The Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry has filed a lawsuit against a non-profit organization, accusing it of failing to pay wages and benefits owed to a former employee. The complaint was filed on May 2, 2025, in the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Bureau of Labor Law Compliance against Restaurant Opportunities Centers United Inc. and its officer Teofilo Reyes.
According to the filing, the plaintiff is acting on behalf of Jordan Romanus, a former employee who worked for the defendants from July 2013 until January 2025. The complaint alleges that Mr. Romanus was promised an annual salary that increased over time but was not paid his due wages towards the end of his employment due to purported cash flow issues cited by his employers. Specifically, the suit claims that Mr. Romanus is owed unpaid wages including vacation pay, reimbursement expenses, severance pay, and unremitted 401(k) contributions totaling $39,283.50.
The plaintiff asserts that these unpaid amounts have remained outstanding for more than 30 days beyond regular paydays or more than 60 days after a proper claim was made without any good-faith contest or dispute from the employers. Consequently, under Section 10 of the Pennsylvania Wage Payment and Collection Law (WPCL), statutory liquidated damages amounting to $9,820.88 are also sought by Mr. Romanus through this action.
In addition to seeking payment for unpaid wages and liquidated damages totaling $49,104.38 under WPCL provisions, the plaintiff requests judgment against Restaurant Opportunities Centers United Inc. and Teofilo Reyes for costs of suit and reasonable attorney’s fees as allowed under section 9.1(f) of WPCL.
Representing the plaintiff is Jenna A. Ratica from the Office of Chief Counsel at the Department of Labor and Industry in Pittsburgh. The case is being overseen by Judge Bryan Smolock with Case ID CVPDD008S425F691.