In a recent class action complaint filed on May 23, 2024, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, a group of truck drivers led by Edin Husidic has accused FR8 Solutions, Inc., its CEO Alen Kajdic, and accountant Azra Begovic of underpayment and fraudulent practices. The plaintiffs, including Husidic and several other independent contractors who worked for FR8 Solutions across various states, allege that they were systematically underpaid for their services.
The plaintiffs claim that from January 2017 to August 2023, they entered into contracts with FR8 Solutions which stipulated that they would receive 88% of the linehaul rate for each load transported. However, according to the complaint, FR8 Solutions failed to pay them the agreed amount. Instead, defendants Kajdic and Begovic allegedly provided altered statements showing lower load prices than those confirmed by third-party brokers such as Ascent On-Demand and Landstar. This discrepancy resulted in significant financial losses for the plaintiffs.
For instance, Edin Husidic detailed multiple instances where he was paid less than what was due. On February 28, 2023, he received dispatch instructions indicating a load value of $2,400 for a delivery from Woodale, IL to Gaffney, SC. However, the actual load confirmation from Ascent On-Demand showed a value of $2,500. Similarly deceptive practices were reported by other plaintiffs like Samir Cajic and Adis Dogic.
Moreover, the complaint accuses Alen Kajdic of engaging in witness tampering and issuing threats to prevent plaintiffs from pursuing legal action or reporting their grievances to authorities. In one alarming text exchange presented as evidence in the filing, Kajdic allegedly threatened physical harm against Husidic if he continued to expose FR8's malpractices.
The plaintiffs are seeking relief that includes actual damages for lost wages due to underpayment and punitive damages for the alleged fraudulent activities. They also demand treble damages under RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act) statutes due to the pattern of racketeering activity described in their complaint.
Representing the plaintiffs are attorneys Jay S. Berlin and Rain Montero from Jaffe & Berlin LLC. The case is presided over by Judge [Name] under Case No. 24-cv-4253.