CWS 3.0: August 28, 2013

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Claims Prompt $665,000 in Sanctions for IC Case

A complaint along with claims of misclassification as independent contractors prompted the California Labor Commissioner to ultimately deliver $664,764 in sanctions to a Sacramento, Calif., landscaping business, the California Department of Industrial Relations reported.

The sanctions were against Michael Mello, owner of Green Valley Landscaping Services, according to the department. The sanctions included $338,176 for minimum wage violations, $169,088 in unpaid overtime and $157,500 for failure to provide itemized wage statements.

Green Valley had a workforce of up to 43 employees but reported less than 10 employees on its payroll, according to the department. An investigation later found the other workers were misclassified as independent contractors.