In a dramatic legal move, a group of former employees have taken action against their previous employers, alleging a wide array of labor violations. The complaint was filed by George Makdissy and several other plaintiffs in the Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara on October 31, 2024, targeting La Fondue Group LLC and Reliance Valet Services LLC among others.
The plaintiffs, including George Makdissy, Ashley Snow, Chelsea Toledo, and others, claim that the defendants failed to comply with various labor laws during their employment. They accuse La Fondue Restaurant and Reliance Valet Services of failing to pay minimum wages as required under California Labor Code sections 1182.12 and 1197. Additionally, they allege that overtime wages were not properly compensated according to Labor Code section 510. "Defendants knowingly and willfully failed to pay Plaintiffs overtime wages for all overtime hours worked," states the complaint.
The lawsuit further contends that the defendants did not provide mandatory meal and rest periods as stipulated by Labor Code sections 226.7 and 512. This lack of compliance allegedly led to significant underpayment of wages owed to the plaintiffs. The plaintiffs also assert that they were not given accurate wage statements or reimbursed for business expenses such as personal cell phone use required for work duties.
Moreover, the complaint accuses Aki Fujimura and Rodrick Sevilla—individuals associated with the defendant companies—of acting as alter egos for these entities to evade financial responsibilities. The plaintiffs argue that these individuals commingled funds between companies for personal benefit, thus violating fair business practices under California Business & Professions Code section 17200.
Seeking justice, the plaintiffs demand compensation totaling an estimated $775,000 in damages along with restitution for unpaid wages amounting to $250,000. They are also pursuing penalties for labor code violations estimated at another $250,000. In addition to monetary relief, they seek reimbursement for legal costs and attorney fees incurred due to this litigation.
Representing the plaintiffs are attorneys Aidin D. Ghavimi and Zachary David Greenberg from Starpoint LC law firm. The case is presided over by Judge A. Hernandez under Case ID: 24CV450787.