On March 5, 2021, two former background investigators filed an overtime lawsuit against CACI International, Inc. and CACI, Inc. – Federal (“CACI”). They assert claims on behalf of themselves and other background investigators. CACI is one of the largest background investigation firms in the world, with its primary customers being agencies and departments of the U.S. government. CACI’s background investigators are responsible for conducting interviews to collect information on background, reputation, character suitability and qualifications. The information is used by others in determining employment suitability of persons who require access to sensitive or classified U.S. government information.
The Complaint alleges that CACI violated the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, and California law, when it failed to pay Plaintiffs and the other background investigators for the overtime hours they worked. More specifically, it alleges that CACI assigned a heavy workload to its background investigators and imposed strict production metrics that led them to work unpaid overtime. Background investigators assert that CACI’s policies and procedures discouraged them from recording all their overtime hours worked, even though CACI knew that background investigators were working more time than they recorded. The lawsuit also alleges that CACI failed to maintain accurate time records, did not provide complete and accurate wage statements, failed provide compliant meal and rest periods under California law, and denied wages owed at the time of separation.
Plaintiffs brought the case as a putative collective action under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”) and as a putative class action under California state law seeking to recover unpaid overtime compensation, liquidated (double) damages, premium pay for missed meal and rest breaks, and other statutorily-permitted relief.
Michele R. Fisher, one of the plaintiff’s attorneys stated, “When companies knowingly subject their employees to metrics that demand more time worked than paid, employees have rights under the law to recover that pay, along with other penalties. We seek to hold CACI accountable for not paying its background investigators for all their time worked.”
Plaintiffs are represented by Michele R. Fisher and Daniel S. Brome of Nichols Kaster, PLLP, which has offices in Minneapolis, Minnesota and San Francisco, California, Benjamin L. Davis of the Law Offices of Peter T. Nicholl in Baltimore, Maryland, and Jason C. Marsili of Rosen Marsili Rapp, LLP in Los Angeles, California. The case is entitled, Pittmon and MacKay et al. v. CACI International, Inc. and CACI, Inc. - Federal, Case No. 2:21-cv-02044 (Central District of California).
Additional information about the case and how background investigators can make a claim can be found at www.nka.com or by calling Nichols Kaster, PLLP toll free at (877) 344-4628.