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.

$16.8MBack wages employers agreed to pay
11,700Workers owed back wages
375Cases with back wages
$556KCivil penalties assessed

What workers weren't paid

Overtime not paid$8.5M (50%)
Prevailing wage on government contracts$6.1M (37%)
Below minimum wage$1.8M (11%)
Other laws (farmworker, visa, leave and more)$417K (2%)

24 cases involved child labor violations, covering 46 minors.

Industries

Freight Transportation Arrangement$1.8M (11%)
Engineering Services$1.1M (7%)
All Other Support Activities for Transportation$1.1M (6%)
All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services$1M (6%)
Ship Building and Repairing$721K (4%)
Correctional Institutions$710K (4%)
Janitorial Services$690K (4%)
Other Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment Rental and Leasing$679K (4%)

Cases with back wages by year

010203040172005202006102007132008520092220101120112720123920131720141820151820162020171320182520192620201020211320221520231120244202502026

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).

Danielle Blackhall
Paul, Plevin, Sullivan & Connaughton LLP
Wage and Hour Law, Labor and Employment, Affirmative Action
San Diego
Jennifer M. Fontaine
Paul, Plevin, Sullivan & Connaughton LLP
Wage and Hour Law, Labor and Employment, Affirmative Action
San Diego
Camille Lutes Gustafson
Paul, Plevin, Sullivan & Connaughton LLP
Wage and Hour Law, Labor and Employment, Affirmative Action
San Diego
Kara Siegel
Paul, Plevin, Sullivan & Connaughton LLP
Wage and Hour Law, Employment Arbitration, Labor and Employment
San Diego

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.

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Other California cities

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.