Firm Recognized for Pro Bono Work in Washington, D.C.

Since 1969, the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs has provided pro bono legal services in civil rights cases. Latham has proudly partnered with the committee for many years, and we were honored to receive the "Outstanding Achievement Award" at the committee’s annual Wiley A. Branton Awards Luncheon. This award recognizes our contributions to a class action and civil complaint on behalf of a group of painters, carpenters, and construction workers to recover unpaid wages and damages. 

Latham filed the lawsuit in October 2013 against Tito Contractors, a local contracting company that unrepentantly failed to pay its employees overtime wages for decades. The plaintiffs were primarily immigrants from Central and South America, most of whom were unable to speak English. The Latham team litigated the matter through October 2015, ultimately securing back wages for 25 employees and additional damages for wages beyond the three-year statutory period. Notably, the team won cross summary judgment motions that produced new case law in the District of Columbia favorable to underprivileged workers.

“The Washington Lawyers’ Committee is one of the leading advocates for the underserved in our community. We were thrilled to help them secure this victory, and we look forward to working together on more pro bono matters in the future” said Washington, D.C. partner Max Grant, who oversaw the firm’s work on the class action and civil complaint.