LOS ANGELES – Current and former employees for the Lithia Motors dealerships in Southern California allege that their time records were falsified.
Diana Roche, Gustavo Herrera, Amanda Robinson, Debbie Anderson O'Neal, Monika Bartels-Newman and Isabel Pardo filed a complaint on behalf of all others similarly situated on Aug. 29 in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, Western Division against Lithia Motors Inc., DCH Auto Group (USA) Inc., DCH North America Inc., et al. alleging violations of the California Labor Code and other counts.
According to the complaint, the plaintiffs allege that they were not paid for missed meal and rest breaks while working for the defendants. The plaintiffs holds Lithia Motors Inc., DCH Auto Group (USA) Inc., DCH North America Inc., et al. responsible because the defendants allegedly falsified their employees time records to make it seem that the employees were receiving their breaks. They also allege that they were not paid overtime compensation.
The plaintiffs request a trial by jury and seek injunctive relief; compensatory damages, lost wages, premium pay, amounting to at least $5,000,000; statutory penalties; interest; restitution; punitive and exemplary damages; all legal fees and any other relief as this court deems just. They are represented by Nicholas A. Carlin, R. Scott Erlewine and Brian S. Conlon of Phillips, Erlewine, Given & Carlin LLP in San Francisco.
U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, Western Division Case number 2:16-cv-06489