Immigrant family sues bakery over working conditions

Posted June 24, 2008
1:50 PM

New Haven (AP) _ A family of Ecuadorean immigrants has filed a federal lawsuit accusing the owners of a New Haven bakery shop where they worked of sexually and verbally abusing them for years. They also allege the owners refused to pay the minimum wage or overtime and threatened to deport them if they complained.

The unusual lawsuit by undocumented immigrants was filed earlier this month under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act.

Olger Nestor Urena Flores and members of his family are making the allegations against Antonio DiBenedetto and his wife, Anna, who own Rocco's Bakery in New Haven and a bread-making factory in Meriden.

A telephone message was left Tuesday for the DiBenedettos' lawyer, Hugh Keefe.

The lawsuit seeks damages for back wages and for suffering and emotional distress.

Read all 29 comments »

http://www.wtnh.com/Global/story.asp?S=8547220