A former employee has filed a lawsuit against a well-known pizza establishment, alleging violations of labor laws and unfair treatment. On January 24, 2025, Samir Nofal lodged a complaint in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois against VPC Orland Park Pizza, LLC, operating as Giordano’s Orland Park.
The plaintiff, Samir Nofal, claims that the defendant failed to pay overtime wages in accordance with the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and the Illinois Minimum Wage Law (IMWL). Nofal worked as a part-time driver for Giordano's since September 6, 2017. His duties included delivering orders promptly and maintaining customer service standards. Despite routinely working over 40 hours per week from 2020 through his termination in December 2024, he alleges he was not compensated at one and one-half times his regular pay rate for overtime hours. According to Nofal, his general managers enforced an arrangement where he would work approximately 50 hours weekly but only receive payment for 40 hours. When he raised concerns about this arrangement with management figures like Samantha and district manager Jenny Garcia, he faced retaliation leading to his termination.
Nofal's complaint further accuses Giordano’s of retaliatory practices after he voiced concerns about wage discrepancies. He details incidents where minor infractions were used as grounds for disciplinary actions post-complaint. These actions culminated in his termination on December 13, 2024. The lawsuit seeks redress under several counts: violation of FLSA overtime provisions, retaliation under FLSA protections for engaging in protected conduct by questioning wage practices, and failure to comply with IMWL regarding overtime compensation.
In terms of relief sought from the court, Nofal requests compensatory and punitive damages alongside unpaid wages calculated at one and one-half times his regular rate for all excess hours worked beyond forty per week. Additionally, he seeks reasonable attorney fees and costs incurred during litigation.
Representing Samir Nofal is Peyton M. Paschke from Sulaiman Law Group Ltd., while the case is filed under Case ID: 1:25-cv-00834 in front of the Northern District of Illinois judges.