A class action lawsuit has been filed against the nation's largest homebuilder for allegedly hiring undocumented workers, misclassifying them as independent contractors, and paying them substandard wages off the books. The lawsuit was filed in New Jersey Superior Court in Middlesex County and claims D.R. Horton violated the New Jersey Construction Industry Independent Contractor Act and Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of current and former employees of D.R. Horton in New Jersey, including Horton's subcontractors' employees and members of the New Jersey Regional Council of Carpenters.
D.R. Horton's Plaza Grande residential complex at Garden State Park in Cherry Hill began construction by hiring Brookside Construction Corporation, which used union members. The suit claims D.R. Horton offered to write a check to cut off union workers, but the union immediately refused. D.R. Horton fired Brookside and its union members and replaced them with a non-union firm, according to the complaint. The class action alleges D.R. Horton and its new subcontractor, TOSA Construction, Inc., then knowingly hired undocumented workers and intentionally misclassified them as independent contractors.
The class action claims D.R. Horton took advantage of vulnerable workers and paid subcontracted workers in cash to undermine their legal responsibility. In misclassifying workers, D.R. Horton failed to pay unemployment and workers compensation insurance, health and welfare benefits, applicable New Jersey and local taxes, applicable federal taxes, and Social Security taxes.
If you feel you should be included in this class action, please contact the [New Jersey Regional Council of Carpenters]
