A group of workers is taking legal action against their former employer, accusing the company of violating labor laws by failing to pay overtime wages. On March 27, 2025, a collective action complaint was filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois by Juan Manuel Andreu Cantoran and several other plaintiffs against Advanced Tree Care, Inc., an Illinois corporation, and its owner Michael Bramucci.
The lawsuit alleges that Advanced Tree Care, Inc. and Michael Bramucci failed to pay overtime compensation to their employees as required under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and the Illinois Minimum Wage Law (IMWL). The plaintiffs are current and former employees who worked as tree climbers, trimmers, drivers, ground workers, and other non-exempt roles within the company. According to the complaint, these employees regularly worked over forty hours per week without receiving the legally mandated overtime pay. The plaintiffs claim that they were paid only their standard hourly rates for all hours worked beyond forty each week. Furthermore, it is alleged that the defendants misclassified these workers as independent contractors to avoid paying proper wages and used off-payroll checks to conceal this practice.
The complaint details how these actions violate both federal and state labor laws designed to protect workers from exploitation. Specifically, it cites violations of FLSA's maximum hour provisions and record-keeping regulations as well as similar statutes under IMWL. The plaintiffs argue that this misconduct was willful on the part of Advanced Tree Care, Inc., asserting that Bramucci had full control over payroll decisions and intentionally disregarded legal obligations regarding employee compensation.
In seeking justice through this lawsuit, the plaintiffs request several forms of relief from the court. They are asking for judgment in unpaid overtime compensation at one-and-a-half times their regular hourly rates for all hours worked over forty per week. Additionally, they seek liquidated damages equal to unpaid overtime amounts along with statutory damages under IMWL amounting to three times unpaid wages plus interest penalties. The plaintiffs also demand reasonable attorney fees incurred during litigation efforts against Advanced Tree Care Inc., emphasizing their commitment towards holding accountable those responsible for unfair labor practices.
Representing these aggrieved workers is attorney Timothy M. Nolan from Nolan Law Office based in Chicago—a firm known for advocating employee rights across various industries throughout Illinois courts system including Northern District Court where this case has been filed under Case No: 25-cv-3279.