In a striking legal battle that underscores the ongoing issues of fair labor practices, Paola Castano has filed a lawsuit against Riverbrook Hospitality Management LLC, alleging violations of federal and state overtime laws. The complaint was lodged in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York on February 16, 2026. Castano, who worked as a housekeeper at one of Riverbrook’s hotels in Essington, Pennsylvania, claims she was not adequately compensated for overtime hours.
According to the lawsuit, Castano was employed by Riverbrook from November 27, 2023, until April 12, 2024. During this period, she asserts that she routinely worked more than forty hours per week but was compensated only with lodging and a flat daily rate of $92.00. This payment structure allegedly violated both the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and Pennsylvania’s Minimum Wage Act (PMWA) and Wage Payment and Collection Law (PWCL), which mandate overtime pay at one and one-half times the regular rate for hours worked beyond forty in a week.
The complaint further alleges that Riverbrook applied this compensation scheme uniformly to all non-managerial housekeepers across its locations in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Castano contends that despite raising concerns about her unpaid overtime with her supervisor, Julian Andres Paredes, no corrective action was taken by the company. “Defendant willfully chose not to pay her overtime premiums,” states the complaint.
Seeking justice not only for herself but also for others similarly affected, Castano is pursuing collective action under FLSA provisions and class action under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23. She aims to represent all non-managerial employees who were subjected to similar treatment during their employment with Riverbrook in Pennsylvania.
The plaintiffs are seeking several forms of relief from the court: declarations that Riverbrook’s practices were unlawful; injunctions preventing future violations; compensation for unpaid wages; liquidated damages; attorneys’ fees; and any other relief deemed appropriate by the court. They argue that these measures are necessary to rectify past injustices and prevent further exploitation.
Representing Castano are attorneys Edgar Riveiro, Alexander T. Coleman, and Michael J. Borrelli from Borrelli & Associates P.L.L.C., based in Garden City, New York. The case is being presided over by judges at the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York under Case ID 1:26-cv-01284.
Source: 126cv01284_Paola_Castano_v_Riverbrook_Complaint_Southern_District_of_New_York.pdf
