Plaintiff alleges labor law violations against former employers New York Hoist and Newburgh Iron

In a significant legal filing, an employee has brought a lawsuit against two New York-based companies for alleged violations of labor laws. The complaint was filed by Kawall Lachman in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York on February 28, 2026, targeting New York Hoist, LLC, and Newburgh Iron LLC as defendants.

The plaintiff, Kawall Lachman, claims that during his employment with the defendants from around 2018 to July 2025, he was systematically denied rightful overtime wages. According to the complaint, Lachman worked over forty hours each week without receiving the mandated overtime pay of at least 1.5 times his regular hourly rate. His regular pay ranged from $28 to $75 per hour depending on various factors. The complaint asserts that this practice is in direct violation of both federal and state labor laws, specifically citing the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and New York Labor Law (NYLL). “Plaintiff is entitled to unpaid overtime wages from Defendants,” states the filing, highlighting how Lachman often worked additional hours beyond his scheduled time without proper compensation.

Furthermore, Lachman accuses the defendants of breaching prevailing wage contracts which required them to pay him prevailing wages and overtime at an enhanced rate for any extra hours worked. This breach allegedly entitles him to recover not only unpaid wages but also maximum liquidated damages and prejudgment interest. Additionally, he claims that due to improper record-keeping practices by the defendants—such as failing to provide accurate wage statements—he was unable to determine or seek payment for all owed wages promptly.

Lachman’s lawsuit seeks several forms of relief from the court: unpaid overtime wages under both FLSA and NYLL provisions; maximum liquidated damages; reasonable attorneys’ fees; costs associated with bringing forth this action; and an injunction requiring compliance with wage notice requirements stipulated by NYLL §195(1) and §195(3). These demands underscore his assertion that he suffered financial harm due to systemic underpayment practices by his employers.

Representing Lachman is Abdul Hassan Law Group PLLC, led by attorney Abdul K. Hassan. The case has been assigned Case ID 1:26-cv-01677 in front of a jury trial as demanded by the plaintiff’s counsel.