UPDATE BY CLASS COUNSEL (11/4/25)
We were informed by Defendants’ counsel today that Renovo and its affiliated companies (including NewPro) filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in Delaware yesterday. That will automatically stay any other legal proceedings against NewPro, so we will not be able to take any action against NewPro outside of the bankruptcy proceeding, for now anyway. Our position, however, is that there is another party liable for funding the settlement (Anthony Cogliani), so we will be looking to him to pay the settlement amount by the deadline of November 15. We are awaiting further information regarding Mr. Cogliani’s position and are continuing to monitor the situation.
UPDATE BY CLASS COUNSEL (10/30/2025)
The Middlesex Superior Court granted final approval of the class settlement on October 16, 2025. Under the terms of the settlement, the Defendants are required to fund the settlement within 30 days, or by November 15, 2025. Reportedly, on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, Newpro stopped its operations and laid off most if not all of its employees. Evidently, the same thing happened with its related companies, including Renovo Home Partners, but as of now there are few available details. The attorney representing the Defendants in this case has been unable to provide any further information. Because the settlement does not need to be funded until November 15, 2025, we likely will not know with certainty until then whether the settlement will be funded. If the settlement is not funded when required, we will undertake efforts to enforce the settlement. When we obtain any reliable and material information about what is going on, we will post that information here.
NOTICE OF SETTLEMENT OF CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT
Re: Patrick Joyce v. NewPro Operating, LLC., et al.
Middlesex Superior Court, Civil Action No. 2381CV02519
We are writing to tell you that you may be eligible to receive a share of a proposed settlement in a class action lawsuit.
Who Is Affected By This Settlement?
The settlement covers the following group: all Massachusetts employees who worked for NewPro as Design Consultants (sales representatives) from September 6, 2020 until April 15, 2025. The covered employees are referred to as the “Class.”
What Are The Claims In These Cases?
The above-referenced case was filed in 2023. It was filed by an individual (called a “named plaintiff”) for himself and others similarly situated. The lawsuit claims that the Defendants engaged in various pay practices that violated Massachusetts law. The claims arise from allegations concerning chargebacks; the timing of bonus payments; deductions for uniforms, iPads, and data plans; mileage reimbursement; and the Massachusetts law on paid sick leave. The Defendants vigorously deny that any of their pay practices or policies violated any laws. The parties want to resolve the case to avoid the cost, uncertainty, and risks of continued litigation.
What Are The Terms Of The Settlement?
If approved by the court, the settlement will make money available to members of the Class who return claim forms (included with this notice). The total amount of the proposed settlement is $3,800,000. The settlement proposes that one-third of the settlement funds will be used to pay for attorneys’ fees and costs for bringing and prosecuting the lawsuit over the past two years. Up to $20,000 will be allocated to settlement administration costs. The named plaintiff, who brought the case and who assisted counsel in the prosecution of the claims, will receive up to $40,000 as a service payment to compensate him for the costs and risk of serving as a named plaintiff. Up to $30,000 will be allocated to a dispute fund to address unanticipated issues that may arise.
The remaining settlement funds, in an amount of at least $2,443,333, will be paid out to members of the Class who submit claim forms. The amount payable to each class member will depend on reasonable estimates of each class member’s potential damages, using multiple forms of data from readily-available payroll and personnel records. The amount ultimately paid to each class member will also depend on the results of the claims process. The proposed settlement calls for the first settlement amounts to be paid out to members of the Class in or around December 2024, following the court approval process, but we do not know the exact date right now. Following the first claims process, a reminder notice will be sent out to members of the Class who have not claimed, and any undistributed funds remaining after that second claims period will be distributed to members of the Class who have submitted claims. As a result, if you file a claim now, you may end up getting two distributions, including an original share plus some portion of unclaimed funds. The final amount that each class member will receive cannot be determined until after both claims periods.
If you would like to review a copy of the proposed settlement agreement, please contact Class Counsel, whose name and contact information appears below.
Based on an analysis of the risks of litigation and the potential damages that could be obtained in this case, we believe that this is a fair settlement based on the totality of the circumstances. If the case proceeds without a settlement, there is no guarantee that a class would be certified, that any judgment would be in the Class’s favor, or that any payments ultimately will be made. Litigation always poses a risk of unexpected outcomes and long delays. This settlement ensures that money will be recovered regardless of the various risks of litigation and provides for payment without the delays of a trial or appeals.
What Do I Need To Do?
IMPORTANT: In order to claim your share of the settlement, you must complete and sign the enclosed claim form, and return it to Optime Administration, LLC by August 25, 2025.
There will be a court hearing at 2:00PM on October 16, 2025 at the Middlesex Superior Court, Courtroom 520, 200 Tradecenter Dive, Woburn, MA 01801. At this hearing, the Court will consider whether to approve the settlement. Under Massachusetts law, you have the right to object to the settlement, but you may not opt out of this case. If the Court grants approval of the settlement, you will be bound by it if you are a member of the Class. Pursuant to the settlement, all members of the Class will forever release and discharge certain claims, as described in the claim form. If the settlement is not approved by the Court, the litigation will continue until it reaches an ultimate disposition, which might also bind you. If you object to the proposed settlement, you must send a written objection to Optime Administration, LLC by August 25, 2025, and it will be provided to the Court and all counsel. You also have the right to attend the hearing on October 16, 2025, but you do not need to attend.
If you have any questions about filing a claim, please contact the settlement administrator:
NewPro Class Action Settlement
c/o Optime Administration, LLC
PO Box 3206
Brockton, MA 02304
Tel. 844-625-7313
Fax 781-287-0381
Email: newpro@optimeadmin.com
If you have any legal questions about the case, please contact Class Counsel:
Steve Churchill
Fair Work, P.C.
192 South Street, Suite 450
Boston, MA 02111
steve@fairworklaw.com