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Employment Law
Labor Code Violation
Wage and Hour

Alina Ghrdilyan, et al. v. RJ Financial Inc.

Published: Jun. 2, 2012 | Result Date: Apr. 23, 2012 | Filing Date: Jan. 1, 1900 |

Case number: BC430633 Bench Decision –  $366,073

Court

L.A. Superior Central


Attorneys

Plaintiff

David G. Spivak
(The Spivak Law Firm)

Louis Benowitz
(Law Office of Louis Benowitz)


Defendant

F. Michael Sabzevar


Facts

Alina Ghrdilyan and Evgenia Sultanian worked for Romano's Jewelers, a chain of jewelry stores owned by Ramil Abalkhad. Abalkhad exercised direct control over working conditions, including meal periods. Ghrdilyan and the other employee filed suit against Abalkhad and Romano's, individually and on behalf of other aggrieved employees, under the Labor Code Private Attorneys General Act of 2004.

Contentions

PLAINTIFFS' CONTENTIONS:
Plaintiffs alleged violations of overtime, meal period, and minimum wages laws within the California Labor Code. They claimed that Abalkhad underpaid employees for overtime work and minimum wage based on time, attendance, and payroll records.

DEFENDANT'S CONTENTIONS:
Defendant Abalkhad contended that he was not an employer, and thus, could not be held liable.

Result

The court awarded plaintiffs over $366,073 in civil penalties including unpaid wages.


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