J.B. Van Hollen (R)
MADISON, Wis. (Legal Newsline) - Almost $35,000 has been recovered by Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen in compensation for employees of Van Der Molen Recreational Properties, Inc., following the closing of the Warrens, Wis., firm earlier this year.
"It is clear in Wisconsin that laws protecting the rights of workers to compensation must be followed," Van Hollen said. "The Wisconsin Department of Justice represents the Department of Workforce Development in enforcing the law when violations unfortunately occur."
Van Hollen, working with Department of Workforce Development Secretary Roberta Gassman, has recovered back wages owed to 50 former employees of Van Der Molen as a result of legal action.
"In each of the last two years, DWD succeeded in collecting well over $2 million on behalf of thousands of workers and their families," Gassman said. "This is another example of our strong, effective enforcement of state laws protecting workers, a collaborative effort with the Department of Justice."
Van Der Molen was placed into receivership under state bankruptcy provision Chapter 128 on January 9. The Department of Workforce Development requested that the Department of Justice file a wage lien and claim for unpaid wages, sick leave and vacation benefits in the receivership. The $34,774.65 recovered from the receivership will be shared by the workers.
Eligible workers, under the state's Wage Payments, Claims and Collection laws, are entitled to payment of up to $3,000 in unpaid wages before most other creditors may be paid.
The 50 former workers in this case will either receive the full amount that they claimed or $3,000, whichever is the lesser amount.