Coca-Cola Bottler Sued Over Overtime Pay

BCI Coca-Cola Bottling Co. of Los Angeles is being sued for allegedly failing to pay overtime benefits to account managers. The suit, filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court by nine past and current account managers, contends that the company improperly classified them as exempt employees so it didn’t have to pay them overtime. The lawsuit, which is seeking class-action status, could potentially affect 5,000 past and current Coke employees in California, according to the plaintiffs’ law firm, Stewart, Estes & McDonnell of Nashville. A spokesman for the bottler did not immediately return a call seeking comment.