UPDATE 07/03/2025
The settlement administrator sent individual settlement checks by first class mail to class members on May 30, 2025. Class members must cash or deposit their checks within 180 days–by November 26, 2025.
Subsequent to this 180 days, remaining money from uncashed checks must be donated to a non-profit organization, according to the terms of the court approved settlement agreement,
Potentially, a second round of settlement checks may be sent once the chapter 7 bankruptcy concludes. Sometime in 2027. We do not yet know the amount or specific timing of that second payment.
Please contact Raisner Roupinian LLP to update your address if you have moved.
PREVIOUS UPDATES
Raisner Roupinian LLP filed a class action complaint on June 6, 2023, against Bitwise Industries, Inc., Alphaworks Technologies, LLC, Jake Soberal, and Irma Olguin, Jr. (“Defendants”) seeking to recover 60 days’ wages and benefits for terminated employees under the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (“WARN Act”) and the California Labor Code (“CAL-WARN Act”). Additionally, we seek unpaid wages, vacation pay, and penalties under applicable state wage laws.
We contend the Defendants ordered mass layoffs, plant closings, or termination of a covered establishment on or about May 29, 2023, and within 30 days of that date, without providing 60 days’ advance written notice as required by the WARN Act and the CAL-WARN Act. Furthermore, we contend that Defendants failed to pay employees their wages in the weeks leading up to their termination.
Subsequently, the case moved courts. From the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California to the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.
On August 7, 2024, we sent an email update to our retained clients, those who completed our retainer agreement. If you did not receive this email update, please check your spam folder, or contact us.
On July 30, 2024, the Delaware Bankruptcy Court granted preliminary approval of a $20 million global settlement with the owners of Bitwise. $6 million of which will go to settle the WARN class action. Accordingly, the settlement administrator mailed notice of the terms of the settlement to all class members on September 5, 2024. The court granted final approval of the settlement on November 20, 2024.
THE CERTIFIED CLASS
The settlement class is defined as former employees who suffered an employment loss on or within thirty days of May 29, 2023, as part of a plant closing or mass layoff or as the reasonably foreseeable consequence of a plant closing.
On April 30, 2025, we sent a confidential attorney – client email to class members for whom we have email addresses on file. Importantly, if you did not receive the email, please check your spam folder or contact us to add your email address to our records and have the email sent to you. We anticipate that settlement checks will be mailed by May 30, 2025. Potentially, a second round of settlement checks may be issued to class members. Once the chapter 7 bankruptcy concludes, sometime in late 2026. We do not yet know the amount or timing of that second payment.
THE WARN ACT
Raisner Roupinian LLP will provide you with information regarding your rights in this case. For example, the federal WARN Act requires companies to provide their employees with 60 days’ written notice in advance of a mass layoff or plant closing. Certain states also have WARN Act laws.
Without the required notice, employers may be liable for 60 days’ wages and benefits to each affected employee.
CONTACT US
Please contact Raisner Roupinian LLP with any questions regarding this matter. Or, to update your address, email address, and/or telephone number.
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