Megan K. Mechak
Thu, 11/03/2022
An Oregon magistrate judge has recommended that three Oregon hemp businesses pay the maximum damages allowed by law to seventeen migrant workers who alleged that the businesses – Westcoast Growers LLC, Topshelf Hemp LLC, Fire Hemp LLC, along with the manager of the three companies – underpaid them and provided unsafe and unsanitary housing.
According to the workers, who filed suit in July 2021, they worked for the hemp farms in October and November 2020. The workers claim the businesses overworked them and withheld their wages, in violation of the federal Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act and state laws. After they filed suit, the companies refused to defend themselves or participate in the lawsuit, and a default judgement was entered against the defendants.
If the magistrate judge’s recommendation is adopted, the workers will receive between $21,000 and $24,500 each, and their attorneys’ fees and costs will be paid. The total amount the companies will owe is $388,000.
The case is Ricardo Ordonez Gregorio et al. v. Colt Jamison Hansen et al., case number 1:21-CV-01078, and is currently pending in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon.
If you believe your employer failed to properly pay you, contact MSE at info@mselaborlaw.com.
