James A. Guillory has filed a lawsuit against Golden Corral Corporation and Corral Lake Charles, LLC, alleging violations of labor laws. The complaint was submitted to the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana on October 31, 2024. Guillory accuses his former employers of failing to pay regular and overtime wages in accordance with the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
The lawsuit details Guillory's employment at Golden Corral Buffet & Grill in Lake Charles, Louisiana, beginning June 7, 2022. Initially employed by Golden Corral Corporation, ownership transitioned to Corral Lake Charles around August 11, 2023. Guillory claims that throughout his tenure, he routinely worked over forty hours per week but was compensated for significantly fewer hours due to alleged time manipulation by General Manager Durnell Knippers. According to the complaint, Knippers forced African American employees like Guillory to work off the clock and altered time records to reduce reported hours worked. This practice allegedly deprived Guillory of due wages from October 2022 until his discharge on May 8, 2024.
Guillory argues that these actions were deliberate attempts by Knippers to lower labor costs and increase her performance bonuses. The complaint asserts that both defendants knowingly violated labor laws by permitting such practices under their respective management periods. Guillory seeks compensation for lost wages along with liquidated damages and other statutory reliefs as permitted under the FLSA.
In addition to financial restitution, Guillory requests reasonable attorney’s fees, pre-judgment and post-judgment interest at the highest rates allowed by law, costs including expert fees, injunctive relief against further violations, and any other equitable relief deemed appropriate by the court. The case will be heard before a jury as demanded by the plaintiff.
Representing James A. Guillory are attorneys James E. Sudduth III and Kourtney L. Kech from Sudduth & Associates LLC based in Lake Charles, Louisiana. The case is filed under Civil Action No. 2:23-cv-01497 in front of an unnamed judge.