A recent lawsuit filed in the Northern District of Illinois highlights a significant wage dispute involving a major corporation and its employees. On January 17, 2025, Gus Alastanos initiated legal action against Linderlake Corporation, alleging systematic violations of federal and state labor laws concerning unpaid wages and overtime compensation.
Gus Alastanos, who worked as a Senior Right of Way Agent for Linderlake Corporation from September 2023 to May 2024, claims that the company employed deceptive pay schemes that denied him and other similarly situated employees their rightful earnings. According to the complaint, Linderlake utilized a "shift rate pay scheme" that capped daily paid hours at eight, regardless of actual hours worked. This practice allegedly forced employees like Alastanos to work additional hours without compensation. Furthermore, the company is accused of implementing a "per diem pay scheme," which excluded per diem payments from regular rate calculations for overtime purposes. These practices are said to violate both the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and the Illinois Minimum Wage Law (IMWL).
Alastanos's complaint paints a picture of systemic underpayment affecting numerous employees within Linderlake Corporation. The lawsuit seeks class-action status on behalf of all affected workers over the past three years, encompassing Right of Way Agents and similar roles across Illinois. Alastanos asserts that these employees regularly worked beyond standard hours—often between 50 to 72 hours weekly—without receiving due overtime pay at rates mandated by law.
The complaint further alleges that Linderlake's actions were not only negligent but willful, with full knowledge of FLSA requirements regarding overtime compensation. Despite being aware that their employees were working extended hours, Linderlake reportedly continued to enforce policies that effectively deprived workers of fair wages. The lawsuit demands back pay for unpaid wages, liquidated damages equivalent to those wages under federal law, treble damages under state law, and statutory penalties.
Representing Alastanos in this legal battle are attorneys Douglas M. Werman and Maureen A. Salas from Werman Salas P.C., along with Michael A. Josephson and Andrew W. Dunlap from Josephson Dunlap LLP, and Richard J. Burch from Bruckner Burch PLLC—all seasoned in handling complex class-action litigation related to employment law violations.
The case has been assigned Case ID: 1:25-cv-00608 and awaits adjudication in front of judges at the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.