In a significant legal move, the State of California has taken action against a Delaware-based environmental remediation company for alleged labor violations. On October 23, 2025, Flabio Hernandez filed a complaint in the Superior Court of California, County of Sacramento, against P.W. Stephens Environmental, Inc., citing numerous breaches of California’s labor laws.
The case revolves around accusations that P.W. Stephens Environmental failed to adhere to various provisions of the California Labor Code. The plaintiff, Flabio Hernandez, acting as a Private Attorney General on behalf of the State and other aggrieved employees, alleges that the company engaged in unfair business practices by not paying overtime compensation and failing to provide required meal and rest periods. The complaint outlines a series of grievances including failure to pay minimum wage, timely wages upon termination or resignation, accurate wage statements, and necessary reimbursements for business-related expenses. Additionally, it accuses the company of not providing essential amenities like potable water and handwashing materials.
Hernandez claims these violations were part of an ongoing scheme where employees were often required to work off-the-clock without compensation. He asserts that time rounding practices were employed systematically to underpay workers for both regular and overtime hours worked. “Defendants routinely failed to authorize and permit Mr. Hernandez and the Aggrieved Employees to take duty-free rest periods,” states the complaint.
The lawsuit is filed under the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA), which allows employees to file lawsuits for labor code violations on behalf of themselves and other employees. This representative action seeks civil penalties from P.W. Stephens Environmental for its alleged transgressions against labor laws protecting hourly-paid or non-exempt employees like Hernandez who worked as a Remediation Specialist from September 2024 until April 25, 2025.
The plaintiff seeks judgment for statutory attorneys’ fees and costs under Section 2699(g)(1) of the California Labor Code alongside civil penalties pursuant to several sections including 210, 558, 226 among others cited within the code’s provisions regarding fair employment practices. These penalties are sought not only as reparation but also as deterrence against future violations by similar employers.
Representing Hernandez are attorneys Kristy Connolly and Christine V. Reyes from Protection Law Group LLP based in El Segundo, California. The case has been assigned Case No: 22 SY OS SS1 at Sacramento County’s Superior Court with Judge S. Decker presiding over proceedings as indicated by electronic filing records dated October 23rd this year.
Source: 25CV025391_State_of_California_v_PW_STEPHENS_Complaint_County_of_Sacramento_California.pdf
