Attorney General Schwalb today announced that 20/20 Vision, a District-based economic policy research and advocacy firm, will pay over $168,000 in restitution to 21 current and former employees and in penalties to the District as part of a wage theft settlement with the Office of the Attorney General (OAG).
Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb today announced that Ultimate Performance Fitness (UP Fitness), a personal training company, will pay $450,000 to trainers and the District to resolve allegations that the company failed to pay wages owed to trainers and improperly used a commission payment structure. Under the terms of a settlement agreement with the Office of the Attorney General (OAG), UP Fitness will be required to pay $254,190 to over 30 personal trainers who were not compensated for required work time and who were routinely deprived of overtime wages. The company will also be required to pay a penalty of $195,809 to the District, cease its improper use of a commission payment structure for trainers, and ensure that employees receive overtime wages for any hours worked beyond 40 hours per week.
Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb today announced that two companies – cleaning business Commercial Real Estate Consulting Group and drywall contractor T&A Construction – will cumulatively pay more than $193,000 to misclassified DC workers who were deprived of wages and benefits. As part of separate settlements that resolve allegations that these companies failed to comply with the District’s wage and hour laws, the companies will also pay more than $145,000 in civil penalties to the District and will correct their practices to ensure compliance with District law moving forward.
At the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia (OAG), we’re committed to protecting the rights of District workers and ensuring that businesses compete on a level playing field.
Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb today announced that Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. (Chipotle) will pay the District $322,400 and adopt a new, comprehensive training and workplace compliance plan to resolve allegations of District child labor law violations, including hundreds of instances in which Chipotle failed to abide by legal caps on the number of hours minors are allowed to work. Chipotle operates 20 fast-casual restaurants in the District.
Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb today announced a lawsuit against Swahili Village M Street, LLC (Swahili Village DC) and its executive officers, Kevin Onyona and Emad Shoeb, for systematically stealing wages and tips from its servers, hosts, food runners, bussers, and bartenders. The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) alleges, after a lengthy pre-suit investigation, that the defendants engaged in egregious wage theft, paid many workers far less than minimum wage (frequently paying servers as little as $5 per hour, including both wages and tips), failed to pay overtime wages, failed to distribute tips, and failed to provide legally required paid sick leave. In its complaint, OAG details a years-long pattern of wage theft and worker abuse. In addition to injunctive relief, the lawsuit seeks to recover wages owed to restaurant workers, and to impose penalties for legal violations.
Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb today announced that Prestige Drywall, a construction company that operates in the District of Columbia, will pay over $600,000 in restitution to harmed workers and penalties to the District as part of a wage theft settlement with the Office of the Attorney General (OAG). The settlement resolves OAG’s investigation into allegations that Prestige Drywall extensively misclassified workers as independent contractors instead of employees—depriving them of overtime pay, sick leave, and other employment protections and benefits they were lawfully entitled to receive. Under the terms of the settlement, the company will also be barred from doing business in the District of Columbia for five years.
Earlier this week, I met with Vice President Kamala Harris, Dr. Rahul Gupta, Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, and seven other state AGs at the White House to discuss state and federal efforts to address the opioid crisis—a crisis that has caused immense harm in communities across the country and that demands urgent action.
At the Office of the Attorney General (OAG), supporting positive youth development is a priority. Our kids are the heartbeat of our city, so it is essential that we listen to them and amplify their voices, concerns, and ideas.
Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb today announced that Georgetown University (Georgetown) will pay up to $550,000 to resolve allegations that it required staff working in research settings to work unpaid overtime, in violation of District law. Under the agreement, Georgetown will establish a fund through which workers can claim the wages they are legally owed and, going forward, will pay the appropriate overtime to all non-exempt employees.
