In a dramatic legal confrontation, a former employee has filed a lawsuit against his previous employer, accusing the company of failing to pay overtime wages and retaliating against him for reporting the alleged violations. Laurence MacDonald initiated this legal action on December 24, 2024, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, targeting Legion Security Consultants, Inc.
The complaint filed by MacDonald outlines several grievances against Legion Security Consultants. The core of the lawsuit is based on allegations that the company violated both federal and state labor laws by not compensating employees for overtime work. According to MacDonald, he and other non-exempt employees routinely worked more than forty hours per week without receiving the legally mandated overtime pay rate of one and one-half times their regular hourly wage. This failure to comply with labor standards forms the basis of MacDonald's claims under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and the Illinois Minimum Wage Law (IMWL).
The narrative takes a darker turn with accusations of retaliation following MacDonald's complaints about unpaid overtime. In September 2024, after confronting Legion's owner Bill Caro about discrepancies in his paycheck, MacDonald was allegedly told bluntly that "I don’t pay anyone overtime." Following this confrontation, MacDonald noticed a reduction in his working hours—a move he perceives as retaliatory. His situation escalated when he reported these issues to the Department of Labor (DOL), only to find himself removed from the work schedule entirely shortly thereafter.
MacDonald's lawsuit doesn't stop at wage violations; it also accuses Legion Security Consultants of wrongful termination in violation of public policy and contravening Illinois' Whistleblower Act. The complaint asserts that his removal from employment was directly linked to his whistleblowing activities—a claim that highlights potential breaches of both state and federal protections for employees who report illegal practices.
Through this legal action, MacDonald seeks several forms of relief from the court. He requests compensation for unpaid wages at an overtime rate for all affected employees, liquidated damages equivalent to these unpaid wages, as well as coverage for attorney fees and associated legal costs. Furthermore, he calls for additional relief deemed appropriate by the court to address these grievances.
Representing Laurence MacDonald is Alexander J. Taylor from Sulaiman Law Group Ltd., located in Lombard, Illinois. The case has been filed under Case ID 1:24-cv-13209 in front of judges from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.