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Illegal Immigrants Sue Wendy's
Houston Chronicle ^ | Oct. 6, 2006 | Rasha Madkour

Posted on 10/09/2006 10:24:24 AM PDT by A. Pole

HOUSTON — A group of illegal immigrants who worked for Wendy's International Inc. is suing the restaurant chain because the company fired them after discovering it had missed a deadline for joining a federal program that would have helped them attain legal status.

The lawsuit, filed Friday in state district court in Houston, is a companion to a similar class-action suit filed last month in Dallas against Dublin, Ohio-based Wendy's, its subsidiary Cafe Express and the Houston-based business law firm Boyar & Miller.

The immigrants, who worked for Cafe Express, are seeking unspecified damages.

Between the two lawsuits, 40 illegal immigrants say they were fired after the company recently found that Boyar & Miller, the law firm Wendy's had hired, never filed paperwork for a 2001 legalization program that allowed immigrants with employer sponsorship or an American spouse to apply for citizenship.

Once the discovery was made, Wendy's was forced by law to fire the employees because of their illegal status. Immigrants in the program would have been insulated from being fired.

"I put all my hope and faith in this company," said Daniel Olivares, who worked for Cafe Express for nine years before being fired in September. "It was devastating news for me and my family."

Wendy's spokesman Bob Bertini called it an "extremely unfortunate situation" due to "the mistakes made by others" that began before his company acquired Cafe Express.

Both entities "had no idea these applications were not filed on time until late this summer," Bertini said. "Unfortunately, our hands are tied."

Bertini said Boyar & Miller, which no longer represents the company, was supposed to file the paperwork on time. The firm did not immediately return calls seeking comment.

Wendy's and Cafe Express say the number of immigrants affected statewide is 22 _ 16 who were fired, and six who left on their own after hearing the news.

But attorneys for the immigrants estimate that the number is closer to 100, even though only 40 are named in the suits.

"A surgeon leaving a scalpel inside of someone is a direct analogy to missing a filing deadline _ you don't do it as a lawyer," said Stanley Broome, whose Dallas-area law firm, Howie, Broome & Bobo, is representing the immigrants.

Attorneys for Olivares said the company deducted $25 from his weekly paycheck of $313.20 for 4 1/2 years to cover legal fees associated with the program. With the rest of his paycheck, Olivares said he helped support his sister, her two daughters and his ill mother in Mexico City.

Olivares said he was risking deportation to speak up for himself and his former co-workers. He said he has not looked for other work because he's afraid of being caught by the authorities.

"I'm not safe anymore," said Olivares, who has been in the country 14 years.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Mexico
KEYWORDS: aliens; border; fastfood; illegal; immigrantlist; immigration; jobs
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To: MortMan

Did you read the whole article? They were being sponsored to work, and had money deducted to cover the expenses. There was nothing illegal going on with the workers.


21 posted on 10/09/2006 10:36:17 AM PDT by Lunatic Fringe (Say "NO" to the Trans-Texas Corridor)
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To: A. Pole

time to eat at wendy's.....


22 posted on 10/09/2006 10:37:25 AM PDT by joe fonebone (Israel, taking out the world's trash since 1948.)
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To: A. Pole
"I'm not safe anymore," said Olivares, who has been in the country 14 years.

Is America safer after six years of Dubya?

23 posted on 10/09/2006 10:37:38 AM PDT by RightWhale (Repeal the law of the excluded middle)
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To: Lunatic Fringe
That's almost $6,000. They have every right to sue, especially when they were trying to work in America the legal way.

They should get their money back, but they were most certainly NOT "trying to work in America the legal way."

24 posted on 10/09/2006 10:39:08 AM PDT by Sloth ('It Takes A Village' is problematic when you're raising your child in Sodom.)
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To: MortMan

I agree with you. Illegal status, to me, means no LEGAL rights. If you're here illegally, then the only law of this country that applies to you is the one you've broken.
I don't think people who drive illegally have any rights to sue for damages, etc, either.
We are in a bad spot when the Constitution and laws, written for citizens, apply to-and protect- non-citizens.
Where is the incentive to become a legal citizen if you get all the legal rights without bothering?


25 posted on 10/09/2006 10:39:20 AM PDT by ClearBlueSky (Whenever someone says it's not about Islam-it's about Islam. Jesus loves you, Allah wants you dead!)
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To: sandbar
"Wendy's screwed up. Period."

Except that Wendy's did not own the company when this occurred and the fact that it was the lawyers who were paid to file the paperwork who didn't file the paperwork. er... on second thought, Wendy's did not screw up. Period.
26 posted on 10/09/2006 10:39:33 AM PDT by monday
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To: A. Pole

I don't understand. If people these are illegals why haven't they been shown the way to the border, the bum's rush, if you please. That should end any law suit...........


27 posted on 10/09/2006 10:45:03 AM PDT by lmailbvmbipfwedu
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To: monday

>>>"Wendy's screwed up. Period."

Except that Wendy's did not own the company when this occurred and the fact that it was the lawyers who were paid to file the paperwork who didn't file the paperwork. er... on second thought, Wendy's did not screw up. Period.>>>

Ummm, who reduced the paycheck by taking money out? Wendy's.

Who purchased a company, LIABILITIES and all? Wendy's.

