California AG Sues 8 Car Washes For Unpaid Wages
Los Angeles, CA, United States (AHN) – California Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. filed Monday a $6.6 million lawsuit against eight car washes for exploiting workers and not paying their wages.
Named defendants to the case were members of the Sikder family, also the proprietor of a Japanese restaurant Koi frequented by Hollywood celebrities.
The lawsuit followed a five-month investigation of the Sikder-owned car washes: Bonus Car Wash in Santa Monica; Crown Valley Car Wash in Laguna Niguel; Gold Rush Auto Spa in Folsom; Gold Rush Auto Spa II in Fair Oaks; Laguna Hills Union 76 Station [Car Wash] in Laguna Hills; Marina Car Wash in Venice; Sponges Car Wash in San Ramon; and Wash & Go Hand Wash in Irvine.
Investigators interviewed more than 80 workers and found the locations routinely denied workers minimum wage and overtime, failed to pay wages owed to those who quit or were terminated, denied rest and meal breaks, and created false records of time worked.
Investigators also learned that the car washes required employees to report to work hours early and be available, unpaid, until business picked up. When workers were paid, many received paychecks that could not be cashed because of insufficient company funds.
Additionally, the car washes operated for years without licenses from the Labor Commissioner, which are required under California law.
The suit is seeking $6.6 million to pay back lost wages and civil penalties, and an injunction to prevent the defendants from committing similar violations in the future.
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