$12.9 Million Awarded to Casual Longshoremen for Uncompensated Work Time
Longshoremen Urged to Come Forward to Claim Their Money
Southern California - - August 29, 2006 - - The case of Wisniewski v. PMA was initially filed by the law firm of Mower, Carreon and Desai, LLP on April 1, 2003 as a class action brought on behalf of all casual longshoremen in the State of California to recover unpaid and unlawfully withheld wages.The Defendant, Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) is an organization of steamship, stevedoring and terminal companies employing casual longshoremen and doing business along the Pacific Coast. Plaintiffs action was brought on behalf of those non-union longshoremen, also classified as identified casuals and unidentified casuals, who worked in the California from April 1, 1999 to June 16, 2006.
The case relates to denied compensation for travel time from dispatch halls to the docks and illegal deductions of time from the paychecks of casual longshoremen. “Although the travel time issue encompassed the biggest damage component, it was the slashing of time from these non-union payrolls that agitated me and got me into the case. The slashing issue was the original issue brought to me by the longshoremen,” said Patrick Carreon.
With the assistance of Judge Irving’s proposal, a settlement figure of $12,946,413.00 was reached. Plaintiff’s counsel urges all longshoremen to claim their money. Although rumors have been spread to the contrary, this was not a case against the union. In fact, the union has always supported the casuals’ case. It should also be noted that part of the court order specifically bars PMA or any PMA Member Company from retaliating against longshoremen exercising their right to submit a claim in this case.
Contact information:
Patrick Carreon
Phone: 949-474-3004
E-mail: carreon@mocalaw.com
Additional Details Regarding this Case Available Here:
http://mmdnewswire.com/content/view/546/26/
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