Following an investigation by the Long Island district office of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division, Brookhaven Irrigation Corp. and its operator Michael Coggins have been ordered to pay $120,000 in back wages and liquidated damages to 29 current and former employees. The department alleged that the company willfully violated the Fair Labor Standards Act’s (FLSA) overtime pay and recordkeeping provisions from July 2019 to July 2022.
The consent judgment, issued on May 20, 2024, also includes a payment of $10,000 in civil money penalties by Brookhaven Irrigation Corp. and Coggins. These penalties are in addition to the recovered wages being distributed to affected workers.
“The U.S. Department of Labor will not hesitate to pursue legal action to ensure that all employees are compensated as required by law,” stated Regional Solicitor of Labor Jeffrey Rogoff in New York. “This case’s resolution shows employers that not complying with federal wage law can lead to legal action with costly consequences.”
Wage and Hour Division District Director David An emphasized the preventable nature of such violations: “The violations found here were willful and the penalties significant. However, such violations are preventable if employers know and follow the Fair Labor Standards Act’s pay, recordkeeping, and other requirements.”
The case was heard in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York under docket number 2:22-cv-03907-AYS.
For more information about wage laws or assistance with potential claims for back wages, workers can contact the Wage and Hour Division confidentially at 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243). The department offers services in over 200 languages through its toll-free helpline.
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