MD Firoz Shah has filed a class-action lawsuit against a New York-based supermarket chain, alleging widespread wage violations. The complaint was lodged in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York on February 20, 2026, naming Alaqsa Supermarket Inc., along with individuals Ibrahim Doe and Mohammad S. Hoque, as defendants.
The case revolves around allegations that the defendants systematically underpaid employees, including Shah, by not adhering to minimum wage laws and failing to compensate for overtime hours worked beyond forty per week. Shah claims that during his tenure at Alaqsa Supermarket from 2015 until December 23, 2024, he regularly worked up to seventy-two hours per week without receiving due overtime pay or spread-of-hours compensation for shifts exceeding ten hours. The plaintiff also accuses the supermarket of neglecting to provide mandatory wage notices and accurate statements as required by law. According to the filing, these practices were part of a broader strategy by the defendants to minimize labor costs unlawfully.
Shah’s lawsuit seeks both declaratory and injunctive relief on behalf of himself and similarly situated employees. The legal action aims to recover unpaid wages, liquidated damages, statutory damages under New York Labor Law (NYLL), and attorneys’ fees. Additionally, Shah is pursuing collective action status under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) for approximately one hundred fifty workers who allegedly suffered similar treatment. The plaintiff argues that these employees were subject to common unlawful pay policies depriving them of rightful compensation.
The legal filing outlines several claims against the defendants: failure to pay minimum wages and overtime wages under both FLSA and NYLL; failure to provide spread-of-hours pay; and violations of New York’s Wage Theft Prevention Act (WTPA) for not issuing proper wage notices or statements. These alleged infractions have reportedly resulted in significant financial harm to Shah and other affected workers.
In response to these grievances, Shah requests that the court certify this case as a collective action for FLSA claims and a class action under Rule 23 for NYLL claims. He seeks damages covering unpaid wages, additional penalties stipulated by labor laws, pre- and post-judgment interest, along with reasonable attorneys’ fees. Moreover, Shah demands an injunction preventing further violations by Alaqsa Supermarket Inc.
Representing MD Firoz Shah is Camille A. Sanchez from Pechman Law Group PLLC based in New York City. The case is being presided over in the Southern District of New York under Case ID 1:26-cv-01461.
Source: 126cv01461_MD_Firoz_v_Alaqsa_Supermarket_Complaint_Southern_District_of_New_York.pdf
