In a significant legal move, a former employee has taken on a hospitality staffing company, alleging violations of labor laws that could impact numerous workers. On October 30, 2025, Francis Bello filed a class action complaint in the Superior Court of California for the County of Sacramento against Tharaldson Hospitality Staffing, LLC. The lawsuit accuses the company of unfair competition and failing to provide legally mandated meal and rest periods among other claims.
Francis Bello, who worked as a night auditor at Homewood Suites by Hilton Rancho Cordova Sacramento from July 12, 2024, until his resignation on August 24, 2025, claims that Tharaldson Hospitality Staffing maintained illegal policies affecting meal and rest breaks and failed to reimburse employees for work-related expenses. Bello alleges that these practices violate several sections of the California Labor Code and Business and Professions Code. Specifically, the complaint highlights how employees were required to sign on-duty meal period agreements despite their work allowing for off-duty breaks. Additionally, Bello asserts that employees were made to remain on duty during their shifts without proper compensation for missed breaks.
The lawsuit outlines several causes of action including unfair competition under Business & Professions Code § 17200 et seq., non-provision of meal and rest periods per Labor Code § 226.7, failure to indemnify according to Labor Code § 2802, waiting time penalties under Labor Code § 203, and wage statement penalties as per Labor Code § 226. Bello argues that these violations have resulted in unpaid wages and statutory penalties owed to him and other similarly situated employees.
Bello seeks various forms of relief from the court including damages, restitution for unpaid wages, injunctive relief to prevent further violations by Tharaldson Hospitality Staffing, declaratory relief affirming the rights of affected employees under California law, statutory penalties for each violation cited in the complaint, pre-judgment interest on any awarded amounts, post-judgment interest if applicable, costs associated with bringing the suit forward such as attorney’s fees, and any additional relief deemed appropriate by the court.
Representing Bello is Louis Benowitz from Benowitz Law Corporation based in West Hollywood. The case has been assigned Case No. 2S O2BO081 in front of the Superior Court of California for Sacramento County.
Source: 25CV026061_Francis_Bello_v_Tharaldson_Hospitality_County_of_Sacramento_California.pdf
