Unpaid Wage Cases in Liberal, Kansas
Since 2005 the U.S. Department of Labor has found $73,560 in back wages owed to 134 workers by Liberal employers, in 13 cases. Unpaid overtime accounts for 71% of it. The industry with the most back wages is crude petroleum and natural gas extraction.
What workers weren't paid
2 cases involved child labor violations, covering 7 minors.
Industries
Cases with back wages by year
Largest back-wage cases
JV Energy Services Inc 412 W Pine
$24,459 in back wages to 41 workers
Crude Petroleum and Natural Gas Extraction · period investigated Oct 2015–Oct 2017
Mi Tierra 601 S. Kansass
$13,207 in back wages to 8 workers
Supermarkets and Other Grocery (except Convenience) Stores · period investigated Dec 2008–Dec 2010
Fairfield Inn and Suites 501 Hotel Drive
$8,296 in back wages to 18 workers
Hotels (except Casino Hotels) and Motels · period investigated Jan 2018–Sep 2019
Hampton Inn and Suites 508 Hotel Drive
$7,359 in back wages to 16 workers
Hotels (except Casino Hotels) and Motels · period investigated Aug 2017–Aug 2019
Wettstein Farms 4598 Rd 9
$6,989 in back wages to 6 workers · $3,899 in penalties
Oilseed and Grain Combination Farming · period investigated Jun 2023–Jun 2025
Wettstein Farms 4598 Rd. 9
$3,842 in back wages to 5 workers · $8,161 in penalties
Oilseed and Grain Combination Farming · period investigated Mar 2019–Jun 2021
Apota Construction, Incorporated P.O. Box 1566
$3,164 in back wages to 1 worker
Commercial and Institutional Building Construction · period investigated Jul 2007–Jul 2009
Rustin Wettstein 3793 Road 9
$2,287 in back wages to 7 workers · $8,935 in penalties
Beef Cattle Ranching and Farming · period investigated Mar 2019–Mar 2021
Summitt ResCare, Inc. 418 S. Washington
$1,680 in back wages to 15 workers
Vocational Rehabilitation Services · period investigated Feb 2008–Feb 2010
Convenience Plus 130 W Pancake Blvd
$1,190 in back wages to 9 workers · $3,410 in penalties · 6 child labor violations
Gasoline Stations with Convenience Stores · period investigated Jul 2003–Jul 2005
Most recent cases
Wettstein Farms period ending Jun 2025
$6,989 in back wages to 6 workers · $3,899 in penalties · Oilseed and Grain Combination Farming
J&R Sand Company period ending Jun 2021
1 violation, no back wages · Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction
J&R Sand Company period ending Jun 2021
1 violation, no back wages · Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction
Wettstein Farms period ending Jun 2021
$3,842 in back wages to 5 workers · $8,161 in penalties · Oilseed and Grain Combination Farming
Rustin Wettstein period ending Mar 2021
$2,287 in back wages to 7 workers · $8,935 in penalties · Beef Cattle Ranching and Farming
El Amigo Chavez period ending Sep 2020
1 violation, no back wages · Limited-Service Eating Places
Fairfield Inn and Suites period ending Sep 2019
$8,296 in back wages to 18 workers · Hotels (except Casino Hotels) and Motels
Hampton Inn and Suites period ending Aug 2019
$7,359 in back wages to 16 workers · Hotels (except Casino Hotels) and Motels
JV Energy Services Inc period ending Oct 2017
$24,459 in back wages to 41 workers · Crude Petroleum and Natural Gas Extraction
McKinley Elementary School period ending Jul 2016
$103 in back wages to 4 workers · Local School Boards or Districts
Unified School District #480 period ending Jul 2016
$3,252 in penalties · 2 child labor violations · Local School Boards or Districts
Pssi period ending Aug 2015
1 violation, no back wages · Janitorial Services
Days Inn period ending Apr 2015
$60 in back wages to 2 workers · Hotels (except Casino Hotels) and Motels
Holiday Inn Express & Suites period ending Apr 2015
$924 in back wages to 2 workers · Hotels (except Casino Hotels) and Motels
Mi Tierra period ending Dec 2010
$13,207 in back wages to 8 workers · Supermarkets and Other Grocery (except Convenience) Stores
Seward County Juvenile Corrections period ending Jun 2010
1 violation, no back wages · Local Correctional Institutions
Summitt ResCare, Inc. period ending Feb 2010
$1,680 in back wages to 15 workers · Vocational Rehabilitation Services
Apota Construction, Incorporated period ending Jul 2009
$3,164 in back wages to 1 worker · Commercial and Institutional Building Construction
Convenience Plus period ending Jul 2005
$1,190 in back wages to 9 workers · $3,410 in penalties · 6 child labor violations · Gasoline Stations with Convenience Stores
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.
Labor and employment lawyers in Kansas
Lawbamba lists 3 labor and employment lawyers with an office in Kansas, the practice area that deals with the wage theft cases on this page. These 3 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 Liberal employer?
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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.