Thursday, March 26, 2009

Los Angeles County Sued by Probation Officers for Wage and Hour Violations in Law Suit filed by Schonbrun DeSimone.

On March 25, 2009, a Federal Court lawsuit was filed by Timothy Bentley on behalf of himself and all Los Angeles County Probation Officers alleging that he worked overtime hours without getting paid. The lawsuit seeks injunctive relief to stop the County from engaging in this unlawful practice and monetary compensation. Timothy Bentley seeks unpaid wages and injunctive relief on behalf of himself and other probation officers employed by Los Angeles County. Schonbrun DeSimone Seplow Harris & Hoffman, LLP filed the lawsuit on behalf of Mr. Bentley.

Los Angeles CA (PRWEB) March 26, 2009 -- On March 25, 2009, a Federal Court lawsuit filed by Timothy Bentley on behalf of himself and all Los Angeles County Probation Officers alleging that he worked overtime hours without getting paid. The lawsuit seeks injunctive relief to stop the County from engaging in this unlawful practice and monetary compensation. Mr. Bentley is represented by noted civil rights law firm Schonbrun DeSimone Seplow Harris & Hoffman, LLP.

"The probation officers are essential to the County's ability to deter crime. Yet, the County requires many officers to maintain more than double the standard case load, leading to unreasonable hours without pay. We believe this violates the law."

The probation officers are essential to the County's ability to deter crime. Yet, the County requires many officers to maintain more than double the standard case load, leading to unreasonable hours without pay. We believe this violates the law.
Today, March 25, 2009, Timothy Bentley, a 17-year veteran Probation Officer for the Los Angeles County Probation Department, filed a Collective Action Law Suit in Federal Court on behalf of himself and other similarly situated probation officers for overtime wages owed under the Fair Labor Standards Act. Under this federal law, employees may sue collectively, providing them with a mechanism for legal recourse similar to class action law suits.

The lawsuit, filed today in Los Angeles (Timothy Bentley v. County of Los Angeles, Central District of California, Case No. CV09 2063 JSL (CWK)), alleges that Los Angeles County failed to pay overtime wages to its Probation Officers within the Suitable Placement Division for the past three years. The complaint seeks both a preliminary injunction to stop the County from its unlawful practice as well as monetary damages for all employees covered under the law suit.

The lawsuit states, "In order for Plaintiff to reasonably manage his caseload without having to work overtime, he should have had approximately 30 to 40 cases. Between October 2006 and November 2007, Plaintiff had a case load between approximately 70 to 90 active cases. The Probation Department, makes it a practice to overload its PO's with so many cases that it is impossible for a PO to accomplish their job duties without working substantial overtime. Thus, Plaintiff and other PO's spend considerable hours working overtime at home, after work hours and on the weekends to keep up with their caseload. Yet, the Probation Department does not pay these PO's for the overtime they worked."

V. James DeSimone of Schonbrun DeSimone Seplow Harris & Hoffman, LLP, attorneys for Mr. Bentley said: "The probation officers are essential to the County's ability to deter crime. Yet, the County requires many officers to maintain more than double the standard case load, leading to unreasonable hours without pay. We believe this violates the law."

For Additional Information Contact:
V. James DeSimone
Schonbrun DeSimone Seplow Harris & Hoffman LLP
(310) 396-0731
www.losangelesemploymentlawyer.com

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[Via Legal / Law]

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