We are an employment and consumer protection law firm based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Recognized for our expertise and results, our consumer and employment attorneys are specialists, Super Lawyers and leaders in the legal community. We are dedicated advocates and work tirelessly to secure justice and striking outcomes for our clients.
Employment Law
Wage Theft: Millions Lost to Unlawful Employment Practices Each Year
Each year, thousands of Minnesota workers lose millions of dollars to wage theft by employers. Whether an employer requires employees to log into their computer five minutes before their shift and not pay them, misclassifies workers as independent contractors to avoid overtime pay and deny benefits, or pays less than minimum wage, employees of all socio-economic background are at risk of wage theft.
Background Checks: What Are My Employment Rights?
June 9, 2017 - Employment background checks can be an unnerving experience. Yet, employers are increasingly requiring new job applicants and current employees to submit to them, often in the form of criminal background checks and credit history checks. This article provides answers to some frequently asked questions about background checks.
Employee v. Independent Contractor: Misconceptions About Misclassification
May 19, 2017 – Misclassification of employees as independent contractors continues to be a problem in the U.S. workplace. Many independent contractors do not realize they may be employees and that certain factors are immaterial to determining whether they are independent contractors.
Class Actions
Rehberg et al. v. Flowers Baking Co. of Jamestown et al.: Answers to Common Distributor Questions
Distributors can click on the above headline-link for answers to questions about the claim form and pending class action settlement.
Flowers Foods Distributors Win Sixth Consecutive Conditional Class Certification
May 8, 2017 - Distributors of bakery products for Flowers Foods have scored another conditional class certification victory in their wage and hour case against the company. Carr et al. v. Flowers Foods, Inc. et al. (E.D. Penn.) marks the sixth straight win for distributors, who are challenging their classification by Flowers Foods as independent contractors, rather than employees. One of these lawsuits, Rehberg (North Carolina), has already been certified as a class, and a preliminary settlement has been made. Baillon Thome Jozwiak & Wanta LLP serves as Lead Class Counsel in all six lawsuits.
Rehberg v. Flowers of Jamestown Settlement Documents
Below are documents related to the Flowers Baking Company of Jamestown settlement. Everyone who signed a Distributor Agreement with Flowers Baking Co. of Jamestown, LLC and worked as Distributors in the State of North Carolina and who were classified as independent contractors at any time from September 12, 2010, until the date the Court preliminarily approves this settlement are Class Members under this settlement.
Firm News
Wanta Joins MSBA Consumer Litigation Section Governing Council
June 13, 2017 – Firm partner Shawn Wanta was elected to the Minnesota State Bar Association’s Consumer Litigation Section Governing Council. Shawn is a founding partner of Baillon Thome Jozwiak & Wanta LLP and leads the firm’s consumer litigation and class action practice groups. His three-year term on the Council begins July 1, 2017.
Cassie Navarro Featured in Attorney at Law Magazine
June 1, 2017 - Baillon Thome Jozwiak & Wanta LLP associate Cassie Navarro was featured as a Next Generation attorney in the May 2017 issue of Attorney at Law magazine. This issue hightlights up-and-coming attorneys who shaping the Minnesota legal community.
Baillon, Thome and Jozwiak Present at 2017 Employment Law Institute
May 25, 2017 - The Upper Midwest Employment Law Institute is the preeminent conference for employment lawyers and human resource professionals. Frances Baillon, Joni Thome and Chris Jozwiak joined other leaders in employment law to discuss some of the most important legal issues confronting practitioners and their clients.