$162K Fine for Overtime Violations

Avon construction company to pay $162K for violations of Massachusetts Overtime Law

Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office has reached a settlement agreement with Diaz Construction, formerly of Brockton, now of Avon, and its president, Leonel Diaz, 47, of Bridgewater, to resolve allegations that the company violated the Commonwealth’s wage and hour laws. Under the agreement, Diaz will pay $142,000 in restitution to 129 former and current employees and a $20,000 penalty to the Commonwealth.

In June 2008, the Attorney General’s Fair Labor Division began an investigation into the employment practices of Diaz Construction after receiving complaints from former Diaz Construction employees alleging that they had not been paid the proper rate for overtime pay. Throughout the investigation, Diaz and his company cooperated fully and provided the payroll records for the period between July 2006 and June of 2008 to the Attorney General’s Office. A self-audit of the payroll records by the company revealed that Diaz had unintentionally failed to pay his employees time-and-a-half for overtime hours worked between July 2006 and May 2008.

The matter was handled by Assistant Attorney General Lillian Hirales and Investigator James P. Coughlin, both of the Attorney General’s Fair Labor Division.

Under the Massachusetts overtime law, most employers in the Commonwealth are required to pay employees time-and-a-half for any hours over 40 they work per week. The Attorney General’s Fair Labor Division is responsible for enforcing the prevailing wage, minimum wage and overtime laws, and the payment of wages laws in the Commonwealth.

Workers who feel that these laws have been violated in their workplace are urged to call the Office’s Fair Labor Hotline at 617-727-3465. More information about the wage and hour laws call CTK today at 954-652-0733.

Woman Wins $9 Million Verdict Against Mistress

North Carolina Woman Wins $9 Million Verdict Against Husband's Mistress

Rumors circulated recently that Elizabeth Edwards was considering suing Andrew Young, ex-aide to John Edwards, under a North Carolina law that allows spouses to sue third-parties that cause the demise of their marriage.

Nothing ever came of that, and we had a hard time understanding how it was Young that could be held responsible for that collapse anyway. But, more to the point, we assumed it was one of those laws that sat on the books but was never actually used. We were wrong.

A North Carolina wife, Cynthia Shackelford, sued her husband's mistress, Anne Lundquist, claiming alienation of affection, intentional inflection of emotions distress and other adultery-related allegations, Greensboro's News & Record reported.

Shackelford said her husband's relationship with Lundquist ruined her marriage, but the husband, Allan, and Lundquist claim the marriage was broken before their relationship began, the article said. Lundquist and Allan Shackelford now live together, even though the Shackelford's divorce is not final, the ABA Journal noted.

The $9 million seems to be totally out of left field -- Lundquist did not even show up for court and was representing herself because she said she cannot afford an attorney. She believes she was not properly notified about the case and is looking for someone who will represent her on appeal.

So really this is all just odd, but if you also saw the Elizabeth Edwards story and assumed that North Carolina law was just held an honorary place on the books -- well, now we know that isn't so. And, according to the ABA Journal, there is an average of 200 such suits a year.

Cheating Spouse Investigations

Adultery / Infidelity Investigations

(Marital): The first step in the evaluation and discovery of a potential affair with infidelity, unfaithful spouses, adultery, and cheating mates is the obtaining of an objective, professional opinion as to the merits of the case. CTK INVESTIGATIONS, LLC provides free consultations from professional and experienced private investigators nationwide.

Is your spouse unfaithful, having an affair, acting suspicious, or deceitful? Do you know what is happening for certain? Surveillance, bodily fluids testing, and communications investigations for phone activity, internet use, email, instant messenger, and more are some effective ways to determine inconsistencies or consistencies in a subject’s behavior to discover the affair. Documentation is the most important part of your case. Having a thorough report, an explanation of video, and still photography evidence can help you with your presentation of the facts. If you decide to work with a qualified Florida family attorney, it is important that we can work together for your case to protect you and your interests.


Even if you are an Executive, Professional Athlete, Professional, Entrepreneur, Public Celebrity, Government Official, or a spouse of one, with Cory T. Knight and our Florida private investigators at CTK INVESTIGATIONS, LLC you can be 100% assured and guaranteed confidentiality! Our investigation agency and our team understand the need for a thorough and discrete spousal or significant other investigation.

Have you noticed changes in the subject’s behavior- signs of infidelity?
• Excessive or discreet use of the computer
• Overtime hours or holdovers with work
• Hiding of phone, credit card, or bank accounts histories
• Excessive arguing of facts related to time
• Blaming behavior of false accusing
• Negative projections behavior - accusing you of an affair
• Lack of sexual interest or abnormal renewed sexual interest
• Abnormal call activity at the home or cell phones - Hang ups and long tones
• Removal of pictures or photos from wallet
• Lost wedding ring
• Singles behavior - out with friends
• These are only some of the signs



All evidence is collected and provided in a strict, factual and specific manner. Preliminary and scientific forensic lab analysis is also available. Extramarital affairs often lead to divorce; we do not interfere -- we are here to help. We can assist in items from the discovery process to recovering from infidelity. Our Florida private investigators believe infidelity is a very serious matter and should be treated accordingly -- infidelity is hurtful and degrading and we can help in a courteous and professional manner.



