Tri Counties Bank sued

Chico-based Tri Counties Bank agreed last month to settle with a former employee who filed a class-action lawsuit in Kern County Superior Court. Theresa Ross, a former assistant branch manager, alleged the bank improperly classified her position as an exempt employee under state laws. That meant no overtime pay, no meal time, no rest time, no accurate wage statements or suitable seating, according to a press release from TriCo Bancshares, which owns the bank.

Tri Counties and Ross agreed to settle the case for somewhere between $2,039,500 and $2,500,000, depending on how many of the other 169 current and former assistant bank managers climb on board, said Ross’ attorney, Kitty Szeto. An attorney for Tri Counties, which now operates in 23 California counties, tried to change the venue of the case from Kern to Butte County, but was overruled.