Felipe de Jesus Avila-Soto, Felipe de Jesus Suarez-Palafox, and Juan Alejo Hernandez-Canela have filed a class-action lawsuit against two Louisiana-based companies, alleging severe labor violations. Filed on October 10, 2024, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, the complaint accuses South Central Sugar Cane Growers’ Association, Inc., and Sterling Sugars, LLC of exploiting foreign truck drivers brought to the U.S. under false pretenses.
The plaintiffs claim that they were misled into coming to the United States on H-2A visas meant for agricultural workers but were instead employed as non-agricultural heavy tractor-trailer truck drivers. This alleged deception allowed the defendants to bypass wage regulations and avoid paying higher wages required for non-agricultural work. The plaintiffs argue that this violates both federal and state laws, including the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and the Louisiana Wage Payment Act (LWPA). "Defendants obtained our labor under false representations," states the complaint, emphasizing how they were promised agricultural work but ended up driving trucks for a sugar mill.
The lawsuit further alleges that over 150 Mexican truck drivers have been similarly affected since 2022. The plaintiffs accuse the defendants of failing to pay minimum wages by not reimbursing costs such as specialized driver’s licenses and travel expenses incurred for their benefit. They also claim they were denied overtime pay despite regularly working more than 40 hours per week. According to the complaint, "Defendants breached their employment contracts by failing to comply with federal and state laws related to employment."
The plaintiffs are seeking monetary damages, including unpaid wages and liquidated damages under FLSA provisions. They also demand statutory damages under LWPA along with pre- and post-judgment interest and attorneys' fees. Additionally, they seek declaratory relief to prevent future violations by these companies.
Representing the plaintiffs are attorneys Daniel Davis from Estes Davis Law in Baton Rouge, Dawson Morton from Berkeley, California, and James M. Knoepp from Columbia, South Carolina. The case is filed under Case No.: 6:24-cv-01392 before an unnamed judge in the Western District of Louisiana.