December 14, 2016

Mozzarella’s, Fitzy’s Pub Family restaurants pay $123K in back wages, damages to 22 underpaid workers in three states

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – An investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division has recovered $123,574 in back wages and damages for 22 underpaid workers at four Mozzarella’s and Fitzy’s Pub Family restaurants in southern New England. The employers also paid $4,114 in civil monetary penalties.

December 14, 2016

Auto parts supplier to pay more than $75K in unpaid overtime wages, damages to 526 workers in Michigan, Alabama

TROY, Mich. – A Michigan-based auto components manufacturer and supplier will pay 526 workers $75,064 – representing $37,532 in unpaid overtime wages and an equal amount in liquidated damages – after federal investigators determined the company calculated their overtime pay incorrectly.

December 13, 2016

Gas station owner to pay $84K in back wages, damages to 41 employees denied minimum wage, overtime pay at three Buffalo area locations

BUFFALO, N.Y. – The owner of three Buffalo-area gas stations has paid a total of $84,000 in back wages and damages to 41 employees after an investigation by the Buffalo area office of U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division.

Lakhwinder Gill – the owner of the Angola Food Mart Inc. (Angola), LHP Food Mart Inc. (Buffalo) and Lake Shore Mini Mart, Inc. (Hamburg) gas stations – will also pay $1,000 in civil monetary penalties.

December 13, 2016

Mozzarella’s, Fitzy’s Pub Family restaurants pay $123K in back wages, damages to 22 underpaid workers in three states

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – An investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division has recovered $123,574 in back wages and damages for 22 underpaid workers at four Mozzarella’s and Fitzy’s Pub Family restaurants in southern New England. The employers also paid $4,114 in civil monetary penalties.

December 12, 2016

Six gas stations, convenience stores to pay $132K in unpaid overtime, damages to Sacramento-area workers after US Labor Department investigation

Employer: Six gas stations/convenience stores, all under common ownership, doing business as Arco AM/PM in the Sacramento, California area.

Sites: Lodi Oil Inc., 4931 N. Flag City Blvd, Lodi
Kamboj Oil Inc., 45 15th St., West Sacramento
Wraich Petroleum Corp., 3921 Watt Avenue, Sacramento
Broadway Petroleum Inc., 2100 Broadway, Sacramento
Mehroke LLC, 902 Newville Road, Orlanda
Sacramento Petroleum Inc., 4745 Watt Avenue North Highlands

December 8, 2016

QUEENS-BASED NURSING HOME CHAIN TO PAY OVER $2M IN BACK WAGES AND DAMAGES TO 844 UNDERPAID EMPLOYEES IN EASTERN NEW YORK

NEW YORK – A Queens-based operator of residential nursing homes and adult care facilities will pay a total of $2,006,796 in back wages and liquidated damages to 844 underpaid employees at five locations in eastern New York following a federal investigation of alleged violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act.

December 8, 2016

Federal court rebukes FLDS-affiliated business in child labor case

SALT LAKE CITY – A federal judge has ordered Brian Jessop and Paragon Contractors Corp., to make an initial payment of $200,000 to compensate hundreds of children who were employed illegally and not paid for their labor on a pecan ranch between 2008-2013. Jessop and Paragon coordinated with the Fundamentalist Church of Latter Day Saints to use children and others in the church for field work.

December 8, 2016

Lawsuit seeks more than $23K in unpaid overtime wages, damages for 13 employees of travel plazas, gas stations in Northern Indiana

Type of Action: Fair Labor Standards Act lawsuit filing

Defendant(s): Rinky Sharma
Bobby Singh
SkyExpress Travel Plaza Inc., doing business as Plaza 30
Sky Petroleum Inc., doing business as Govertown Travel Plaza and Michigan City Grocery
Aman Group LLC, dba Marathon Stop and Shop

December 8, 2016

Federal court rebukes FLDS-affiliated business in child labor case

SALT LAKE CITY – A federal judge has ordered Brian Jessop and Paragon Contractors Corp., to make an initial payment of $200,000 to compensate hundreds of children who were employed illegally and not paid for their labor on a pecan ranch between 2008-2013. Jessop and Paragon coordinated with the Fundamentalist Church of Latter Day Saints to use children and others in the church for field work.

