Alma Vargas, a former employee of Life, Inc., has filed a lawsuit against her former employer alleging numerous violations of labor laws and wrongful termination. The complaint was filed on March 5, 2025, in the Superior Court of California, County of Ventura. The defendants named in the case include Life, Inc., Lillian Bruce, Shaun Bruce, and fifty unnamed individuals referred to as Does.
The lawsuit outlines a series of allegations against Life, Inc., a caregiving agency based in Camarillo, California. Alma Vargas claims that during her employment with the company from November 2023 to August 2024, she witnessed and experienced numerous unlawful practices. Initially hired as a caregiver at $23 per hour and later promoted to supervisor with an increased wage of $25 per hour due to her excellent performance, Vargas alleges that she was subjected to various illegal activities orchestrated by the defendants.
According to the complaint, Lillian Bruce allegedly locked elderly clients in their rooms for extended periods while neglecting their care needs. This negligence reportedly led to several clients suffering from urinary tract infections due to inadequate assistance with basic needs. Despite raising concerns about these practices with Lillian Bruce, Vargas claims her complaints were dismissed and ignored.
Vargas also accuses Life, Inc. of failing to pay proper wages for overtime work and not providing meal or rest breaks as required by law. She states that she regularly worked over 53 hours per week without appropriate compensation for overtime or additional hours worked off the clock. Furthermore, she alleges that inaccurate wage statements were provided by the company.
The plaintiff's complaints extend beyond wage issues; she also accuses the defendants of retaliatory actions following her reports of elder abuse and unsafe working conditions to Ventura County Human Services Agency’s Department of Adult Protective Services. After making these reports in August 2024, Vargas claims she faced demotion back to caregiver status with reduced pay and hours—actions she views as retaliatory measures designed to force her resignation.
In response to these grievances, Alma Vargas is seeking general damages for lost earnings and emotional distress caused by the alleged misconduct. She also requests punitive damages against the defendants for their willful disregard of employee rights under California law. Additionally, Vargas seeks injunctive relief preventing Life, Inc., from continuing its alleged unlawful business practices along with statutory penalties under various sections of the Labor Code.
Representing Alma Vargas are attorneys Angel D. Pluas and Christopher J. DeClue from Milon Pluas LLP based in Pasadena, California. The case is identified under Case No.: 2O2S CLV OS 9460 in Ventura Superior Court.