A California farm worker has taken legal action against his former employers, alleging a series of labor law violations that left him underpaid and overworked. Gustavo Hinojosa filed a complaint on December 30, 2024, in the Superior Court of California, County of Ventura, against Premier Berry Farms LLC and Agempleo LLC. The lawsuit claims that these companies failed to pay wages, including minimum and overtime wages, and did not provide legally mandated meal and rest breaks.
Hinojosa's complaint outlines a troubling pattern of alleged labor violations by his employers during his tenure as a line leader from March 2022 until his termination in August 2023. According to the filing, Hinojosa worked over nine hours each day but was only compensated for eight hours daily at an hourly rate of $17.75. He claims he was not paid for approximately 6.25 hours of overtime each week. "Defendants routinely failed to pay Plaintiff for hours worked beyond eight in a day or 40 per week," the complaint states.
The plaintiff further alleges that he was deprived of statutory meal and rest periods throughout his employment. Despite working full-time schedules exceeding five hours daily, Hinojosa asserts he did not receive uninterrupted meal breaks or rest periods as required by California labor laws. The complaint highlights that these practices were systematic and part of broader unfair business practices employed by the defendants.
Hinojosa seeks various forms of relief from the court, including unpaid wages totaling more than $35,000 for minimum wage violations, overtime compensation, missed meal and rest period payments, itemized wage statement penalties, waiting time penalties, and damages for unfair competition under California's Business & Professions Code §17200 et seq. Additionally, he requests injunctive relief compelling the defendants to correct their reporting practices with federal and state authorities regarding employee wages.
Representing Hinojosa is attorney Ramin R. Younessi from the Law Offices of Ramin R. Younessi in Los Angeles. The case is filed under Case No. 2U24CLIQOEDS4999 in front of the Ventura Superior Court.