Facts

From 2002 to 2005, Alberto Gonzalez, Maria Hernandez, Juan Gonzalez, Jose Castellanos, Seberiano Toto, and Olegario Avila worked for Auto Expert, which performed auto detailing for wholesalers that sold vehicles at an auction facility. They filed an action against AE Auto Enterprises Inc., which did business as Auto Expert, and the owner of the company, Danesh Kumar.

PLAINTIFFS' CONTENTIONS:
Plaintiffs alleged that they worked 16-hour shifts and that defendant owed them overtime, as well as meal and rest periods. Further, they claimed that defendant was the entity that clocked them in and out, and clocked them out early frequently. Also, plaintiffs argued that defendant failed to keep accurate records, which did not properly show their actual hours worked. They claimed that their immigration status was irrelevant.

DEFENDANT'S CONTENTIONS:
Defendant argued that plaintiffs were undocumented workers who were not entitled to wages. Defendant asserted the "unclean hands" defense, claiming that plaintiffs gave defendant false documents of work authorization. Last, defendant claimed that it had accurate records of worked hours.

Result

The court awarded plaintiffs $209,394.65, and $212,820.86 in attorney fees and costs. Thus, the total award equaled $422,215.51.