Vincent Rivera, a former employee of a well-known restaurant chain, has filed a lawsuit against his previous employer, alleging multiple violations of California labor laws. The complaint was filed on October 26, 2025, in the Superior Court of California for the County of Sacramento against Pan American Group LLC. Rivera claims that the company failed to adhere to various labor codes concerning wage payments and employee rights.
The lawsuit details Rivera’s employment with Pan American Group LLC from 2023 until April 8, 2025. During this period, he was classified as a non-exempt employee entitled to meal and rest breaks and proper compensation for all hours worked. However, Rivera alleges that the company systematically denied him and other employees these rights. “Defendant requires Plaintiff to work while clocked out during what is supposed to be Plaintiff’s off-duty meal break,” states the complaint. Furthermore, it accuses the company of rounding work hours to its benefit, thereby shortchanging employees on their rightful wages.
Rivera’s allegations extend beyond just unpaid wages. He claims that due to rigorous work schedules imposed by Pan American Group LLC, he and his colleagues were often unable to take legally mandated meal and rest breaks. The complaint also highlights issues with inaccurate wage statements provided by the employer, which allegedly failed to reflect correct gross and net wages earned by employees.
In addition to these grievances, Rivera accuses Pan American Group LLC of not reimbursing business expenses incurred by employees in performing their duties—specifically citing personal cell phone usage required for job-related communications as an example. Under California Labor Code Section 2802, employers are obligated to indemnify employees for such expenses.
The plaintiff seeks civil penalties under the Private Attorney General Act (PAGA) for these alleged violations on behalf of himself and other aggrieved employees who worked for Pan American Group LLC during the specified period. PAGA allows private individuals to pursue civil penalties as representatives of state labor law enforcement agencies when they believe their rights have been violated.
Rivera’s legal representation is provided by Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP—a firm known for handling employment law cases across California. The attorneys listed on the case include Norman B. Blumenthal, Kyle R. Nordrehaug, Nicholas J. De Blouw, Aparajit Bhowmik, and Christine T. LeVu.
The case is identified under Case No.: OSS PO in the Superior Court of California in Sacramento County.
Source: 25CV025709_Vincent_Rivera_v_Pan_America_County_of_Sacramento_California.pdf
