Ragini Patel is suing Pontoon Beach Subway Sandwiches owner Hiren Patel for not paying her for 10,800 hours of work.
In a six-count suit filed April 27 in Madison County Circuit Court, Ragini Patel claims she should have been paid $10 an hour for the work she did as manager of the store located at 1B Oakmont Center. She is seeking $108,000 for violation of the Wage Payment and Collection Act, unjust enrichment, and breach of contract from Hiren Patel and his corporation, Twinkle Enterprises Inc.
A full-time employee working 40 hours per week for a full year would put in 2,080 hours.
An employee who answered the phone at the Pontoon Beach store did not know if Ragini and Hiren Patel were related.
According to the suit, Ragini Patel worked at the store during two different time frames, from October 1999 through January 2001 and again from February 2001 through April 2003.
"(Ragini Patel) would not have returned to work at the store a second or third time without an understanding she would be paid," the complaint states.
She also claims Twinkle Enterprises and Hiren Patel benefited from her labors but never paid "a dime for the benefits those defendants received."
Earl Hubbs, of the Alton lawfirm Wiseman, Hesi, Mormino, Hubbs, Velloff, Edmonds & Snider P.C., represents Ragini Patel.
The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Philip Kardis in Granite City.
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