Corley v. East Baton Rouge Parish School Board

**Restaurant Workers Win Big in Wage Theft Case** A group of restaurant workers sued Asian Moon Restaurant Corp. for not paying them properly. The workers claimed the restaurant violated federal and New York state wage laws by failing to pay minimum wage and overtime compensation they were legally owed. The court ruled completely in favor of the workers through what's called a "default judgment" - meaning the restaurant company failed to properly defend itself in court. The judge awarded the workers a total of $182,707.22 in damages, plus additional interest that continues to grow after the judgment. This case shows that workers have powerful legal tools to fight wage theft. The substantial damage award demonstrates that employers can face serious financial consequences for not following wage and hour laws. The case involved violations of both federal law (Fair Labor Standards Act) and state labor laws, showing workers can often pursue claims under multiple legal protections. For restaurant workers and others in similar situations, this ruling reinforces that courts will enforce wage laws and award meaningful compensation when employers fail to pay what workers are legally owed. Workers who suspect wage violations should know they have legal rights worth pursuing.