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$1.5 million and counting!
The Workers' Rights Law Center has recovered or has received court orders to recover over $1 million in back wages and other damages for low-wage workers in New York's Hudson Valley.
The WRLC only started taking on cases in July 2004. Our victories include:
$278,260 settlement in Reyes v. Mongiello's Italian Cheese Specialties, LLC, Case No. 04 Civ. 6962 (SDNY), a class action lawsuit alleging violations of federal and state wage and hour laws. Click HERE for information about how class members can claim settlement proceeds in this case.
$250,000 proposed settlement in Luis v. Peppy's Foods, Inc., Case No. 05 Civ. 5595 (SDNY), a class action against a food processing plant alleging violations of federal and state wage and hour laws. Click HERE for information about class members' rights under the proposed settlement.
$150,000 settlement in two combined cases against a produce packing operation: Irving v. Porpiglia, Case No. 06 Civ. 0506 (NDNY), and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. Porpiglia Farms, Inc., Case No. 06 Civ. 1124 (NDNY). These cases alleged that the defendants violated federal
racketeering, farmworker protection, and employment discrimination laws, as well as federal and state wage and hour laws. The WRLC's litigation was brought on behalf of four workers, and the EEOC litigation was brought on behalf of an additional six workers. As part of the settlement, the Defendants do not admit any liability.
$32,000 settlement and judgment in Hernandez v. CJH, Inc., Case No. 05 Civ. 4604 (SDNY), a lawsuit alleging violations of federal and state wage and hour laws.
$51,031 judgment in Lima v. Attie, Case No. 05 Civ. 0502 (NDNY), a lawsuit alleging violations of federal and state wage and hour laws.
$23,500 settlement in Perez v. Newburgh Auto Spa, Inc., Case No. 05 Civ. 8883 (SDNY), a class action lawsuit against a car wash and oil change chain alleging violations of federal and state wage and hour laws. Click HERE for information about how class members can claim settlement proceeds in this case.
Over $250,000 in other settlements and judgments.
We continue to press forward on our current cases. These cases include:
-Iglesias-Mendoza v. La Belle Farm, Inc., Case No. 06 Civ. 1756 (SDNY). This is a class action against a poultry plant in Sullivan County. Many of the laborers worked over 80 hours per week, but were never paid overtime and often did not earn the minimum wage. UPDATE:On January 26, 2007, the Court issued a groundbreaking decision granting the Plaintiffs' motion for class certification. Click HERE to download the Court's decision. The class certification decision is published at 239 F.R.D. 363 (S.D.N.Y. 2007). Click HERE for important class notice information. UPDATE (October 26, 2007): Based on Plaintiffs' allegations that the Defendants distributed and required workers to sign an "employment agreement" and provided incorrect and incomplete contact information for prospective opt-in plaintiffs, the Court issued an Order requiring the Defendants to distribute a Corrective Notice to their employees. The Court also extended the opt-in deadline until January 6, 2007. Click HERE to view the Curative Notice and the Amended Class Notice with the new opt-in date.
-Cuzco v. Orion Builders, Inc., Case No. 06 Civ. 2789 (SDNY). This is a representative action against a construction contractor alleging that he never paid overtime, routinely paid his employees one month late, and did not pay the named plaintiff at all for some of his work. The employer also misclassified his employees as independent contractors. UPDATE:On March 8, 2007, the Court issued a Memorandum Decision and Order pre-certifying this case as a representative action for minimum wage and overtime claims under the Fair Labor Standards Act. The Court also allowed the Plaintiff to amend the Complaint to add New York Labor Law class claims. Click HERE to download the Court's decision. This decision is published at 477 F. Supp. 2d 628 (S.D.N.Y. 2007). Click HERE for important class notice information.
-Javier H. v. Maria Garcia-Botello, Case No. 02 Civ. 0523 (WDNY), a class action against 36 contractors and growers alleging that their employees were forced to work under conditions of debt peonage. The WRLC is co-counseling this case with Farmworker Legal Services of New York and Kaye Scholer, LLP. UPDATE: The Court's decision allowing Plaintiffs to amend the Complaint to add, among other things, civil RICO conspiracy claims against four of the grower defendants is now published at 239 F.R.D. 342 (W.D.N.Y. 2006).
