A former employee has filed a lawsuit against a transport company and its owner, alleging violations of labor laws. The complaint was lodged by Travon Brown on February 28, 2025, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois against Laci Transport Inc. and its owner, Vladeta Markovitc.
The lawsuit revolves around claims that Brown was misclassified as an independent contractor rather than an employee during his tenure as a Spotter Driver for Laci Transport Inc. This classification allegedly resulted in him being denied overtime pay for hours worked beyond the standard 40-hour workweek between 2018 and 2021. Brown asserts that he should have been compensated at premium rates for overtime under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the Illinois Minimum Wage Law, and the Chicago Minimum Wage Ordinance. He contends that upon returning to his position in Fall 2023, he began receiving proper overtime compensation, highlighting discrepancies in previous payment practices.
Brown's case draws attention to prior litigation involving Laci Transport Inc., specifically a class action lawsuit known as Stingley v. Laci Transport, Inc., where subclasses of drivers were certified by the court. In this previous case, Spotter Drivers received back overtime wages after it was determined they were not subject to exemptions claimed by the defendants under the Motor Carrier Act. However, Brown claims he was incorrectly categorized as a Shuttle Driver instead of a Spotter Driver in these proceedings, which led to his exclusion from rightful compensation.
The plaintiff is seeking various forms of relief from the court: back pay for unpaid overtime over two years preceding the filing of this complaint; prejudgment interest; liquidated damages equal to unpaid compensation; attorneys' fees; and additional penalties under state and municipal laws for willful violations. Furthermore, Brown argues that any statute of limitations defenses should be nullified due to either mistakes or potential fraud by the defendants in categorizing him incorrectly.
Representing Travon Brown is attorney John W. Billhorn from Billhorn Law Firm based in Chicago. The case is presided over by an unnamed judge with Case ID: 1:25-cv-02127.