BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - An Ohio painting company recently agreed to a settlement with Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley to resolve claims that it allegedly didn't pay its employees fair wages and didn't engage in fair business.
M&J Painting company agreed to pay $2 million in restitution to employees who worked on the Braga Bridge project in Fall River, Massachusetts.
After receiving numerous complaints from employees, Coakley's office filed a lawsuit in 2013 that alleged the company and owner Michael Kerpelis purposefully didn't pay the workers and turned in fake time sheets to show workers pay on a government project.
“This company failed to properly pay its employees and obtained an unfair advantage over its competitors,” Coakley said. “Enforcing these laws is essential to maintain a level playing field for all businesses that play by the rules and to protect the rights of our workers.”
The settlement also takes care of a claim by the company that the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) was withholding payment to M&J's Painting. MassDOT will give $2.065 million to the AG's office to cover the settlement amount and the remaining balance will go directly to M&J Painting.