In a sweeping legal action, a former employee has accused a major milling company of widespread labor violations, alleging the company systematically failed to compensate its workers fairly and violated California labor laws. The complaint was filed by Manuel Laztra on September 30, 2024, in the Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara against Miller Milling Company, LLC.
The lawsuit, spearheaded by plaintiff Manuel Laztra and represented by Wilshire Law Firm attorneys John G. Yslas and Aram Boyadjian, alleges multiple violations of the California Labor Code. These include failure to pay minimum and overtime wages, failure to provide meal and rest periods, and failure to issue accurate wage statements. Laztra claims that during his employment with Miller Milling Company from August 2022 onwards as an hourly-paid non-exempt employee in Los Angeles County, he experienced these violations firsthand. The lawsuit further asserts that these practices were not isolated incidents but part of a broader pattern affecting numerous employees across California.
Laztra's complaint details how Miller Milling Company allegedly manipulated timekeeping records to underreport hours worked by employees, thereby avoiding payment for overtime and off-the-clock work. "Defendants would manufacture timekeeping records to falsely show that Plaintiff... took meal periods when in fact they worked 'off-the-clock,'" the complaint states. Additionally, it accuses the company of failing to reimburse employees for necessary work-related expenses and not providing timely access to employment records upon request.
The lawsuit seeks class-action status on behalf of all similarly affected current and former employees within the statutory period. It demands compensation for unpaid wages, penalties for labor code violations, reimbursement for incurred expenses, and injunctive relief to prevent future violations. Moreover, it calls for restitution under California's Unfair Competition Law due to the company's alleged unfair business practices.
Representing Laztra are attorneys John G. Yslas and Aram Boyadjian from Wilshire Law Firm. The case is being overseen by Judge M. Bui under Case ID 24CV448349 in the Superior Court of California.