A former employee has accused a hotel group of multiple labor law violations.
Aguila Tobias Acosta filed a class-action complaint against La Playa Hotel Group, LLC on Sept. 30 in the Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara. The lawsuit alleges numerous breaches of California labor laws by the hotel group.
Aguila Tobias Acosta claims that during his employment from March 2019 to January 2024 as an hourly-paid, non-exempt employee at La Playa Hotel Group, he was systematically denied rightful wages and breaks. According to the complaint, La Playa Hotel Group failed to pay minimum and overtime wages as required by law. "Defendants knowingly failed to pay compensation for each hour worked," states the complaint. It further accuses the company of not providing legally mandated meal and rest periods, timely final wages upon termination, accurate wage statements, and reimbursement for necessary expenditures incurred by employees. These actions allegedly violate several sections of the California Labor Code and constitute unfair business practices under the California Business & Professions Code.
The lawsuit outlines how these alleged practices were not isolated incidents but part of a broader pattern affecting many employees. The plaintiff seeks to represent all individuals employed by La Playa Hotel Group in California as hourly-paid or non-exempt employees within the statutory period applicable to these claims. The complaint emphasizes that defendants' conduct was willful and deliberate despite being aware of their legal obligations.
Acosta is seeking various forms of relief from the court. He demands unpaid wages with interest, statutory penalties for wage statement violations, liquidated damages for minimum wage violations, reimbursement for expenses incurred during employment, and attorney fees. Additionally, he requests injunctive relief to prevent further violations and restitution under California's Unfair Competition Law.
Representing Aguila Tobias Acosta are attorneys John G. Yslas and Gabriella Solé from Wilshire Law Firm. The case is assigned Case No.: 24CV448300 in front of Judge P. Hernandez at the Superior Court of CA in Santa Clara County.