March 29, 2024 The Best Source of News, Culture, Lifestyle for Culver City, Mar Vista, Del Rey, Palms and West Los Angeles

Ex-Chairman of Occidental Petroleum Settles Lawsuit Over Unpaid Compensation

The ex-chairman and CEO of Occidental Petroleum, his wife and three of their former domestic workers have settled the employees’ lawsuit alleging the couple underpaid them for “slave-like work hours” and disparaged them because they are Filipinos.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Ernest Hiroshige then dismissed the plaintiffs’ case on Aug. 15. But the judge is retaining jurisdiction to enforce the terms of the settlement, which were not divulged in the attorneys’ joint papers.

Trinidad De La Cruz, Melanie Belonio and Elena Gabriel filed suit on April 5 against Ray and Ghada Irani. It alleged numerous employment violations, hostile work environment harassment, intentional infliction of emotional distress, false imprisonment and slander.

Belonio and Gabriel also alleged human trafficking violations by the Iranis, claiming they were lured to the U.S. with false promises of a good job and good pay. They alleged that after they were brought to America, the Iranis and their “agents” seized their passports to restrict their travels.

The plaintiffs were warned they could be deported and returned to Qatar, where the Iranis obtained travel papers for Belonio and Gabriel that falsely stated the workers were employed by the royal family, the lawsuit alleged.

The Iranis were unable to get U.S. visas for the two workers in Lebanon, where they initially worked for the couple in their vacation home, the suit states.

The Iranis brought De La Cruz to the U.S. from Saudi Arabia, where she worked for a relative of Ghada Irani, according to the suit.

Ray Irani is a USC graduate and has donated millions of dollars to the university. He pledged $15 million last year for the creation of the Ray Irani Residential College in the USC Village, which is currently under construction. His wife is a philanthropist and has chaired UNICEF’s Southern California Regional Board.

According to the complaint, all three plaintiffs worked at the Iranis’ 17,480-square-foot Bel Air mansion. De La Cruz was employed there from January 1997 to January 2016, while Belonio and Gabriel toiled there from October 2013 to February 2016.

“It is in the blood of Filipinos to be stealers,” Ghada Irani told the plaintiffs, according to the lawsuit. She also said they had no need for their passports because they would work at the Bel Air mansion for life, according to the lawsuit.

Given the alleged excessive hours the three women were required to initially work, their effective wage rate was about $2.85 an hour, the suit alleged. Their pay increased over time, but they continued to be subjected to “slave-like work hours” throughout the period they worked for the Iranis, the suit alleged.

Related Posts

Foreign Currency in International Business Expansion

January 2, 2024

January 2, 2024

Business has transformed into a whole different dimension. The interconnectedness across countries is increasing the feasibility of business expansions. It...

How to Select Quality Solar Panels and Installation in California

January 2, 2024

January 2, 2024

As solar energy becomes more affordable and popular, many homeowners in California are considering installing solar panels. However, not all...

Celebrating Christmas in Las Vegas: A Winter Wonderland of Fun and Festivity

November 15, 2023

November 15, 2023

As the festive season approaches, Las Vegas transforms into a glittering winter wonderland, offering a unique and magical Christmas experience....

Navigating Oxnard’s Public Transportation System: A Driver’s Guide

November 2, 2023

November 2, 2023

Whether you live in Oxnard or want to visit, it’s useful to know how to get around this coastal city....

15 Tips For Keeping Burglars Out Of Your Business

October 16, 2023

October 16, 2023

In the ever-evolving realm of business security, the persistent threat of burglary perpetually looms overhead like a dark cloud. The...

US Gambling Laws

July 12, 2023

July 12, 2023

Whilst casino gaming is a significant part of the American culture, US gambling laws are ever-changing. Prior to the Unlawful...

Reasonable Renting in The City of Angels

June 2, 2023

June 2, 2023

What would it be like to wake up in a bustling metropolis filled with endless possibilities, set against rows of...

BEST BITCOINS CASINO 2023: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

May 29, 2023

May 29, 2023

Bitcoins casino and cryptocurrency casinos are in full swing, and they will increase users exponentially in the coming years. However,...

Messi Drives Up Ticket Prices Up for this MLS Season.

May 4, 2023

May 4, 2023

Lionel Messi’s arrival in Major League Soccer (MLS) is already causing a stir, and the profound effect it is having...

Don’t Miss Your Last Chance to Experience CORTEO by Cirque du Soleil!

April 25, 2023

April 25, 2023

The Show’s Run At The Microsoft Theater Ends On April 30  Time is running out for fans of CORTEO by...

Enforcement of LA’s Home Sharing Ordinance for Short-Term Rentals Falls Significantly in 2022

April 4, 2023

April 4, 2023

Better Neighbors LA report highlights the inadequacies of enforcement measures for short-term rentals in Los Angeles, calling for increased regulation...

Tragic Fire Claims Lives of Elderly Couple and Their Cat in Mar Vista

February 9, 2023

February 9, 2023

Doris Bergman and Albert Sassoe Jr. victims in Wednesday morning fire By Sam Catanzaro An elderly couple and their cat...

4 Tips for Landing Your Dream Job

January 2, 2023

January 2, 2023

New graduates have fresh skill sets and they are driven by a desire to succeed. Hampering this desire, however, is...

Cancer Cartel Provides Financial Help To Cancer Patients

November 16, 2022

November 16, 2022

Cancer Cartel is helping cancer patients focus on their treatment, not the financial stress of living with a diagnosis. Learn...

Column: Tenant Support Could Tip the Political Scales in CD-11 Council Race

October 29, 2022

October 29, 2022

Darling pushes advocacy of renter’s rights over Park in tightly contested battle to succeed Mike Bonin! By Nick Antonicello In...