BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - A Massachusetts solar energy company will pay $125,000 in restitution and penalties to the State for violating prevailing wage and hinderance laws, state Attorney General Maura Healey said.
Cavallo-Cavallo, which is based in New Bedford, and does business as Beaumont Solar was ordered to pay the money on Monday, Healey said. About $83,000 of the penalty will go towards restitution, $42,000 in penalties, and $10,000 for hindering the attorney general's investigation.
Healey said the violations occurred when Cavallo was hired to install solar panels at public schools in Melrose, New Bedford and Newton, Massachusetts.
“We are committed to ensuring that all workers receive the wages that they are entitled to,” Healey said. “Contractors that violate prevailing wage laws take advantage of their employees and misuse taxpayer dollars. Our office will hold these companies accountable for this type of conduct.”
The investigation began in September 2013 after the National Electrical Contractors Association referred the case to the attorney general's Fair Labor Division, Healey said. According to Healey's office the company classified electricians as laborers, which was improper, illegally deducted from the prevailing wage, and paid other workers at an apprentice level without having the required number of electricians on the worksite.