This proposed collective and class action lawsuit was brought on behalf of hundreds of individuals who allege that they were forced to work nearly for free in atrocious conditions while in civil detention in Lackawanna County. The lawsuit alleges that individuals in civil detention for unpaid child support were forced to work for $5.00 per day in the Lackawanna County Recycling Center, where they sorted garbage, including soiled diapers, dead animals, and dangerous chemicals. The lawsuit alleges that plaintiffs and others in the detention center were illegally required to engage in such work for months at sub-minimum wages in order to obtain work release. Among other relief, this action seeks to recover money owed to the named plaintiffs and members of the proposed class and collective actions.
A copy of the complaint can be found HERE. If you have any questions concerning this case, please contact Matthew Handley, at 202-559-2411 or [email protected]. A copy of the complaint can be found here.