Maria Garcia, a former employee of a California-based transportation company, has taken legal action against her former employer for a slew of alleged labor violations. On April 8, 2025, Garcia filed a class and representative action complaint in the Superior Court of California, County of Ventura, targeting Fillmore Area Transit Corporation. The lawsuit accuses the company of numerous infractions under California's labor laws, affecting not only Garcia but also other similarly situated employees.
The complaint alleges that Fillmore Area Transit Corporation systematically denied its employees their rightful meal and rest breaks as mandated by Labor Code §§ 226.7, 512, and 558. According to the filing, employees were often required to work through these breaks to meet the company's operational needs without receiving the legally required premium wages for missed breaks. "Plaintiff and Defendant’s California employees were forced to continue working through their meal and rest breaks," states the complaint. Furthermore, Garcia claims that she and her colleagues were compelled to work off-the-clock hours without compensation, violating Labor Code §§ 510 and 1194 regarding overtime pay.
Garcia's lawsuit also highlights issues with wage statements provided by Fillmore Area Transit Corporation. The company allegedly failed to furnish accurate itemized wage statements as required by Labor Code § 226(a), resulting in discrepancies in gross wages earned and total hours worked. This lack of transparency extended to final wages at termination; according to Garcia, these were not paid within the timeframe stipulated by Labor Code §§ 201-203.
In addition to seeking unpaid wages and penalties for these alleged violations, Garcia is pursuing reimbursement for business expenses incurred while performing job duties—expenses that should have been covered under Labor Code § 2802. The lawsuit also invokes Business & Professions Code § 17200 for unfair competition due to these unlawful practices.
The plaintiff is asking the court for several forms of relief: compensatory damages including lost wages and benefits; penalties for each violation; attorney's fees; costs of suit; prejudgment interest; and any further relief deemed just by the court. The case underscores ongoing concerns about labor rights enforcement in industries reliant on hourly workers.
Representing Maria Garcia is Roman Otkupman from Otkupman Law Firm, A Law Corporation. The case is being heard in front of Ventura Superior Court with Case ID: CASENO. 2OU2SCIUIDEO0417%2Fr.