Ana Alvarez, a former employee of a prominent restaurant franchise, has taken legal action against her previous employers, alleging widespread violations of labor laws. The complaint was filed on January 15, 2025, in the Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara. Alvarez accuses Angel City Bell, LLC and its associated entities of failing to comply with multiple provisions of the California Labor Code.
The lawsuit initiated by Ana Alvarez claims that the defendants, including Angel City Bell and Diversified Restaurant Group (DRG), have engaged in systemic illegal employment practices. These alleged violations include failure to pay overtime wages as required by Labor Code §§ 510 and 1198, failure to provide compliant meal and rest periods under Labor Code §§ 226.7 and 512, and not furnishing accurate wage statements per Labor Code § 226(a). Alvarez asserts that these practices have deprived her and other similarly situated employees of due wages for their work at Taco Bell locations operated by DRG across several states.
Alvarez details numerous grievances in her complaint. She alleges that she was routinely denied proper meal breaks and was often required to work through designated rest periods without compensation. "Defendants did not compensate their hourly non-exempt employees for all overtime," she states in the filing. Additionally, Alvarez claims that bonuses were not factored into the calculation of her regular rate of pay for overtime purposes, resulting in further financial loss. The lawsuit seeks class-action status on behalf of all affected employees over the past four years who worked under similar conditions.
In terms of relief sought from the court, Alvarez is requesting compensatory damages for unpaid wages along with penalties under various sections of the California Labor Code. She also demands restitution for unfair business practices as defined by Business & Professions Code § 17200 et seq., alongside attorney fees and costs incurred during litigation. Furthermore, Alvarez seeks an injunction against the defendants to prevent future violations and an audit to determine any additional amounts owed to current or former employees.
Representing Ana Alvarez are attorneys Marcus J. Bradley, Kiley L. Grombacher, Corey S. Smith, and Kasra B. Ramez from Bradley/Grombacher LLP law firm based in Westlake Village, CA. The case is being reviewed by Judge J. Nguyen under Case No: 25CV456633.