Kalia v. The City College of New York

**Worker Wins $48,220 for Unpaid Wages** A food service worker successfully sued their employer for not paying proper wages. The case involved Kalia, who worked for Green Apple 37 Inc. and Green Apple Gourmet Inc., companies that apparently failed to pay required wages and overtime compensation. The court ruled in favor of the worker and awarded $48,220 in total damages. This money included unpaid regular wages, unpaid overtime pay, additional penalty payments, and extra damages meant to punish the employer for breaking wage laws. The companies didn't defend themselves in court, so the judge issued what's called a "default judgment" - essentially an automatic win for the worker. **What this means for workers:** This case shows that employees can successfully fight back when employers don't pay proper wages or overtime. Federal and New York state laws protect workers' right to fair pay, and courts will enforce these protections. If your employer isn't paying you correctly, you may be able to recover not just your missing wages, but also additional penalty money. Workers should keep records of their hours and pay to help prove any wage violations.