A class action lawsuit has accused three suburban trucking companies of allegedly violating federal truth in leasing law and state wage law by allegedly misclassifying the drivers as independent contractors and allegedly claiming improper deductions from their pay.
The lawsuit was filed Feb. 26 in Chicago federal court against Unlimited Carrier Inc., Trans Quality Inc. and ES Express Lines Inc., along with three individuals.
The plaintiffs, Timothy Wooten and Paul White, both of Montgomery County, Georgia, accuse the companies of allegedly violating federal Truth in Leasing regulations and Illinois state wage laws.
According to the complaint, both named plaintiffs worked for the companies as lease drivers from 2014 to 2023.
According to the complaint, the companies allegedly misclassified drivers as independent contractors rather than employees. They are also accused of taking improper deductions from drivers' pay without proper disclosure or specification. Furthermore, they allegedly failed to include mandatory provisions in their lease agreements with drivers and allegedly did not compensate them properly.
The lawsuit also alleges violations of the Illinois Wage Payment and Collection Act. According to the plaintiffs, the defendants allegedly did not pay all wages owed to the lease drivers and took unlawful deductions from their wages. The companies also allegedly required drivers to cover necessary expenditures related to their employment that primarily benefited the defendants.
The lawsuit seeks restitution and other unspecified damages, plus attorney fees.
They are represented by attorneys James B. Zouras, of the firm of Stephan Zouras LLP, of Chicago; and Rachel Smit, Hillary Schwab and Brant Casavant, of Fair Work P.C., of Boston.