When you understand how business works, get back to me.

Oh yeah, Period.


28 posted on 10/09/2006 10:46:04 AM PDT by sandbar
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To: A. Pole

why can't these phony immigrants and criminal aliens just get in line like most decent people do?


29 posted on 10/09/2006 10:46:51 AM PDT by Republicus2001
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To: A. Pole

He was never "safe".

Dr. Trease from the UofH Law School (consultant to tv)talked about this on the local news Saturday morning. He did seem to think that he illegals had much of a chance on this one.


30 posted on 10/09/2006 10:46:52 AM PDT by Jaded ("I have a mustard- seed; and I am not afraid to use it."- Joseph Ratzinger)
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To: ClearBlueSky

>>>I agree with you. Illegal status, to me, means no LEGAL rights. If you're here illegally, then the only law of this country that applies to you is the one you've broken.>>>

They were only here ILLEGALLY because the lawyers they PAID MONEY to file the paperwork to continue them being LEGAL, did not do their job.


31 posted on 10/09/2006 10:47:02 AM PDT by sandbar
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To: A. Pole

am I wrong in suggesting that Illegals shouldn't get to do anything that as a legal resident or citizen we have the right to do such as partake of the justice system, own a home, collect benefits from the state, social security, go to school, work, etc...?


32 posted on 10/09/2006 10:48:05 AM PDT by annelizly
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To: Lunatic Fringe

>>>Did you read the whole article? They were being sponsored to work, and had money deducted to cover the expenses. There was nothing illegal going on with the workers.>>>

Are you kidding me? I'm convinced that only 15% of Freepers actually read the articles they make posts on. It's getting ridiculous and makes conservatives look stupid.


33 posted on 10/09/2006 10:48:17 AM PDT by sandbar
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To: Brilliant

Above all else, congress and the public need to agree that NO IMMIGRANT, legal or illegal, has a RIGHT to be here. Therefore, if a mistake is made in any legal process regarding their status, they have no legal standing to complain or file suit.

Immigration is a PRIVILEGE, not a RIGHT.

I support extending that PRIVILEGE much more broadly than some other FReepers. But we must agree that it is not a RIGHT.

Every person has a RIGHT to life... but not to live it in the USA.


34 posted on 10/09/2006 10:48:20 AM PDT by spintreebob
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To: monday

>>>The law firm who missed the filing deadline deserves to be sued, Wendy's does not.>>>

Wendy's deducted money on their behalf, therefore Wendy's, whether they like or not, has picked up the liability.


35 posted on 10/09/2006 10:49:47 AM PDT by sandbar
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To: ClearBlueSky
Illegal status, to me, means no LEGAL rights.

Agreed. I've worked with many Asian Indians who were relying on the corporate lawyers to get their immigration paperwork done, and they certainly were not here illegally. The fact that this article calls them illegal must mean just that.

As for lawyers not doing there job, more than a few times in a few years of working in Silicon Valley one of the Asian Indians would discover that the paperwork was lost somewhere in the system and that they would have to start all over again, three years down the drain. It was never the lawyer's fault, always some snafu on the government side. So let's not be so hasty to blame Cafe Express/Wendy's.

36 posted on 10/09/2006 10:50:31 AM PDT by craig_eddy
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To: A. Pole

10-8-06 11:55
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1715846/posts


37 posted on 10/09/2006 10:51:40 AM PDT by AmericaUnite
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To: sandbar
"Who purchased a company, LIABILITIES and all? Wendy's."

They may be liable but it wasn't they who made the mistake. I understand how business works but I am also logical enough to understand that it wasn't Wendy's who screwed up, but the law firm. Apparently you aren't.

Whatever. If you want to think Wendy's is an evil company go ahead if it makes you feel better.
38 posted on 10/09/2006 11:03:57 AM PDT by monday
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To: petkus

-Won't this get the companies to stop hiring illegals?-

Now that's an interesting thought. I can't imagine how these things actually get to court in the first place, but if it has an impact, sue away!


39 posted on 10/09/2006 11:05:04 AM PDT by AmericanChef
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To: sandbar
I put all my hope and faith in this company," said Daniel Olivares, who worked for Cafe Express for nine years before being fired in September. "It was devastating news for me and my family."

The paperwork was not filed in 2001. This man started working for the company in 1987, therefore, AS AN ILLEGAL. For 4 years- THEN paperwork was supposed to have been filed in 2001. It's now 5 years later. So what we have- if I understand correctly- is a company that hired ILLEGALS, then offered to sponsor them ,didn't file papers 4 years later, and now-5 years after that- someone notices. The company hired illegals, the lawyers lied to the illegals, took their money and they are STILL illegals. Doesn't matter how- they are. Illegals=no legal rights. Now, the lawyers are thieves and were enabled by the company to be so. The company gives back the $$- to the ILLEGALS- who are then deported and can apply for citizenship the right way. The lawyers are disbarred, the company punished for hiring illegals. Solved.
Stealing money-by whatever means- is one thing. You get it returned. Legal citizenship is another. And since when do fast food companies 'sponsor' illegals?
40 posted on 10/09/2006 11:05:44 AM PDT by ClearBlueSky (Whenever someone says it's not about Islam-it's about Islam. Jesus loves you, Allah wants you dead!)
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