A Gallup couple claimed a major legal victory this month after a judge ordered their former employer to pay them more than $116,000 in damages in connection with unpaid wages.
Eleventh Judicial District Judge Robert A. Aragon ordered The 505 Burgers Farmington LLC and Morgan Newsom to pay $116,534 in back wages, interest and penalties to the couple, Jose and Sandra Olivas, following a legal battle that spanned more than two years.
Part of that payment includes nearly $62,000 due to an enforcement rule in the state’s Minimum Wage Act.
At a Wednesday news conference about the ruling at the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solution’s Gallup office, Somos Un Pueblo Unido, a workers’ rights organization, announced the launch of a new initiative aimed at getting workers in the state to speak up on wage theft.
“I think this ruling and the work that DWS did in investigating this case and taking it to trial is really a wake up call for employers,” Somos Un Pueblo Unido Attorney Gabriela Ibañez Guzmán told the Journal.
Newsom did not respond to messages requesting comment.
Years-long dispute
The Olivases’ dispute with Newsom and his restaurant arose more than five years ago when the couple worked for him at his Gallup restaurant, The 505 Burgers & Wings, according to Aragon’s order, which was filed Aug. 4. The couple temporarily moved to Farmington to help Newsom open a new restaurant there.
The Olivases said they submitted time cards to Newsom showing they worked 1,680 hours...
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