-Hudson Valley LGBTQ Center v. Bahruth, Case No. 07-4214 (S. Ct., Ulster County), a suit against the City of Kingston Tax Assessor and others alleging that the LGBTQ Center was wrongfully denied a property tax exemption. The WRLC is co-counseling this case with Lambda Legal (Read Lambda Legal's press release about this case) and Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson, LLP.
-Olvera-Morales v. International Labor Management Corp., Inc., Case No. 05 Civ. 559 (M.D.N.C.), a nationwide class action against some of the largest contractors of H-2A and H-2B guestworkers from Mexico alleging that the contractors steered women into inferior H-2B jobs. The WRLC is co-counseling this case with Legal Momentum, North Carolina Justice Center, and Kaye Scholer, LLP. UPDATE: On November 7, 2007, the Court granted the Plaintiffs' motion for class certification. Click HERE to read the Court's decision. It is published at 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 83235.
-A representative action against a chain of businesses alleging that they did not pay their workers overtime, and then filed a frivolous retaliatory lawsuit against workers who complained to the Department of Labor.
-A representative action against a home healthcare provider alleging that it did not pay overtime to its employees.
-A lawsuit against an owner of several apartment buildings alleging, among other things, that the Superintendent was not paid the minimum wage or overtime.
-A lawsuit against a construction contractor alleging that he did not pay four day laborers overtime and did not pay them at all for some of their work.
-A lawsuit against two debt collection agencies alleging severe and pervasive violations of the Fair Debt Collection Act, including threatening the plaintiff with deportation if she did not pay the money the agencies claimed she owed.
-An Americans with Disabilities Act lawsuit against a major retail chain alleging that an employee with HIV/AIDS was not provided a reasonable accomodation for his disability and then was subsequently fired because of his disability.
Class Action Notice/Settlement Information
Informacion Acerca de Notificaciones/Acuerdos en Demandas Colectivas
•Cuzco v. Orion Builders, Inc., Case No. 06 Civ. 2789 (United States District Court, Southern District of New York)
The United States District Court has pre-certified the lawsuit entitled Cuzco v. Orion Builders, Inc. as a representative action (also called a "collective action") for federal Fair Labor Standards Act minimum wage and overtime claims
Please click the following links to review the Notice and Consent to Become a Party Plaintiff. Please call (845)331-6615 with any questions.
El Tribunal de Distrito de los Estados Unidos de Norteamérica, Distrito Sur de Nueva York se he certificado la demanda llamada Cuzco v. Orion Builders, Inc. como un proceso colectivo para reclamos del sueldo mínimo y el tiempo extra ("overtime") bajo el Acto Federal de Normas Justas de Labor.
Favor de "Click" las proximas páginas para ver la Notificación y Consentamiento para Ser un Demandante. Favor de llamar al (845)331-6615 con cualquier pregunta.
NOTICE AND CONSENT TO BECOME A PARTY PLAINTIFF, English
NOTIFICACIÓN Y CONSENTAMIENTO PARA SER UN DEMANDANTE, Español
•Iglesias-Mendoza v. La Belle Farm, Inc., Case No. 06 Civ. 1756 (United States District Court, Southern District of New York)
The United States District Court has certified the lawsuit entitled Iglesias-Mendoza v. La Belle Farm, Inc. as a class action for New York Labor Law claims and for federal Fair Labor Standards Act claims. The Court also has appointed the Workers' Rights Law Center of New York, Inc. as Class Counsel. Additionally, on October 26, 2007, the Court ordered the Defendants to distribute a Corrective Notice and amended class notice to its employees.
Please click the following links to review the Amended Notice of Pending Class Action, Consent to Sue, and Statement of Exclusion; and the Curative Notice. Please call (845)331-6615 with any questions.
El Tribunal de Distrito de los Estados Unidos de Norteamérica, Distrito Sur de Nueva York se he certificado la demanda llamada Iglesias-Mendoza v. La Belle Farm, Inc. como un proceso colectivo para reclamos bajo la Ley Laboral de Nueva York y bajo el Acto Federal de Normas Justas de Labor. Además, el Tribunal ha designado al Centro de Derechos Laborales como los Abogados de los Miembros Colectivos. Adicionalmente, el 26 de octubre de 2007, la corte ha requirido que los demandados
distribuyeran una Notificación de Remedio y una Notificación Enmendada de Proceso Colectivo Pendiente.
Favor de "Click" las proximas páginas para ver la Notificación Enmendada de Proceso Colectivo Pendiente, el Consentamiento para Demandar, y la Declaración de Exclusión; y la Notificación de Remedio. Favor de llamar al (845)331-6615 con cualquier pregunta.
