A collective legal action has been initiated by a group of ex-employees against British construction company Balfour Beatty and its subcontractor, the Fairfax, Virginia-based C.J. Coakley Co. The legal complaint, lodged on March 5, accuses Coakley of not paying the plaintiffs correctly while they were working on a residential building project in Arlington, Virginia’s National Landing, developed by JBG Smith from Bethesda, Maryland, with Balfour Beatty as the main contractor.
Legal Details
The legal claim highlights that the plaintiffs, hired by Coakley and another builder, Colmex Contracting (which is not a party to the lawsuit), faced delays in receiving their wages, a problem that became more pronounced after December 1, 2023. The lawsuit contends that they were sometimes not paid at all.
The lawsuit accuses the defendants of breaching various labor laws, including the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act and several Virginia state wage laws, particularly concerning unpaid overtime wages. The plaintiffs claim they did not receive overtime pay despite working over 40 hours a week and also allege that they have not been compensated for a week’s work in February.
Furthermore, the lawsuit alleges that Balfour Beatty was aware of the payment discrepancies, citing an incident on February 9 where a worker informed a Balfour Beatty manager about Colmex’s failure to pay its employees.
The lawsuit is structured as a class action to enable other former employees in similar circumstances to join. It is claimed that over 40 employees could be in a similar situation.
Lawsuit Response
Responding to the allegations, a Balfour Beatty spokesperson stated that the affected employees were hired by a secondary subcontractor under C.J. Coakley Co. and emphasized the company’s expectation for all subcontractors to adhere to legal and contractual obligations.
While the lawsuit mentions that Coakley considered the plaintiffs as part of its workforce, providing them with necessary tools and equipment, Coakley has not commented on the allegations. Similarly, Colmex Contractors has not responded to requests for comment.
The plaintiffs are seeking compensation for unpaid regular and overtime wages, plus interest, along with any additional penalties or awards determined by the court.
