Commissioner Diaz champions law to let wage theft victims recover attorney fees

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY – Victims of wage theft who have to hire a lawyer to get their unpaid wages will also be able to have their attorney fees reimbursed under a change in the law sponsored by Miami-Dade County Commissioner Jose “Pepe” Diaz.

The Miami-Dade County Commission on March 7 amended the County’s wage theft ordinance to allow victims to recover attorney fees when going after deadbeat employers.

The ordinance gives employers who have been ordered by a County hearing examiner to make wage restitution 45 days to pay or be liable for any attorney fees incurred to force them to comply.

“This really puts teeth in our wage theft ordinance by making sure victims are able to fight their fight by not getting stuck with big legal bills just to get the pay they have earned and worked hard for,” Commissioner Diaz said.

Also on March 7, Commissioners approved another resolution sponsored by Commissioner Diaz to oppose legislation currently pending in the state legislature that would preempt the County’s ability to regulate in a number of areas including wage theft.