A settlement was recently approved against California based Munger Bros. who owns Washington state berry farm, Sarbanand Farms in Sumas, WA. Under the $3.75 million settlement, nearly 500 foreign farmworkers will receive at least $4,656 while 65 will receive an additional $10,384 in back wages and other fees. Munger denies any wrongdoing.

The lawsuit stems from the termination of farmworkers who walked out in protest in 2017 after a colleague was taken by ambulance and later died at a hospital of natural causes unrelated to work. The termination of the initial approximate 65 workers led to further protests by workers. The claimants alleged they were illegally fired and those who remained claimed a hostile work environment. Munger Bros. is based in California.