A group of former and retired Los Angeles police officers have sued the city of Los Angeles, claiming the city wrongly delayed or denied them payment of "banked" comp time.
The banked hours were for overtime work, says the lawsuit filed in Los Angeles federal court.
The wages were "due and payable in their final regular paycheck after resignation or retirement, but Plaintiffs did not receive the money owed in that pay period or even in the following pay period," the suit states. "Indeed, the time in which Defendant delayed in paying the overtime due ranges from seven to approximately sixteen weeks after the date of retirement or resignation."
The city has used a "payroll 'glitch' excuse" for failing to make payments on time, the suit says.
Failing to make payment in a timely manner "does not constitute a defense to its obvious violation of federal law, nor do excuses such a
budget concerns and understaffing," the lawsuit says. "Defendant has delayed the payment of overtime for a period longer than is reasonably necessary for it to compute and arrange for payments of the amounts due."
The suit seeks overtime compensation owed, plus attorney fees and costs.
The plaintiffs are represented by attorney David Deason, of Deason and Archbold, of Newport Beach.
Guzman et al v. City of Los Angeles, U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, 23-cv-08689.