Unpaid Wage Cases in San Diego, California
Since 2005 the U.S. Department of Labor has found $16.8M in back wages owed to 11,700 workers by San Diego employers, in 375 cases. Unpaid overtime accounts for 50% of it. The industry with the most back wages is freight transportation arrangement.
What workers weren't paid
24 cases involved child labor violations, covering 46 minors.
Industries
Cases with back wages by year
Largest back-wage cases
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. 3550 General Atomics Court
$945K in back wages to 901 workers
All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services · period investigated Feb 2009–Feb 2015
Columbia Export Group 8640 Siempre Viva Rd
$908K in back wages to 53 workers · $30,880 in penalties
All Other Support Activities for Transportation · period investigated Aug 2018–Aug 2020 · repeat violator: W
OMG Global Logistics Corp. 9255 Customhouse Plaza Suite 1
$822K in back wages to 31 workers · $23,219 in penalties
Freight Transportation Arrangement · period investigated Feb 2018–Jun 2021 · repeat violator: W
General Dynamics NASSCO 2749-2777 E Harbor Dr.
$719K in back wages to 36 workers
Ship Building and Repairing · period investigated Aug 2021–Aug 2023
Corrections Corporation Of America dba CCA 446 Alta Road
$710K in back wages to 356 workers
Correctional Institutions · period investigated Jul 2005–May 2006
Five Point Capital 10525 Vista Sorrento Parkway #304
$679K in back wages to 233 workers
Other Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment Rental and Leasing · period investigated Oct 2006–Oct 2008
Wyle Laboratories / KBR #2 Naval Air Station North Island
$676K in back wages to 37 workers
Engineering Services · period investigated Feb 2018–Aug 2021
Cricket Communications 5887 Copley Drive
$547K in back wages to 2,864 workers
Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite) · period investigated Jan 2008–Jan 2010
HP Enterprise Services 32nd Naval Base
$532K in back wages to 57 workers
Computer Systems Design Services · period investigated Jul 2015–Jan 2018
A-Chau Sandwhich and Deli 4644 El Cajon Blvd
$500K in back wages to 6 workers · $4,224 in penalties
Limited-Service Restaurants · period investigated Jul 2022–Jul 2025 · repeat violator: W
Most recent cases
Elkhorn Packing period ending Apr 2026
$5,002 in penalties · Farm Labor Contractors and Crew Leaders
Spring Valley Associates LLC period ending Feb 2026
1 violation, no back wages · Beef Cattle Ranching and Farming
Slime Kitchen Franchise Inc period ending Jan 2026
$55,888 in penalties · 5 child labor violations · All Other General Merchandise Retailers
ABBA Project Management period ending Oct 2025
$28,024 in back wages to 16 workers · Parking Lots and Garages
A-Chau Sandwhich and Deli period ending Jul 2025
$500K in back wages to 6 workers · $4,224 in penalties · Limited-Service Restaurants
Good Night John Boy period ending Apr 2025
2 violations, no back wages · Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages)
San Diego Fire - Rescue Department period ending Apr 2025
2 violations, no back wages · Fire Protection
ICOHS College period ending Mar 2025
$70,213 in back wages to 1 worker · $855 in penalties · All Other Miscellaneous Schools and Instruction
Bluenose IT period ending Mar 2025
$262 in back wages to 2 workers · Security Systems Services (except Locksmiths)
San Diego Association Of Governments (SANDAG) period ending Feb 2025
1 violation, no back wages · State Highway Departments
Ataraxia Investors period ending Jan 2025
1 violation, no back wages · Other Residential Care Facilities
Tandem Diabetes Care period ending Dec 2024
$47,520 in back wages to 62 workers · Surgical and Medical Instrument Manufacturing
Call Glenn Again period ending Nov 2024
1 violation, no back wages · Other Personal and Household Goods Repair and Maintenance
Rakiraki Ramen & Tsukemen period ending Nov 2024
$13,858 in back wages to 2 workers · $1,710 in penalties · Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages)
Tavern and Bowl East Village period ending Oct 2024
2 violations, no back wages · Bowling Centers
SA Franchises LLC dba Bunny Chow period ending Oct 2024
73 violations, no back wages · Limited-Service Restaurants
Action Cleaning Corporation period ending Sep 2024
$9,338 in back wages to 32 workers · Remediation Services
U.S. Postal Service period ending Aug 2024
$66,748 in back wages to 1 worker · Postal Service
ASIMEX San Diego Forwarding period ending Jul 2024
$122K in back wages to 11 workers · $3,872 in penalties · Other Warehousing and Storage
Haidilao Hot Pot period ending Jun 2024
$31,987 in back wages to 108 workers · $564 in penalties · Full-Service Restaurants
If you weren't paid what you're owed
Federal law requires at least the minimum wage and time-and-a-half for hours over 40 a week for most hourly workers, and many states set higher minimums. You can file a free, confidential complaint with the Wage and Hour Division or your state labor department, and you can also sue to recover unpaid wages, often with an equal amount in damages and your attorney fees. Deadlines are generally two to three years under federal law.
Wage and hour law lawyers in San Diego
Lawbamba lists 6 wage and hour law lawyers with an office in San Diego, California, the practice area that deals with the wage theft cases on this page. These 4 come first in that listing (how the order is set).
Matched by practice area and office location only. These lawyers are not connected to the records on this page and have not reviewed or endorsed it.
Owed wages by a San Diego employer?
Compare employment lawyers in San DiegoOther California cities
- Los Angeles
$51.1M · 39,160 workers - San Francisco
$20.4M · 13,064 workers - San Jose
$11.1M · 4,690 workers - Irvine
$9.3M · 7,336 workers - Sacramento
$8.8M · 4,726 workers - Oakland
$6.6M · 5,572 workers - Santa Maria
$6.1M · 6,218 workers - Riverside
$5.9M · 3,792 workers
Source: the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division enforcement data (every concluded compliance action since fiscal year 2005), from the DOL Open Data Portal, loaded November 9, 2026. “Back wages” is the amount employers agreed to pay workers after an investigation found they were underpaid; dates are the end of the period the investigation covered. Employer names and addresses are as DOL publishes them. Federal cases only: state labor departments and private lawsuits recover more that isn't counted here.
Lawbamba is not affiliated with the Department of Labor, and this page is general information, not legal advice.