December 7, 2016

Long Island restaurant, catering hall to pay $285K to two dozen employees denied minimum wage, overtime pay

NEW YORK – A Garden City restaurant and catering hall will pay a total of $285,800 in back wages and liquidated damages to 24 underpaid employees to resolve violations of the minimum wage, overtime and recordkeeping requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act. The company will also pay $24,200 in civil money penalties to the U.S. Department of Labor and take corrective action to prevent future violations as part of a consent judgment filed with the U.S.

December 6, 2016

Los Arcos Mexican Restaurant to pay $459K in back wages, damages to 28 employees after US Labor Department investigation

Employer name: Los Arcos Inc., doing business as Los Arcos Mexican Restaurant

Investigation sites: 214 St. James Ave.
Goose Creek, South Carolina 29445

1136 Hungry Neck Blvd.
Mount Pleasant, South Carolina 29464

December 1, 2016

Louisiana Cajun food retailers pay $571K in back wages, damages, penalties for willful, systemic violations following US Labor Department investigations

SCOTT, La. – Investigators have found more than $571,000 in back wages, liquidated damages and penalties resulting from labor violations at area Cajun food retailers just six months after the U.S. Labor Department’s Wage and Hour Division found violations at another local specialty meat processor.

December 1, 2016

US Labor Department sues Garland, Texas, bakery; seeks more than $150K in owed wages, liquidated damages for workers

Date of Action: Nov. 17, 2016

Type of Action: Lawsuit

Name of Defendants:Tango Bakery Inc., doing business as Tango Bakery
Adrian Gordillo-Ross
Sergio Mendoza

November 30, 2016

Cleaning company must pay $196K in back wages, damages to 40 workers after falsifying payroll records, owner faces five years of probation

LEE’S SUMMIT, Mo. – Imagine being told that you and your spouse would have to split a paycheck for 80 hours of work – despite that fact that each of you worked 80 hours – or receiving your paycheck issued under a co-worker’s name because your employer was attempting not to pay you overtime.

November 30, 2016

Oregon cleaning service ordered to pay $70K in back wages to 19 workers

Employer:Stars Cleaning Inc., doing business as Stars Cleaning Service

Site:14320 SW Barlow Court
Beaverton, Oregon

November 29, 2016

Life Time Fitness to pay more than $976K in back minimum wages, damages to 15K employees at locations in 26 states

MINNEAPOLIS – A Minnesota-based company has agreed to pay 15,909 employees nationwide a total of $976,765 – $488,229 in back wages and an equal amount in liquidated damages – after a federal investigation found the employer violated federal minimum wage requirements at its health clubs and fitness center locations in 26 states.

November 29, 2016

US Department of Labor files suit alleging Michigan DHHS, Kalamazoo Psychiatric Hospital violated Family and Medical Leave Act

Date of Action: Nov. 28, 2016

Type of Action: Family and Medical Leave Act complaint

Name of Defendants: Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
Kalamazoo Psychiatric Hospital

November 28, 2016

Ashley Furniture franchisee ordered to pay $216K in back wages, damages, penalties in US Labor Department settlement

Date of Action: Nov. 22, 2016

Type of Action: Lawsuit settlement and entry of judgment and injunction

Name of Defendant: Han Nara Enterprises L.P.
Lubbock, Texas

November 28, 2016

Construction company to pay $21K in back wages to 19 employees after US Labor Department investigation

Employer name: Environmental Painting Alternatives Inc.     

Investigation site: 1130 S. Rio Grande Ave.
Orlando, Florida 32805        

November 21, 2016

Judge approves order that Puerto Rico Police Department pay $8.7M to 2,642 officers, take additional corrective action to comply with federal wage law

Date of Action: Nov. 15, 2016

Type of Action: Consent judgment

Name of Defendants: Puerto Rico Police Department
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico