Did Disney Underpay Maintenance Workers at California’s Disneyland Hotel?

In recent news, Disney faces a lawsuit alleging that they underpaid maintenance workers at their Disneyland Hotel just outside the California theme park.

The Case: Torres v. Walt Disney Parks and Resorts US Inc

The Court: California Superior Court, Orange County

The Case No.: case number not available

The Plaintiffs: Torres v. Walt Disney Parks and Resorts US Inc

The plaintiff in the case, Charlie Torres, claims that Disney failed to provide the maintenance workers for the Disneyland Hotel with accurate overtime pay rates and required that workers pay for their own hand tools and equipment while on the job. Maintenance workers also allege they weren’t provided with the one-hour break period required for shifts lasting over four hours and were deprived of the “meal break premiums” they were entitled to due to the missed breaks. Additionally, the plaintiffs claim Disney failed to provide the required accurate, itemized wage statements. Charlie Torres worked at Disneyland Hotel as an assistant maintenance engineer. He was hired in February 2022. Torres still works at the hotel.

The Defendant: Torres v. Walt Disney Parks and Resorts US Inc

The defendant in the case, Disney, owns the Disneyland Hotel, the 970-room, four-star hotel where Torres works as an assistant maintenance engineer. The defendant faces multiple allegations of employment law violations.

The Case: Charlie Torres v. Disney Parks and Resorts US, Inc.

Under the California Wage Orders, employees who are required to bring their own tools for work must be paid double the minimum wage. The lawsuit alleges that Disney failed to pay maintenance workers at the Disneyland Hotel the overtime wages they were due. Torres, the plaintiff, is seeking at least $1 million in back pay and loss of benefits for the four years prior to the filing date. He also demands a jury trial to settle the claims. The complaint was filed on March 5, 2024. Torres aims to represent a group of more than 115 current and former workers at the Disneyland Hotel if the suit is granted class-action status.

If you have questions about filing a California overtime lawsuit, please get in touch with Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik DeBlouw L.L.P. Experienced employment law attorneys are ready to assist you in various law firm offices in San Diego, San Francisco, Sacramento, Los Angeles, Riverside, and Chicago.