of Labor Code Sections 450 and 2802.

U.S. Remodelers has denied liability in this matter. Currently, the parties are still in the process of investigating the allegations made in this lawsuit.  As part of our investigation, we hope to obtain information from as many potential class members as possible. Toward that purpose, we have prepared a questionnaire that can provide us with information about the allegations made in the lawsuit.

Click here to fill out Questionnaire (pdf) or (Word).

By filling out this questionnaire and returning it you can provide vital information to us that will help obtain a favorable settlement in this matter or support our motion for class certification if the case does not settle.

If you would like to obtain additional information about this lawsuit and your rights, or if you have questions about the Questionnaire, please call attorney Greg Helmer at 310-396-7714.   August 17, 2007 – Counsel for U.S. Remodelers, Landegger Baron & Lavenant, remove the case to the United States District Court for the Central District of California.  For a copy of the Notice of Removal, Learn More…   August 3, 2007 – Helmer Friedman LLP files a First Amended Complaint For Damages and Injunctive Relief.  For a copy of the First Amended Complaint For Damages and Injunctive. Learn More…

July 3, 2007 – Helmer Friedman LLP files a class action lawsuit in the Los Angeles Superior Court against U.S. Remodelers, Inc. and U.S. Home Systems, Inc. arising from their alleged unlawful wage and hour practice of requiring that their employees “insure” the companies against business losses and alleged “overhead” expenses by deducting such losses and expenses from their employees’ earned commissions.  The class action lawsuit also alleges that the companies unlawfully forced their employees to incur various business expenses including purchasing various goods bearing The Home Depot insignia and logo from The Home Depot but refused to reimburse their employees for such expenditures.

This is an Attorney Solicitation from Gregory D. Helmer and Andrew H. Friedman of Helmer Friedman, LLP.  Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.