Rover Group Inc. will pay $18.0 million to settle a California lawsuit claiming independent contractor misclassification of pet caregivers on the part of its subsidiary, A Place for Rover Inc., according to a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Seattle-based Rover Group connects clients with pet care workers that provide pet sitting, dog walking and other pet care services.
Rover Group is not admitting any wrongdoing or liability in the settlement.
The settlement class comprises pet care providers who performed at least one service in California booked through the Rover platform from Nov. 1, 2018, through when the motion for preliminary approval of settlement is filed. The settlement also calls for more limited amounts to go to pet care providers with at least one service in California between Oct. 1, 2017, and Oct. 31, 2018.
The lawsuit was originally filed in August 2018. The lawsuit is Melanie Sportsman v. A Place for Rover Inc.