BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley announced a settlement Thursday with a Hopedale cement finishing company and its owner to resolve allegations of labor law violations.
Marguerite Concrete Contractors Inc. and James Marguerite Jr., the company's owner, allegedly failed to pay the prevailing wage, intentionally failed to pay the prevailing wage, intentionally failed to submit true and accurate certified payroll records to awarding authorities, intentionally misclassified an employee as an independent contractor, and failed to furnish records for inspection.
Marguerite and his company accepted five civil citations and agreed to pay more than $161,000 in restitution and fines.
"Employers are required to pay employees a state determined wage for each hour of construction work on public works projects, maintain accurate payroll records, and produce those records upon demand," Coakley said. "We enforce these laws not only to protect workers, but to level the playing field for all businesses that play by the rules."
After receiving an employee complaint, Coakley's office looked into company records for Marguerite Concrete Contractors. Coakley's office alleged that the company failed to pay more than $102,000 in wages to 23 employees, committed record keeping violations and misclassified one employee as an independent contractor.
Marguerite and his company completely cooperated with Coakley's office in the matter and voluntarily agreed to pay fines and provide restitution.
Mass. AG reaches settlement with cement company
