In a significant legal move, a former employee has filed a lawsuit against a prominent educational corporation, alleging multiple violations of California labor laws. The complaint was filed by Cari Blain on December 10, 2024, in the Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara, targeting Spring Education Group, Inc., and Leport Solana Beach LLC.
The case unfolds with Cari Blain representing herself and other aggrieved employees under the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA), seeking to recover civil penalties for alleged violations of the California Labor Code. Blain worked as an administrative assistant at one of the defendant's schools in Solana Beach from June 2023 to August 2024. She claims that during her employment, she and others were subjected to unlawful labor practices such as unpaid minimum and overtime wages due to automatic deductions and time rounding policies. "Defendants failed to compensate Plaintiff and Aggrieved Employees for all hours worked," the complaint states.
Blain accuses the defendants of failing to provide legally compliant meal and rest periods, which resulted in employees working through breaks without proper compensation. The complaint details instances where employees were pressured into taking non-compliant breaks or skipping them entirely due to understaffing or job demands. Additionally, it alleges that wage statements issued by the defendants were inaccurate, failing to reflect true hours worked or correct pay rates.
The plaintiff seeks judgment for civil penalties on behalf of herself and other affected employees, alongside reasonable attorney fees and costs. The lawsuit also calls for reimbursement of business expenses incurred by employees who had to use personal devices for work-related tasks without adequate compensation.
Representing Cari Blain are attorneys Jamie K. Serb, Brandon Brouillette, and Zachary M. Crosner from Crosner Legal PC. The case is presided over by Judge J. Nguyen under Case ID 24CV453685.