Post by portofconfusion on Oct 28, 2008 14:54:09 GMT -5
Daily Breeze
Port of L.A. Trucking Companies Sued Over Workers Comp
10/27/2008
Three small trucking companies operating at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach were sued Monday for allegedly violating disability and workers' compensation laws, according to the state Attorney General's Office.
Guasimal Trucking, Moreno Trucking and Edmund Jose Lira are accused of listing their drivers as independent contractors, when the truckers were actually employees who worked for up to 60 hours per week, according to the suit filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court.
The move allowed the companies to avoid paying disability and workers' compensation benefits to the drivers. Two similar lawsuits were filed last month by the Attorney General's Office.
A woman who picked up the phone at La Mirada-based Moreno Trucking declined to discuss the suit. Lira and Guasimal Trucking could not be reached for comment.
"These companies take advantage of their workers by failing to provide them with state-mandated protections and benefits," Attorney General Jerry Brown said in a written statement.
"Truck drivers at the ports work long hours under tough conditions," he said. "By unlawfully classifying workers as `independent contractors,' these companies deny their employees important worker protections."
Port of L.A. Trucking Companies Sued Over Workers Comp
10/27/2008
Three small trucking companies operating at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach were sued Monday for allegedly violating disability and workers' compensation laws, according to the state Attorney General's Office.
Guasimal Trucking, Moreno Trucking and Edmund Jose Lira are accused of listing their drivers as independent contractors, when the truckers were actually employees who worked for up to 60 hours per week, according to the suit filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court.
The move allowed the companies to avoid paying disability and workers' compensation benefits to the drivers. Two similar lawsuits were filed last month by the Attorney General's Office.
A woman who picked up the phone at La Mirada-based Moreno Trucking declined to discuss the suit. Lira and Guasimal Trucking could not be reached for comment.
"These companies take advantage of their workers by failing to provide them with state-mandated protections and benefits," Attorney General Jerry Brown said in a written statement.
"Truck drivers at the ports work long hours under tough conditions," he said. "By unlawfully classifying workers as `independent contractors,' these companies deny their employees important worker protections."