California Employer Sues State Over Wage Claims for Illegal Workers

The owner of a downtown Los Angeles sushi restaurant facing wage payment claims by two alleged undocumented workers has launched a novel counterattack by filing a class-action lawsuit against the California labor commissioner for defying federal immigration law.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

July 24, 2008

California Employer Sues State Over Wage Claims for Illegal Workers
The owner of a downtown Los Angeles sushi restaurant facing wage payment claims by two alleged undocumented workers has launched a novel counterattack by filing a class-action lawsuit against the California labor commissioner for defying federal immigration law.

Masayoshi Kaji of Sushi Sharin argues that the commissioner’s policy of providing undocumented workers with an administrative forum in which to litigate wage claims and awarding them wages violates the Immigration Reform and Control Act. His attorney believes the case is one of first impression.

“The immigration policy of the United States is that people who are here illegally can’t work and should not be awarded wages,â€