HOUSTON – Two men who worked for Christensen Bridge and Rail are claiming the company hires welders, laborers and other workers and then misclassifies them as independent contractors to avoid paying overtime, workers' compensation and unemployment, Social Security and Medicare taxes.
Matt Lisk and Orlando Buckles, individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated, filed a complaint Nov. 15 in the Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas against Christensen Bridge and Rail LLC, Christensen Building Group LLC and Mark Christensen alleging violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
The suit states Lisk began work as a welder and foreman for Christensen on March 1 and Buckles worked as a foreman and operator beginning in August 2018. They both allege they worked for the defendant until October.
Lisk and Buckles claim that during their time working for Christensen, they regularly worked more than 40 hours per week and were not compensated for overtime work. They allege they were paid the same hourly rate for all the hours they worked in violation of the FLSA.
The plaintiffs seek unpaid overtime wages, a trial by jury, interest and all other just relief. They are represented by Josef Buenker of The Buenker Law Firm in Houston.
Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas case number 4:19-CV-4500