Farmers Insurance will pay $52.5 million in overtime wages to its claims representatives in seven states, a federal judge in Oregon ruled Monday.

The judgement was entered on behalf of the FLSA collective action members, and the illinois, New Mexico, Colorado, Washington, Oregon, and Michigan classes in the amount of $48,565320.54.

The recent court victories for claims representatives in the seven states are in addition to the landmark $210 million judgment against Farmers Insurance Exchange, for failing to pay its California insurance adjusters overtime pay from 1993 through June 2001.

In November 2002, U.S. District Court Judge Robert E. Jones held that Farmers’ claims adjusters who handle auto and low level property claims are entitled to overtime under the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act (”FLSA”) and the laws of seven states.

Most recently, a group of Farmers Insurance personal lines claims representatives recently filed a new class action lawsuit in Federal court in Los Angeles against the company, seeking unpaid overtime damages under the FLSA and state overtime laws.

The lawsuit, Balliet v. Farmers Insurance Exchange, Case No. CV 04-09148 TJH (C.D. Cal.), was filed on behalf of personal lines claims representatives who are or were employed by Farmers (1) in states other than California, Colorado, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, Oregon, or Washington, and (2) who did not opt into the current Farmers’ case in Oregon federal court; or (3) who worked for Farmers after April 2003.

(via Business Wire)