MetLife Employment Discrimination Class Action Settlement

Primary plaintiff Marcus Creighton filed a class action lawsuit against the African-American financial representatives of Metropolitan Life for discriminating against him during daily operations, as well as in the compensation package he received. Creighton submitted a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in February of 2015, which eventually led to the MetLife employment discrimination class action lawsuit filed in May of 2015. Several additional plaintiffs, including Don Roman, Constance Green, Vernon Hobbs, and Danielle Sydnor, joined the class action lawsuit

The judge approved the terms of the class action settlement, which requires MetLife to set up a settlement fund of $12.5 million. MetLife has agreed to cover the cost of compensating eligible class members, as well as pay attorney fees and court expenses. Eligible class members can claim expedited money awards that they receive within 45 days of the claim form submission deadline. Eligible class members have the option to file claims that undergo an individualized analysis to determine the amount of the award.

Despite agreeing to the class action settlement, MetLife continues to deny violating federal anti-discrimination laws. The company settled the class action lawsuit to avoid the high costs associated with protracted civil cases.

What You Need To Know

According to court documents, eligible class members “include all African-American Financial Services Representatives employed by or affiliated with MetLife or NELICO between May 15, 2011 and July 1, 2016.” The amount of the potential award varies depending whether claimants opt for an expedited award that is uniformly applied or an individualized award that takes into account individual discrimination charges. Claimants who choose the individualized can receive more compensation, as well as receive an award that falls below what expedited award claimants receive.

Proof of purchase includes the filing of IRS W-4 and W-9 forms that accompany the class action settlement claim form. Claimants file either the simple claim form to receive the expedited award or the detailed claim form for individualized assessments. Eligible class members have until August 28, 2017 to file a valid claim form. The judge presiding over the case formally referred to as Marcus Creighton, et al. v. Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, Case No. 1:15-cv-08321, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York scheduled the final hearing on June 27, 2017.  Class members can find out what transpired during the final hearing by visiting the class action website www.CreightonSettlement.com.

Class counsel consists of Linda D. Friedman, Suzanne E. Bish, and George S. Robot of Stowell & Friedman LTD. Steven J. Pearlman, Keisha-Ann G. Gray, and Latoya S. Moore from Proskauer Rose LLP represent the defense counsel for MetLife. The class action settlement website presents information about the motions filed by the class and defense counsels.