If your spouse or significant other is cheating, you deserve to know the truth. With the help of one of our Florida infidelity private investigators at CTK INVESTIGATIONS, LLC can begin to start the healing process. This may not include keeping the relationship together. If you decide that your marriage is irrevocably broken, you are going to need the discreet services that the Florida private investigators at CTK INVESTIGATIONS, LLC offer. As difficult as it may be to come to terms with, you are going to need to get the facts and protect your interests. Coping with infidelity is not easy, but living with it is worse. Call Cory T. Knight today to discuss your spousal or significant other infidelity investigations.



As always, please feel free to contact Cory T. Knight at (954) 652-0733, or any of our Florida private investigators for a FREE consultation. If you prefer, you can click here to e-mail us. Our private investigation agency is here to assist you, contact us today.

Items to which you can expect to have access for Unfaithful and Cheating Mate - Adultery Investigations:
• Surveillance
• Polygraph Examination Lie Detection
• Semen Testing
• Bodily Fluid Testing
• DNA for Hair and Skin
• Covert Pregnancy Testing
• Surface Drug Testing
• Photos of Unknown Subjects
• Communications Activity
• Computer Usage
• Internet Usage
• Email Tracing
• Identity Verification
• Covert and Undercover Assignments

People who we catch (the cheater):
• Cheating Wife or Unfaithful Wife
• Cheating Husband or Unfaithful Husband
• Cheating Spouse or Unfaithful Spouse
• The Emotional Infidelity
• The Other Woman
• The Other Man
• Marital Infidelity
• Matrimonial Investigations


Online Infidelity
Many times e-mail, messenger activity, the workplace, and other communication mediums are aggravators in the process. We have Florida private investigators and computer experts that have extensive forensics experience that can explain how you can discover and use our investigations and computer monitoring software with your discovery process.

Were You Paid For Your OVERTIME?

Did you get paid for the OVERTIME YOU WORKED?

Our Florida Private Investigators had the opportunity to assist with computer forensics to prove that employers were violating The Fair Labor Standards Act. This commonly known as the “FLSA,” and it requires covered employers to pay their employees time and one-half their regular rate of pay for each and every hour worked over Forty (40) in a work week. For employees whose normal pay is not based upon an “hourly” rate, their regular rate requires calculating all of their compensation into an hourly rate. Certain incentives, such as commissions and non-discretionary bonuses, may also need to be considered when calculating the overtime rate. While most private employers may not substitute “comp time” for overtime wages an employee has earned, and therefore these employees should be paid, some government employers are permitted to provide their employees with time off benefits instead of paying overtime wages.

Regardless of whether employees receive their wages through a salary, an hourly rate, a draw, a production rate (a piece rate), or commissions , or even a combination of these or other types of pay, the FLSA requires covered employers to pay overtime wages for each and every hour worked over Forty (40) in a work week. If you believe that you worked overtime and you were not paid for it, CALL US TODAY for your FREE CONSULTATION. We may be able to recommend one of the attorneys we have worked with that specializes in overtime cases. They will be happy to speak with you TODAY.

You worked - now get paid what you were entitled to! CALL US TODAY 954-652-0733

Texting While Driving Accidents

U.S Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today announced federal guidance to expressly prohibit texting by drivers of commercial vehicles such as large trucks and buses. The prohibition is effective immediately and is the latest in a series of actions taken by the Department to combat distracted driving since the Secretary convened a national summit on the issue last September.

“We want the drivers of big rigs and buses and those who share the roads with them to be safe,” said Secretary LaHood. “This is an important safety step and we will be taking more to eliminate the threat of distracted driving.”
The action is the result of the Department’s interpretation of standing rules. Truck and bus drivers who text while driving commercial vehicles may be subject to civil or criminal penalties of up to $2,750.

"Our regulations will help prevent unsafe activity within the cab,” said Anne Ferro, Administrator for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). “We want to make it crystal clear to operators and their employers that texting while driving is the type of unsafe activity that these regulations are intended to prohibit."

FMCSA research shows that drivers who send and receive text messages take their eyes off the road for an average of 4.6 seconds out of every 6 seconds while texting. At 55 miles per hour, this means that the driver is traveling the length of a football field, including the end zones, without looking at the road. Drivers who text while driving are more than 20 times more likely to get in an accident than non-distracted drivers. Because of the safety risks associated with the use of electronic devices while driving, FMCSA is also working on additional regulatory measures that will be announced in the coming months.

During the September 2009 Distracted Driving Summit, the Secretary announced the Department’s plan to pursue this regulatory action, as well as rulemakings to reduce the risks posed by distracted driving. President Obama also signed an Executive Order directing federal employees not to engage in text messaging while driving government-owned vehicles or with government-owned equipment. Federal employees were required to comply with the ban starting on December 30, 2009.

If you or a loved one were injured in a car accident or truck related crash while working due to the other driver’s negligence due to texting while driving, please click here so that the law firm of CTK INVESTIGATIONS ,LLC can answer your questions for FREE. All of our consultations are confidential and we always offer FREE CONSULTATIONS.