Blocked A Rancho Santa Fe Company From Cheating California’s Workers’ Compensation System. Attorney General Brown filed a lawsuit to stop the Contractors Asset Protection Association, Inc. (ConAPA) from engaging in a “sophisticated and fraudulent scheme” to cheat the state workers’ compensation system. Under this scheme, ConAPA marketed and advertised an unlawful business plan urging employers to misclassify rank-and-file employees as “corporate officers” and issue them nominal shares of company stock so as to avoid paying workers’ compensation insurance premiums. (“Attorney General Brown Sues to Block Fraudulent Workers’ Comp. Scheme,” Press Release, 2/25/09)

Sued Bakersfield-Based Construction Company For Cruelly And Illegally Violating The Rights Of Its Workers. Attorney General Brown filed a lawsuit to recover $4.13 million in lost wages, benefits and penalties from a drywall contractor who “cruelly and illegally” violated the rights of its workers by prohibiting them from taking rest breaks, denying overtime pay and forcing them to work without safety equipment. The lawsuit, filed against Bakersfield-based Charles Evleth Construction, alleges that because the firm did not pay its workers a fair wage or pay state taxes, Evleth had an unfair advantage over its competitors and could underbid them for jobs. (“Attorney General Brown Sues Bakersfield Contractor for Violating Rights of Workers,” Press Release, 1/22/09)

Sued Three Trucking Companies For Ongoing Worker Abuse At California’s Busiest Ports. In an ongoing crackdown on worker abuses at California’s two busiest ports, Attorney General Brown sued three trucking companies operating at the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles that deny their workers benefits and protections entitled to them under state workers’ compensation and disability laws. The three trucking companies misrepresent their workers as independent contractors to avoid paying state-mandated workers’ compensation and other disability benefits. (“Attorney General Brown Sues Three Trucking Companies in Ongoing Worker Abuse Crackdown at Los Angeles and Long Beach Ports,” Press Release, 10/27/08)

Cracked Down On Two Trucking Companies Engaged In Cost-Cutting Schemes Designed To Take Advantage Of Workers And Avoid State Taxes. Attorney General Brown announced a crackdown on trucking companies operating at the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles that abuse their workers by denying them protections under state workers’ compensation, disability and minimum wage laws. These companies engage in cost-cutting schemes that take advantage of their workers and avoid California taxes. They unlawfully classify their workers as “independent contractors,” circumventing state employment taxes and labor laws that guarantee workers compensation and disability benefit and the right to a minimum wage. (“Attorney General Brown Cracks Down on Worker Abuses at Long Beach and Los Angeles Ports,” Press Release, 9/05/08)

Sued One Of California’s Largest Drywall Contractors, For Cheating Hundreds Of Its Employees Out Of Millions In Wages And Benefits. Attorney General Brown sued Interwall Development Systems, one of Los Angeles’s largest drywall contractors, for employing a “sophisticated and heartless scheme” to cheat hundreds of its employees out of at least $5 million in wages and benefits. Brown’s lawsuit alleges that Interwall denied overtime pay, did not provide itemized wage statements, and did not allow its employees to take breaks during afternoon shifts. (“Brown Sues Contractor For Employee Rip-off,” Press Release, 1/14/08)

• Announced A $1.4 Settlement For Drywall Workers. Attorney General Brown announced a settlement with Interwall that will award $1.4 million in restitution to employees who were forced to work overtime and through state-mandated rest breaks without being fully compensated for their work. Approximately 400 employees were affected by the company’s practices. (“Attorney General Brown Announces $1.4 Million Restitution Settlement for Drywall Workers,” Press Release, 9/04/08)

Sued Two Janitorial Companies For Flagrant Worker Abuse And Violations Of Basic Wage And Hour Laws. Attorney General Brown and California Labor Commissioner Angela Bradstreet sued two janitorial companies for exploiting their employees and committing "flagrant violations" of California's basic wage and hour laws. California alleges that the janitorial companies, Excell Cleaning & Building Services and MO Restaurant Cleaning Services, paid below minimum wage, did not pay overtime, denied rest and meal breaks and did not provide itemized wage statements. (“Brown Sues Janitorial Companies For Exploiting Workers,” Press Release, 12/19/07)

Sued A Los Angeles Drywall Contractor For Unlawfully Exploiting Its Workers. Attorney General Brown sued the Brinas Corporation, a Los Angeles drywall contractor that unlawfully forced its employees to work without the benefit of legally mandated conditions. Investigators found that the company engaged in flagrantly unlawful business practices to slash labor costs and underbid competition. (“Brown Sues Drywall Contractor For Exploiting Workers,” Press Release, 11/01/07)

Sued A Southern California Corporation That Trained Construction Companies To Violate Workers' Compensation Laws. Attorney General Brown sued PacifiStaff, a Southern California corporation that trained construction companies to violate workers' compensation laws by the use of “fake corporations with phantom executives.” The California Department of Justice opened an investigation into PacifiStaff after receiving reports that a growing number of Southern California construction companies were starting to drop workers' compensation for their construction workforce. (“Brown Sues Employer Consultants for Worker Exploitation Scheme,” Press Release, 11/06/07)