AMENDED NOTICE OF PENDING CLASS ACTION / CONSENT TO SUE / STATEMENT OF EXCLUSION, English
CURATIVE NOTICE
NOTIFICACIÓN ENMENDADA DE PROCESO COLECTIVO PENDIENTE / CONSENTAMIENTO PARA DEMANDAR / DECLARACIÓN DE EXCLUSIÓN, Español
NOTIFICACIÓN DE REMEDIO
•Luis v. Peppy's Foods, Inc., Case No. 05 Civ. 5595 (United States District Court, Southern District of New York)
The Workers' Rights Law Center of New York, Inc., as counsel for Plaintiffs in the class action entitled Luis v. Peppy's Foods, Inc.
has negotiated a class-wide settlement with Defendants. Please click the following links to review the class notice and settlement announcement. Please call (845)331-6615 with any questions.
El Centro de Derechos Laborales, el bufete de abogados representando a los demandantes en la demanda colectiva llamada Luis v. Peppy's Foods, Inc.
se ha negociado un acuerdo con los demandados que beneficiara a toda la clase demandante. Favor de "Click" las proximas páginas para ver la notificación a la clase demandante, y al anuncio de acuerdo. Favor de llamar al (845)331-6615 con cualquier pregunta.
NOTICE OF PROPOSED SETTLEMENT / NOTICE OF FAIRNESS HEARING / OPT-IN FORM, English
NOTIFICACIÓN DEL ACUERDO PROPUESTO / NOTIFICACIÓN DE AUDIENCIA IMPARCIAL / FORMULARIO DE INCLUSIÓN, Español
Announcement of Lawsuit Settlement / Anuncio de Acuerdo en Una Demanda(English and Spanish, Inglés y Español)
•Perez v. Newburgh Auto Spa, Inc., Case No. 05 Civ. 8883 (United States District Court, Southern District of New York)
The Workers' Rights Law Center of New York, Inc., as counsel for Plaintiff in the class action entitled Perez v. Newburgh Auto Spa, Inc.
has negotiated a class-wide settlement with Defendants. Please click the following links to review the class notice and settlement announcement. Please call (845)331-6615 with any questions.
El Centro de Derechos Laborales, el bufete de abogados representando al demandante en la demanda colectiva llamada Perez v. Newburgh Auto Spa, Inc.
se ha negociado un acuerdo con los demandados que beneficiara a toda la clase demandante. Favor de "Click" las proximas páginas para ver la notificación a la clase demandante, y al anuncio de acuerdo. Favor de llamar al (845)331-6615 con cualquier pregunta.
NOTICE OF PROPOSED SETTLEMENT / NOTICE OF FAIRNESS HEARING / OPT-IN FORM, English
NOTIFICACIÓN DEL ACUERDO PROPUESTO / NOTIFICACIÓN DE AUDIENCIA IMPARCIAL / FORMULARIO DE INCLUSIÓN, Español
Announcement of Lawsuit Settlement / Anuncio de Acuerdo en Una Demanda(English and Spanish, Inglés y Español)
•Reyes v. Mongiello's Italian Cheese Specialties, LLC, Case No. 04 Civ. 6962 (United States District Court, Southern District of New York)
The Workers' Rights Law Center of New York, Inc., as counsel for Plaintiffs in the class action entitled Reyes v. Mongiello's Italian Cheese Specialties, LLC
has negotiated a class-wide settlement with Defendants. This case is commonly known as the "Formaggio Cheese" case or the "cheese plant" case. Please click the following links to review the class notice and settlement announcement. Please call (845)331-6615 with any questions.
El Centro de Derechos Laborales, el bufete de abogados representando a los demandantes en la demanda colectiva llamada Reyes v. Mongiello's Italian Cheese Specialties, LLC
se ha negociado un acuerdo con los demandados que beneficiara a toda la clase demandante. Este caso tipicamente se conoce como el caso en contra de "Formaggio Cheese" o el caso en contra de "la quesera." Favor de "Click" las proximas paginas para ver la notificacion a la clase demandante, y al anuncio de acuerdo. Favor de llamar al (845)331-6615 con cualquier pregunta.
Class Notice and Claim Form, English
Notificacion a la Clase y Formulario para Reclamar Dinero del Acuerdo, Espanol
Settlement Announcement/Anuncio de Acuerdo (English and Spanish, Inglés y Español)
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