Employee Overtime

New York, NY: (Feb-12-08) The New York Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo brought charges against Yellow Rat Bastard, a trendy apparel retailer based in SoHo, alleging that it had unpaid wages and overtime violations at it facility. Records show that the suit grew out of a lawsuit that Cuomo's predecessor, Eliot Spitzer filed 14 months ago, seeking more than $2 million on the grounds that Yellow Rat Bastard's flagship store in SoHo and its 10 affiliates had repeatedly cheated its employees. The AG's office stated that the lawsuit covers more than 1,000 current and former workers, not just at the flagship store, but also at the chain's other stores in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens. Those stores include Boys and Chicks, Dirty Jane/Sloppy Joe, Rubber Sole, Antique Orange, Tempo, and FAT Jeans and Shoes. The lawsuit accused Yellow Rat Bastard of retaliating against complaining workers by reducing their hours and pay, by demoting them and by firing some of them. Donald Paul, an employee, said he worked 60 to 70 hours many weeks, but was hardly ever paid extra wages for overtime. He said he was often paid $5.25 an hour, even when the state minimum wage was $6.75.

As part of the proceedings in the suit, the company's founder, Henry Ishay, was suspected of hiding assets. Cuomo's office persuaded a state judge to freeze nearly $1 million in bank assets held by Ishay's wife, Alla Levy. Sources close to the case stated that a settlement has been reached in which the retailer agreed to pay $1.4 million to resolve the labor dispute. [NEW YORK TIMES: EMPLOYEE OVERTIME]

Legal Help

If you have a similar problem and would like to be contacted by a lawyer at no cost or obligation, please click the link below.

Please click here for a free evaluation of your claim

Published on Feb-12-08