In a compelling legal battle that highlights significant employment law issues, a former employee has taken legal action against her previous employer, alleging numerous violations of the California Labor Code. Veronica Lisa Mendez filed a representative complaint on January 6, 2025, in the Superior Court of California, County of Ventura, against Private National Mortgage Acceptance Company, LLC, doing business as PennyMac.
Mendez's lawsuit is brought under the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA), allowing her to act on behalf of herself and other similarly situated employees. The complaint accuses PennyMac of failing to adhere to various labor laws including not paying minimum wages and overtime, denying lawful meal and rest periods, and not reimbursing necessary expenses. According to Mendez's allegations, these practices have affected many non-exempt employees in California during their tenure with the company. The plaintiff claims that PennyMac's policies led to "failure to pay minimum wages; failure to pay overtime owed; failure to provide lawful meal periods; failure to authorize and permit rest periods," among other violations.
Mendez worked for PennyMac from May 2014 through July 2024 in roles such as Servicing Finance QA Specialist and Claims Processor. She asserts that she regularly worked over 40 hours per week without receiving appropriate compensation for overtime or being provided proper meal breaks. Her complaint also mentions systemic issues like time-shaving practices where employee hours were rounded down unfairly and workers were required to perform tasks off-the-clock without pay.
The lawsuit details how PennyMac allegedly violated several sections of the California Labor Code including sections 204 (timely payment of wages), 226 (accurate wage statements), and 512 (meal periods). It further alleges that employees were not reimbursed for work-related expenses such as cell phone usage and home internet costs incurred while working remotely. Mendez contends that these practices were knowingly implemented by PennyMac despite their awareness of California’s stringent labor laws.
Through this PAGA action, Mendez seeks civil penalties for these alleged infractions on behalf of herself and other aggrieved employees. She demands compensation for unpaid wages, interest on those amounts, statutory penalties under various sections of the Labor Code, reimbursement for expenses incurred due to employment duties, as well as attorney fees and costs associated with bringing this action forward.
Representing Mendez are attorneys James R. Hawkins and Christina M. Lucio from James Hawkins APLC based in Irvine, California. The case is assigned Case No. 2025 CIIMEOS Fo42 in the Ventura County Superior Court.