Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why was this website created?

This Website is to inform you about a Fair Labor Standards Act overtime lawsuit that is pending in the US District Court for the Central District of California, to advise you of how your rights may be affected by joining or not joining this lawsuit, and to instruct you on the procedure for participating in this lawsuit, if you choose to do so.

2. What is this lawsuit about?

On December 16, 2024, Ms. Regina Jones and Ms. Leticia Garcia (“Plaintiffs”) filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Case No. 2:24-cv-10831-SP, against the County of Los Angeles (the “County”). The lawsuit alleges the County violated the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (the “FLSA”) by failing to pay all overtime compensation due to non-exempt social workers working in the In-Home Social Services Division (hereinafter “IHSS”) of the Department of Public Social Services.

The lawsuit alleges that non-exempt IHSS social workers worked more than 40 hours during some work weeks, but that the social workers did not always receive additional overtime pay calculated at 1 1/2 times their regular hourly rate for each hour work beyond 40 hours in their work week. Plaintiffs contend that the County either knew – or through exercise of reasonable diligence should have known – that the social workers were working uncompensated overtime hours. The Plaintiffs allege that they are entitled to recover unpaid overtime wages for uncompensated FLSA overtime work performed for the past three years. Plaintiffs also seek an additional amount as liquidated damages, and attorney’s fees and costs. The lawsuit is currently in the early pretrial stage.

The County denies Plaintiffs’ allegation that it has violated the FLSA or failed to properly compensate IHSS social workers for all overtime worked and is defending against Plaintiffs’ claims.

3. Can I participate in this lawsuit?

The United States District Court has authorized this website for all persons who have potential claims. However, the Court has made no decision about the merits of this case at this time. You may be eligible to participate in this lawsuit if you were employed by the County as a non-exempt social worker (of any grade, including probationary) in the In Home Social Services Division (“IHSS”) of the Department of Public Social Services at any time from December 23, 2022 to the present, and you worked more than 40 hours in a work week without receiving all of the FLSA overtime compensation that you were due.

4. What happens if I join this lawsuit?

If you choose to join this lawsuit, you will be bound by any judgment on any claim that you may have under the FLSA, whether favorable or unfavorable. That means that, if you win, you may be eligible to share in the monetary award, which may include unpaid overtime compensation and liquidated damages, and, if you lose, no money will be awarded and you will not be able to file another lawsuit regarding the matters raised in this lawsuit. While this lawsuit is proceeding, you may be required to respond under oath to written questions, have your deposition taken, produce documents and/or appear in court at a trial or hearing in the United States District Courthouse in Los Angeles, California.

5. What happens if I do not join this lawsuit?

If you choose not to join the lawsuit, you do not have to do anything. You will not be affected or bound by any judgment, favorable or unfavorable, on any of the claims brought under the FLSA that are alleged in this lawsuit.

If you choose not to join the lawsuit, you will retain all your rights under the FLSA and are free to file your own lawsuit or file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Labor. However, if you decline to join the lawsuit, recovery for any alleged FLSA claim you may have will be obtainable by you only if you file your own lawsuit or Department of Labor complaint within the time provided by law and you prevail on your claim. The limitations period for filing an FLSA claim is three (3) years for willful violations or two (2) years for non-willful violations. The filing of any individual FLSA claim by you, if you do not join the lawsuit, may be prohibited if your claim is not filed within the limitations period.

6. Who is representing the Class in this lawsuit?

The attorneys for Plaintiffs and the opt-in class are the law offices of Megan A. Richmond, APC; and the law offices of Tashnizi Law Firm. The addresses and telephone numbers for Plaintiffs’ counsel are:

If you choose to join the lawsuit, the law firms listed above will be representing you unless you obtain another attorney. You will not be required to pay any attorneys’ fees or court costs to Plaintiffs’ lawyers. Rather, in the event Plaintiffs prevail in the lawsuit, either by judgment or settlement, the attorneys will be requesting the court to order the County to pay the Plaintiffs’ reasonable attorney fees and reimbursement for any expenses. The court must approve any fees and expenses received by the Plaintiffs’ lawyers.

You also have the option to retain an attorney of your own choice.

7. How do I join the lawsuit?

If you wish to join the lawsuit, you must complete a “Consent to Sue” Form. Forms can either be submitted online here, or you can complete, sign, and mail the Consent to Sue form in the envelope included with your Notice to the Administrator, Simpluris, at the following address:

Jones and Garcia v. County of Los Angeles, Collective Action
Administrator
P.O. Box 26170
Santa Ana, CA 92799

You may also email a scan of the completed and signed Consent to Sue form to Simpluris at info@JonesCountyofLA.com.

If you wish to join this lawsuit, submit online, mail or email the signed “Consent to Sue” form to the Administrator, Simpluris, as soon as possible but in no event later than February 23, 2026, to preserve any legal right you may have to participate in this lawsuit. Until the Consent to Sue form is filed with the Court, the statute of limitations on your claim will continue to run. As such, you may not be entitled to receive compensation for the days which you delay sending in your Consent to Sue form.

If you do not wish to join the lawsuit, you do not need to take any action.

8. What is the deadline to complete the Consent to Sue Form?

You must send in your completed Consent to Sue form by February 23, 2026, in order to be eligible to participate in the lawsuit. Any time before or after February 23, 2026, you are still free to file your own individual lawsuit against the County or your own individual complaint with the US Department of Labor, so long as the three (3) year period for willful or two (2) year period for non-willful violations has not expired.

9. Can IHSS retaliate against me if I participate in this lawsuit?

The FLSA prohibits an employer, such as the County, from discriminating, retaliating against, or taking any adverse action against any person for filing a lawsuit, claim, or complaint for compensation, assisting, or testifying in a lawsuit under the FLSA, or otherwise participating in an action under the FLSA, or exercising their rights under the FLSA.

10. Where can I find additional information?

For further information about this lawsuit, you may contact Plaintiffs’ counsel by mail, telephone, or email at the information indicated above in Question 6. Please do not attempt to contact the Court regarding the lawsuit.