More than a year after receiving approval to pursue cases of wage theft in support of short-changed workers, Fresno City Attorney Andrew Janz and Fresno City Councilman Tyler Maxwell are set to announce the city’s first case, City Hall sources told The Sun.
Fresno was one of the first to launch a locally-operated wage theft protection program, following a change in state law, and won grants from the state’s Labor Commissioner to aid in its operations.
The backstory: In 2023, Gov. Gavn Newsom signed off on Assembly Bill 594, which granted public prosecutors – including City Attorneys – the ability to prosecute wage theft cases in lieu of California’s Labor Commissioner.
- Since its approval in early 2024, Janz weighed in on pending litigation that touches on allegations of wage theft by Valley Children’s Hospital from some of its nurses. Since announcing his intent to review the facts of the case, however, no formal action has been taken by his office.
Driving the news: Per sources, Janz and Maxwell are slated to hold a press conference at Fresno City Hall on Monday morning to announce the first-ever prosecution since the city launched its Wage Protection Program, and will “address serious allegations of wage theft and labor violations.”
