In a significant legal development, a former employee has filed a lawsuit against a security company, alleging systemic violations of California labor laws. The complaint was lodged by Jayden Gagnon on February 14, 2025, in the Superior Court of California for the County of Ventura against Archon Protection, Inc. The lawsuit accuses the company of multiple breaches under the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA), seeking civil penalties for various labor code violations.
Jayden Gagnon, who worked as an hourly-paid non-exempt Security Patrol Officer for Archon Protection, Inc., claims that the company engaged in illegal employment practices affecting current and former employees. According to the complaint, these practices include failing to pay minimum and overtime wages, not providing required meal and rest breaks, issuing inaccurate wage statements, and neglecting to reimburse necessary business expenses. "Defendants jointly and severally acted intentionally and with deliberate indifference," alleges Gagnon in his filing. The plaintiff asserts that these actions violate numerous sections of the California Labor Code including §§ 201-204, 210, 218.5, 221, 226(a), among others.
The case hinges on PAGA provisions which allow aggrieved employees to act as private attorneys general on behalf of other affected workers. This legal mechanism enables employees like Gagnon to seek civil penalties for labor code violations that would typically be enforced by state agencies. In this instance, Gagnon's complaint highlights failures by Archon Protection to comply with wage payment regulations and provide legally mandated work breaks. Furthermore, it is alleged that the company did not compensate employees for all hours worked or include non-discretionary bonuses in overtime calculations.
Gagnon's lawsuit seeks several forms of relief from the court. These include civil penalties calculated per violation per employee per pay period as stipulated under PAGA guidelines—ranging from $100 to $250 depending on whether it's an initial or subsequent violation—and reimbursement for unpaid wages and business expenses. Additionally, Gagnon requests coverage of attorney fees and litigation costs incurred during this legal process.
Representing Jayden Gagnon are attorneys Douglas Han, Shunt Tatavos-Gharajeh, and Lily Short from Justice Law Corporation based in Pasadena. The case is identified under Case No. #U25CUO0EUS8296 in Ventura County's Superior Court system.