July 31, 2019

New Jersey Company and Its President Found in Contempt of Court After Failing to Pay $412,000 in Penalties for OSHA Violations

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit has found Altor Inc. - a construction company based in Washington Township, New Jersey - and its president Vasilio Saites in contempt of court for failing to pay $412,000 in penalties assessed by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). OSHA has cited Altor for numerous safety violations, including multiple willful violations of OSHA's fall protection standards.

June 19, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in Maine Grocery Store Paying $92,055 in Back Wages and Damages to 69 Employees

MANCHESTER, N.H. – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), H.B. Provisions Inc. – a grocery store based in Kennebunk, Maine – has paid $92,055 in back wages and liquidated damages to 69 employees for violations of the overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The employer has also paid $20,752 in civil money penalties.

June 12, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Cites and Fines Maine Roofing Contractor After Employee’s Fatal Fall

AUGUSTA, ME – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Shawn D. Purvis, owner of Purvis Home Improvement Co. Inc. for egregious willful, repeat, and serious workplace safety violations. Purvis - a Saco, Maine, roofing contractor - faces a total of $1,792,726 in penalties. The enforcement action follows the death of an employee in Portland, Maine, on December 13, 2018.

May 22, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in New York Horse Racing Trainer Paying $1,617,673 in Back Wages, Damages, Penalties

NEW YORK, NY – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Chad C. Brown Inc. and owner Chad Brown will pay a total of $1,617,673 in back wages, liquidated damages, and civil penalties for willful violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and the labor provisions of the H-2B non-immigrant visa program.

May 15, 2019

Puerto Rico Security Company and Owner Liable for $324,492 in Wages and Damages After U.S. Department of Labor Investigation and Litigation

SAN JUAN, PR – The U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico has found Special Police Force Corp. – a security company based in Bayamon, Puerto Rico – and its owner Hector Rivera Ortiz liable for violations of the minimum wage, overtime, and recordkeeping requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

March 25, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Lawsuit Seeks $90,261 in Wages and Liquidated Damages for Employees of East Providence, Rhode Island, Restaurants

PROVIDENCE, RI – Following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), the Department of Labor has filed suit against Madeira Restaurant Inc. and The Waterfront Restaurant and Lounge Inc. – operators of two East Providence, Rhode Island, restaurants – and their owner Albertino Milho and managers David Milho, and Karen DaSilva, alleging willful violations of the overtime and recordkeeping requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

March 13, 2019

Massachusetts Pizza Restaurants’ Owners To Pay $330,000 in Back Wages And Liquidated Damages to 150 Employees After Federal Investigation

BOSTON, MA – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) and subsequent litigation, the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts has issued a consent judgment ordering Stavros "Steve" Papantoniadis and Polyxeny "Paulina" Papantoniadis – owners of a chain of eastern Massachusetts-area pizza restaurants – to pay a total of $330,000 in back wages and liquidated damages to 150 current and former employees.

March 1, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Sues Massachusetts Construction Company For Retaliation for Facilitating Arrest of Injured Employee

BOSTON, MA – The U.S. Department of Labor has filed a lawsuit against Boston, Massachusetts-based contractor Tara Construction Inc. and its chief executive officer, Pedro Pirez, alleging that they retaliated against an injured employee by facilitating his arrest.

February 11, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Recovers $5,579,939 for 993 Employees Who Performed Hurricane Recovery Work in Puerto Rico

GUAYNABO, PR – Investigations by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) have resulted in the recovery of $5,579,939 in back wages and benefits owed to 993 employees of nine subcontractors that provided power generator operation support for hurricane recovery efforts in Puerto Rico.

February 6, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Orders Vermont Company to Compensate Employee Fired for Reporting Finance Industry Violations

BOSTON, MA – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has ordered Hermitage Club Realty LLC – a real estate company based in Wilmington, Vermont – to pay a former employee $22,693 in back pay and bonuses with interest, and $20,000 in compensatory damages.

