Secretary of Labor, United States Department of Labor v. Valley Wide Plastering Construction Incorporated

**Labor Department Case Against Construction Company Gets Dismissed** The U.S. Department of Labor sued Valley Wide Plastering Construction Incorporated, claiming the company violated federal wage and hour laws. The government alleged the construction company engaged in wage theft and broke Fair Labor Standards Act rules, which govern minimum wage, overtime pay, and other worker protections. However, the court dismissed the case in July 2022. This means the judge threw out the lawsuit without ruling in favor of either side. The court records don't specify why the case was dismissed or whether any workers received back pay. **What This Means for Workers:** While this particular case didn't result in penalties for the employer, it shows that the Department of Labor actively investigates wage theft complaints in the construction industry. Workers should know that even when government cases get dismissed, it doesn't necessarily mean the employer did nothing wrong - cases can be dismissed for various procedural reasons. Construction workers who believe they're not being paid properly should still report violations to the Department of Labor. They can also file their own lawsuits for unpaid wages, regardless of whether a government case succeeds or fails.