Miguel Hernandez v. So Cal Auto Clinic

Worker Wins $288,000 Settlement for Unpaid Overtime

Miguel Hernandez sued Liberty Healthcare Services, LLC (doing business as So Cal Auto Clinic) claiming the company failed to pay him and other workers proper overtime wages as required by federal law. Hernandez argued that the employer violated the Fair Labor Standards Act by not compensating employees for overtime hours worked.

The court approved a settlement agreement totaling $288,368.31 to resolve the unpaid overtime claims. Individual workers will receive payments based on how many weeks they worked for the company. Hernandez, who represented the group of affected employees, will receive an additional $7,000 service award for bringing the case forward. The settlement also includes $96,122.77 to cover the workers' attorney fees.

This case demonstrates that workers have legal protections when employers fail to pay required overtime. Federal law requires most employees to receive time-and-a-half pay for hours worked beyond 40 in a workweek. When employers violate these rules, workers can band together to file lawsuits and recover back wages. The substantial settlement amount shows courts take wage theft seriously and will hold employers accountable for shortchanging their workers.