January 29, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in $158,139 in Back Wages and Damages for 50 Employees on Massachusetts Construction Project

BOSTON, MA – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts has ordered P & B Partitions Inc. and its owner Ronald H. Biglin Jr. to pay $158,139 in back wages and liquidated damages to 50 employees, to resolve willful violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The company – based in West Berlin, New Jersey – was also assessed $33,880 in civil money penalties.

January 28, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor and Connecticut Manufacturer Settle Whistleblower Allegations Regarding Termination of Two Workers

HARTFORD, CT – The U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut ordered Eastern Awning Systems Inc. – a manufacturer of retractable fabric patio awnings based in Watertown, Connecticut – and its owner Stephen P. Lukos to pay a total of $160,000 to two discharged employees who filed safety and health complaints with the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

January 7, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Cites Contractor Following Crane Collapse At New York City Construction Worksite

NEW YORK, NY – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Western Waterproofing Co. Inc. – doing business as Western Specialty Contractors – for exposing employees to serious injuries at a New York City construction worksite. The St. Louis, Missouri-based contractor faces $155,204 in proposed penalties.

December 19, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in Federal Court Ordering New York City Hotel Operators to Pay $721,086 in Back Wages and Damages

NEW YORK, NY – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York has ordered the operators of three Queens, New York, hotels to pay $360,543 in back wages and an equal amount in liquidated damages to 83 employees to resolve violations of the overtime and recordkeeping requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The operators will also pay $28,914 in civil penalties and $625 in post-judgment interest.

November 5, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Cites Massachusetts Contractor For Exposing Workers to Fall Hazards

BRAINTREE, MA – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Northeast Framing Inc. – based in Lunenberg, Massachusetts – for exposing workers to falls and other hazards following an employee’s fatal fall at an East Boston, Massachusetts, worksite in May 2018. The company faces $311,330 in penalties, the maximum allowed by law.

October 31, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Recovers $2.8 Million for 443 Employees Of Federal Contractor in New York and New Jersey After Investigation

NEW YORK, NY – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), federal contractor Fedcap Rehabilitation Services Inc. has paid $2,830,146 to 443 employees at 17 New York and New Jersey locations to resolve violations of the McNamara-O'Hara Service Contract Act (SCA).

October 19, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Orders Massachusetts Railway to Pay $85,000 to Employee Subjected to Retaliation after Reporting Injury

BOSTON, MA – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has ordered Springfield Terminal Railway Inc. to compensate an employee who faced an investigative hearing with possible disciplinary action or termination for reporting an on-the-job injury at its facility in Andover, Massachusetts. OSHA ordered the company to pay the employee $10,000 in compensatory damages, $75,000 in punitive damages, and attorney’s fees.

September 28, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of the Solicitor Accepting Applications for 2019 Honors Program

WASHINGTON, DC – The application period for the fall 2019 Honors Program in the Office of the Solicitor at the U.S. Department of Labor is underway. The program provides challenging professional opportunities for outstanding law school graduates with a passion for public service.

September 26, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Obtains Consent Judgment Ordering Boston Pizza Restaurant to Pay $240,000 in Back Wages, Damages, and Penalties

BOSTON, MA – The U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts has entered a consent judgment requiring Boston-based Village Pizza and Grill and its owner, Klaundjon Totoni, to pay $115,841 in back wages and an equal amount in liquidated damages to 14 employees, plus $8,317 in civil penalties. The judgment follows an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) that identified violations of the child labor, overtime, minimum wage, and recordkeeping requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

September 25, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Obtains Consent Judgment Ordering Yonkers Care Facility to Pay $385,000 in Back Wages, Damages, and Penalties

WHITE PLAINS, NY – The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York has entered a consent judgment requiring Hudson View Care Center Inc. - doing business as Regency Extended Care Center - and owner Michael Melnicke to pay $182,500 in back wages and an equal amount in liquidated damages to 81 employees, plus $20,000 in civil penalties. The judgment follows an investigation by the U.S.