March 18, 2024

Department of Labor alleges Georgia pesticide manufacturer illegally terminated employee who filed safety complaint

GAINESVILLE, GA – The U.S. Department of Labor has filed a federal court complaint against a Lawrenceville pesticide and agricultural chemical manufacturer after the company allegedly terminated a worker’s employment in retaliation for filing a safety and health complaint with the department. 

March 14, 2024

El Departamento de Trabajo de los EE. UU. intenta distribuir el dinero adeudado a los trabajadores empleados por Empone Inc., Talenique Inc.

BOSTON – Un tribunal federal de Boston dictó una sentencia acordada por las partes en mayo de 2023, en la que ordenó a dos agencias de reclutamiento del condado de Middlesex y a sus propietarios pagar un total de $256,992 en concepto de salarios atrasados e indemnización por daños y perjuicios a 238 empleados actuales y exempleados que ocupaban puestos en empresas de Maine, Massachusetts y New Hampshire.

March 14, 2024

US Department of Labor seeks to distribute money owed to workers employed by Empone Inc., Talenique Inc.

BOSTON – A federal court in Boston entered a consent judgment in May of 2023, ordering two Middlesex County employment staffing agencies and their owners to pay a total of $256,992 in back wages and liquidated damages to 238 current and former employees who were placed with businesses in Maine, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. 

March 13, 2024

Long Island construction contractor to pay $144K, enhance compliance following US Department of Labor investigation, litigation

NEW YORK – An East Patchogue construction contractor will pay $144,000 in penalties and implement enhanced compliance actions and policies to reduce workplace hazards for its companies’ and subcontractors’ employees as part of a stipulated settlement agreement with the U.S. Department of Labor.

March 13, 2024

US Department of Labor recovers $479K in back wages for workers with temporary visas, US workers at Missouri vegetable farm

PARK HILLS, MO – A Park Hills vegetable farming and packing operation will pay $479,983 in back wages to 208 workers, following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division.

March 7, 2024

Massachusetts, New Hampshire frozen yogurt business pays $10K in punitive damages, $1,978 in back pay to employee who asserted their rights to tips

BOSTON – When the owner of three Tutti Frutti frozen yogurt shops in Massachusetts and New Hampshire terminated an employee who asserted their rights to the tips they had earned, the company violated anti-retaliation provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and found themselves facing costly consequences after a U.S.

March 6, 2024

US Department of Labor seeks restraining order to stop Evansville restaurant owner from intimidating workers, denying them back pay

EVANSVILLE, IN – After learning an Evansville employer has engaged in an ongoing attempt to deprive current and former employees of the money found due to them following a federal wage investigation, the U.S. Department of Labor asked a federal court to issue a temporary restraining order and injunction against Friendship Diner LLC and its owner, Bardhyl Shabani, and award punitive damages to employees. 

February 29, 2024

US Department of Labor seeks injunction to stop Indiana liquor store owner from intimidating workers, denying them back pay

SOUTH BEND, IN – The U.S. Department of Labor asked a federal court to issue a temporary restraining order and injunction against Vishav Inc. – operating as Mega Liquor & Smoke – and its owner, Bhola Singh, to stop the Granger, Indiana-based company from retaliating against and intimidating employees owed back wages and liquidated damages. Singh owns and operates 61 Mega Liquor & Smoke stores in Indiana and Michigan. 

February 28, 2024

Judge orders former Elmhurst pre-school to reimburse employee retirement, health plans $43K

Date of Action         Feb. 28, 2024

Type of Action:         Employee Retirement Income Security Act default judgment

Company/Owners:    Elmhurst Academy of Early Learning Inc.

February 27, 2024

Judgment removes president of defunct Cherry Hill manufacturer as 401(k) plan fiduciary, appoints independent fiduciary to distribute $47K in assets

Date of action:           Feb. 7, 2024

Type of action:          Motion for default judgment granted  by the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey. The action follows a complaint and motion filed by the U.S. Department of Labor on June 15, 2023.

February 26, 2024

US Department of Labor obtains judgment requiring defunct Westmoreland County company, president to restore $40K to its health plan

Date of action:           Feb. 8, 2024

Type of action:          Motion for default judgment issued by the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. The action follows a complaint and motion filed by the U.S. Department of Labor in November 2022.

February 23, 2024

Administrative Law Judge upholds US Department of Labor findings of child labor violations, $38K fine for upstate New York water park

Date of action:                       Feb. 13, 2024

 Type of action:                      Summary decision

 Names of defendants:           Zoom Flume Water Park LLC (in East Durham, New York)

February 21, 2024

New York landscaping company to pay $1.1M after US Department of Labor uncovers overtime, H-2B program violations

LONG ISLAND, NY – A U.S. Department of Labor investigation has found that a Southampton landscaping company failed to comply with requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act and the federal H-2B worker program and will recover over $1 million in back wages and liquidated damages for 54 underpaid workers.

February 9, 2024

US Department of Labor recovers $151K in back wages, damages for 64 guards at Northville, Michigan, security company

Employer:      Koda Group Inc.

                        200 North Center St.

                        Northville, MI

February 7, 2024

Un contratista especializado en techos paga $117,175 de multa tras la caída fatal de un joven de 15 años en un lugar de trabajo en Alabama

CULLMAN, AL Apex Roofing & Restoration LLC pagó $117,175 en multas monetarias civiles después de que el Departamento de Trabajo de los EE. UU.

February 7, 2024

Federal court orders Portland restaurants to pay $540K to employees after illegally splitting tips

Employer:              Pizzicato Inc.

February 6, 2024

US Department of Labor obtains emergency court order to protect retirement plan assets; alleges Pittsburgh company, owner embezzled over $5.5M from plans

Date of action: February 5, 2024

Type of action: An emergency temporary restraining order issued by the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The action follows a complaint and motion filed by the U.S. Department of Labor on January 26, 2024.