A group of aggrieved employees is taking legal action against two major labor contractors, accusing them of systematic violations of California labor laws. On February 18, 2025, Ismael Villanueva Palafox, Jhonatan Villanueva Palafox, and Juan Manuel Villanueva filed a complaint in the Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara, against Empire Farm Labor Contractor, LLC and Christopher Ranch, LLC. The plaintiffs allege that these companies have failed to uphold their obligations under employment agreements and have violated multiple provisions of the California Labor Code.
The plaintiffs are current and former non-exempt hourly workers employed by the defendants in California. They claim that Empire Farm Labor Contractor and Christopher Ranch engaged in unlawful practices such as terminating employment prematurely, failing to authorize meal and rest breaks as required by law, not compensating for all hours worked including overtime, making unlawful wage deductions, failing to reimburse business expenses incurred for the benefit of the employers, providing inaccurate wage statements, and not paying all wages due upon termination or resignation. The lawsuit highlights a range of grievances from inadequate housing conditions to uncompensated work hours.
According to the complaint, Empire Farm Labor Contractor acts as a staffing agency for agricultural businesses in California while Christopher Ranch is recognized as a leading garlic producer in the United States. The plaintiffs allege that they were hired by these companies for various labor tasks such as picking and packing produce. Despite being promised adequate compensation and working conditions including housing and transportation arrangements from June 10 to December 15, 2024, they claim these promises were not fulfilled. Instead, they faced numerous hardships like being charged for substandard meals and bearing costs related to visa processing without reimbursement.
The plaintiffs seek penalties on behalf of themselves and other aggrieved employees under the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) sections 2699(a) and (f) of the California Labor Code. They demand civil penalties for each violation committed by the defendants regarding unpaid wages upon discharge or resignation as per Cal. Lab. Code §§ 201-202 among others. Additionally, they request reasonable attorneys' fees along with injunctive relief prohibiting further violations by the defendants.
Representing the plaintiffs are attorneys Carolyn Hunt Cottrell (SBN 166977), Ori Edelstein (SBN 268145), and Andrew Weaver (SBN 318935) from Schneider Wallace Cottrell Konecky LLP based in Emeryville, California. The case has been assigned Case No. 25CV459247 at the Superior Court of California in Santa Clara County.