Can I sue my x boss for not paying me for over 7 years
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Can I sue my x boss for not paying me for over 7 years
My x boss never payed me the money he
had promised I worked for over 7 years
and the most I would get from him was
160.00 a week and In cash he promised
me the money when things get better but
he just lied every week
Asked on October 15, 2017 under Employment Labor Law, California
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 6 years ago | Contributor
Yes, you can sue him for unpaid wages, but not for all 7 years. Since you were evidently paid less than minimum wage (assuming you worked 35-40 hours per week for that $160), you can file a lawsuit for the difference between what you were paid and what you should have been paid under minimum wage for the last 4 years (you can only go back 4 years under what is known as the "statute of limitations," which defines how long you have to take legal action). If owed overtime that was never paid (when you worked more than 8 hours in one day or more than 40 hours in a week), under your state's law, it looks like you can also go back 4 years. Of course, to prove your case you will need time records for each week and also records of what you were paid.
If you contend you were promised more than minimim wage by your employer, you may sue for the additional amounts, too, but only for the last 2 years unless you had a written contract for the higher pay (in which case you could go back 4 years); oral (or unwritten) agreements can only be enforced (sued over) for two years.
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