The complaint and demand for jury trial was filed by Aileen C. Alanan, Gerlie Albuna, April G. Alfonso, Jenny Solomon, Aiza Y. Garcia, Doricel Lemorinas, Mary Grace Manguiob, Raquel A. Ramos, Reah Carascal Rodriguez, and Merarcy P. Templado against Chanpac Inc. which is doing business as Club Jama.
The company is owned by couple Ernest J. Strange and Thelma Strange.
The plaintiffs, through their counsel Colin M. Thompson, are asking the federal court to order the defendants to give them an award of expectation, incidental, consequential and compensatory damages in an amount to be proven at trial, prejudgment interest, for any and all overtime compensation due them, for liquidated damages, for reasonable attorney’s fees incurred and costs of suit, and for other relief as the court may deem proper.
The plaintiffs said the Strange couple hired them as dancers and required them to wear certain clothing as uniforms while working at the club.
They said the defendants deducted the costs of the uniforms from their wages without their consent.
The plaintiffs said as part of their duties they were to encourage customers to order and consume ladies drinks but if they could not reach their quota they were forced to work on their days off until they meet their quota.
The plaintiffs said the defendants made them dance for events and functions outside and attend involuntary training sessions in addition to their hours of work at Club Jama.
They also said their free time were severely restricted.
The plaintiffs are suing their employers for violation of the Fair Labor Standard Act.
They claimed that the defendants failed to pay them for overtime and maintain accurate records of their actual work hours.
They are also filing for breach of contract due to their employers’ failing to pay them the compensation indicated in their employment contracts.
In Dec. 2007, police and Department of Labor investigators raided an apartment in Chalan Piao where six Club Jama dancers said they were being falsely imprisoned.
Mr. Strange denied the allegation, but his club never reopened since that day.
