US Department of Labor sues Chicago security company, owner after investigation finds employer misclassified guards, violated wage laws

Summary:

The U.S. Department of Labor has filed a lawsuit against American Public Defense Inc. and its owner, Lewis Brown, to recover $473,212 in back wages and damages. The investigation found that the company misclassified guards as independent contractors, illegally deducted fines from workers' pay, and failed to pay minimum wage and overtime. The company also failed to issue payroll checks and denied benefits to employees. This is not the first time the company has been found to be in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act, having been previously investigated twice. The lawsuit seeks to recover minimum wages and overtime back wages owed to 275 employees.