Rueda v. CE OPCO LLC et al

Cindy Rueda began working as a chef for Defendants at Sean Combs' residence in Los Angeles County, California, in January 2015, initially on weekends from 9:00 a.m. to midnight or 2:00 a.m., paid a flat rate of $150 per day. In May 2015, she was asked to work six days a week with the same hours and pay, which she accepted. In June 2015, she declined a full-time offer due to unreasonable hours and pay, continuing her weekend schedule. On or around September 27, 2015, she accepted a full-time position as an exempt employee chef, working daily from 9:00 a.m. to midnight or 2:30 a.m., and was required to travel with Combs for events outside Los Angeles. She received no additional pay for extended hours or travel, despite complaints in October and December 2015 to Stacy Friend, Combs' estate director, and Christina Khorram, his personal assistant. Plaintiff was instructed to track her hours but was still paid as an exempt employee at the flat rate. She faced inappropriate conduct, including being summoned to serve meals to Combs and guests during or after sexual activities, with Combs making explicit comments about his body on one occasion. Plaintiff complained about harassment and pay issues to Stacy Friend, but no corrective action was taken. On or around May 8, 2016, after receiving a watch, she was accused of theft and fired, allegedly as a pretext for her prior complaints about overtime pay and harassment.

Plaintiff seeks past and future economic and non-economic damages, including lost earnings, pain and suffering, special damages, actual damages, nominal damages, punitive damages under Civil Code § 3294, damages for unpaid wages, overtime, and double time wages, penalties for inaccurate wage statements, unpaid penalty wages, restitution under Business and Professions Code § 17203, pre-judgment interest, costs, reasonable attorneys' fees, and preliminary and permanent injunctions to prevent further violations of the California Labor Code and unfair business practices.

Dismissal pursuant to settlement.