Eric Gonzalez and Rick Downey have filed a class action lawsuit against Super Micro Computer, Inc., alleging multiple violations of California labor laws. The complaint was filed on November 10, 2025, in the Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara. Gonzalez and Downey claim that Super Micro has engaged in unlawful employment practices by misclassifying employees as exempt from wage and hour laws, leading to unpaid wages and denied meal and rest breaks.
The plaintiffs, Eric Gonzalez and Rick Downey, both former employees of Super Micro Computer, Inc., allege that the company has systematically misclassified them and other similarly situated workers as exempt from overtime pay and other labor protections. According to the complaint, this misclassification resulted in several violations of the California Labor Code. These include failure to pay for all hours worked, failure to provide overtime compensation for hours exceeding eight per day or forty per week, failure to offer legally mandated meal and rest periods, and failure to issue accurate wage statements. The plaintiffs argue that these actions are not only illegal but also part of a broader pattern of unfair business practices under California’s Business & Professions Code.
Gonzalez worked as an Inside Sales Representative from February 2023 to May 2024, while Downey served as a Senior Account Manager from January 2023 to October 2024. Both positions were based in San Jose, California. Despite their roles requiring extensive work beyond standard hours—often exceeding eight hours daily or forty weekly—they were compensated with fixed salaries without due overtime pay. The lawsuit contends that Super Micro’s classification under the “Inside Sales Exemption” is invalid because less than half of their earnings came from commissions.
The plaintiffs seek various forms of relief through this legal action. They demand compensation for unpaid wages, including overtime premiums and penalties for missed meal and rest breaks. Additionally, they request statutory penalties for inaccurate wage statements and waiting time penalties for delayed final payments upon termination. Beyond monetary damages, they also seek injunctive relief to prevent further unlawful practices by Super Micro Computer, Inc., along with attorneys’ fees and litigation costs.
Representing the plaintiffs are attorneys Carolyn H. Cottrell, Ori Edelstein, and Philippe M.J. Gaudard from Schneider Wallace Cottrell Konecky LLP. The case is presided over by Judge M. Arechiga under Case No. 25CV479715.
Source: 25CV479715_Eric_Gonzales_v_Super_Micro_Complaint_County_of_Santa_Clara_California.pdf
