Los Angeles Times, "Longs to Settle Two Overtime Lawsuits"

          Longs Drug Stores Corp. said Tuesday that it expected to pay $11 million to settle two lawsuits involving alleged underpayment of store managers in California, a move that would eliminate much of the company's expected second-quarter profit. The lawsuits, which seek class-action status, were filed on behalf of managers and assistant managers who claimed that they were unfairly categorized as exempt from overtime pay when, for the most part, they performed the same duties as workers who were paid by the hour, attorneys for the plaintiffs said.
          The settlement is expected to include about 1,000 current and former managers and assistant managers who worked for Longs' California stores from Feb. 17, 2000, through the time the settlement is granted preliminary approval, attorneys for the plaintiffs said. Alameda County Superior Court Judge Ronald M. Sabraw is expected to decide whether to approve the deal within the next few months.