Overtime Lawsuit Filed Against Las Vegas Sands CEO

Las Vegas Sands Corp. Chairman and CEO Sheldon Adelson is being taken to court by nine personal security officers and a driver over claims that they were improperly denied overtime pay and that the company practiced racial discrimination, according to VegasInc.  In addition, one of the security guards was allegedly fired for speaking up about being forced to perform multiple illegal activities during his duties, The executive security officers are reportedly highly trained and qualified professionals with backgrounds including a decorated U.S. Navy officer, deputy sheriff, charter school principal, former professional football player, U.S. Marshall officer, juvenile counselor, probation officer, and guards for many CEOs and celebrities.

The lawsuit provides in-depth details about what prompted the overtime and discrimination lawsuit. For the overtime portion, the lawsuit claims that when one of the guards confronted Zohar Lahav, vice president for executive protection, he responded “I don’t care what the law says! You work for me. I don’t pay overtime.” Illegal activities requested by management purportedly include carrying and transporting firearms in violation of state law, transporting a large bag of pharmaceutical drugs in foreign nations, and operating an unregistered X-ray machine. In regards to the racial discrimination alleged by the security officers, "During the 14 years of its existence, the Las Vegas Sands Executive Protection Team (EPT) has never hired or promoted an African American executive protection agent (EPA) to the post of EPT 'supervisor'...[and] has been managed and controlled by an executive management team which has been comprised exclusively of former Israeli citizens who are white males."

The case has heated up even further, with the defense claiming that the lawyer for the guards, Donald Campbell made anti-Semitic remarks about co-defendant Zohar Lahav. Campbell responded by saying, "The leveling of baseless charges of anti-Semitism is nothing new for Las Vegas Sands and its chairman.” The two have a previous history of flare-ups, with claims of tardiness, book-throwing, lies, and insults, according to reports.

Federal overtime law, specifically the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), stipulates that employers must pay overtime to non-exempt employees at a rate of one-and-one-half times the regular rate of pay for every hour worked over 40 hours in a single workweek. It also establishes federal standards for minimum wage, recordkeeping, and youth employment. Labor laws are often confusing, but many companies accidentally or deliberately withhold the proper pay from their employees. If you believe that you or a loved one may have been improperly compensated for your hard work, contact a devoted overtime attorney to pursue the justice you deserve.