Defendants in wage-and-hour class action cases often claim that they are financially distressed and unable to pay full value to resolve a case.  They may even threaten bankruptcy.  This panel will provide you with the tools you need to evaluate claims of financial distress.  Our attorney panelists will discuss how they have responded to claims of financial distress, and the fiduciary duties owed to class members that require class counsel to investigate such claims. Jim Zimmer is a licensed California private investigator who is an expert in financial and asset investigations.  He will discuss the types of documents and information that plaintiff’s attorneys should request from a defendant who claims financial distress, and how to investigate financial distress claims.  Lynn Frank is a renowned mediator who handles wage-and-hour class actions.  She will discuss how claims of financial distress play out in mediations, and how plaintiff’s attorneys can successfully resolve cases when a defendant pleads poverty.  Vanessa Hill is a CPA with more than 20 years of experience in accounting and finance, and is certified in financial forensics.  She will discuss the types of documents and information that plaintiff’s attorneys should request from a defendant who claims financial distress, and the right questions to ask defense counsel who claim their clients are headed towards bankruptcy.  Although this panel is part of the Advanced Wage-and-Hour Seminar, it should have broad appeal to any CELA practitioners facing claims of financial distress by defendants in their cases.