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ZOLDAN LAW GROUP, P

L

L

C

8100 E. Indian School Rd. Suite 103 Scottsdale, Arizona 85251

Tel & Fax: 480.442.3410 – mzoldan@zoldangroup.com

Michael Zoldan; AZ Bar No. 028128

Jason Barrat; AZ Bar No. 029086

ZOLDAN LAW GROUP, PLLC

8100 E. Indian School Road 

Suite 103

Scottsdale, AZ 85251

Tel & Fax: 480.442.3410

mzoldan@zoldangroup.com

jbarrat@zoldangroup.com

Attorneys for Plaintiff 

Yolanda Ramos

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

Yolanda Ramos, an Arizona resident,

Plaintiff, 

v.

Dental Specialty Associates, PLC, an 

Arizona limited liability company; Lior 

Berger, an Arizona resident, and Brian 

Lilien, an Arizona resident,

Defendants.

Case No. 

VERIFIED COMPLAINT

(Jury Trial Requested)

Plaintiff Yolanda Ramos, for her Verified Complaint against Defendants, hereby 

alleges as follows:

NATURE OF THE CASE

1. Plaintiff brings this action against Defendants for their unlawful failure to 

pay overtime in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act, 29 U.S.C. §§ 201-219 

(hereinafter “FLSA”) and failure to make timely payment of wages under the Arizona 

Wage Statute, A.R.S. §§ 23-351, 23-353, and 23-355 (“Arizona Wage Statute”).

2. This action is brought to recover unpaid overtime wage compensation, 

Case 2:16-cv-00045-SRB Document 1 Filed 01/08/16 Page 1 of 10
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ZOLDAN LAW GROUP, P

L

L

C

8100 E. Indian School Rd. Suite 103 Scottsdale, Arizona 85251

Tel & Fax: 480.442.3410 – mzoldan@zoldangroup.com

liquidated damages and statutory penalties resulting from Defendants’ violations of the 

FLSA.

3. This action is also brought to recover unpaid wages, treble damages, and 

statutory penalties resulting from Defendants’ violations of the Arizona Wage Statute.

JURISDICTION AND VENUE

4. This Court has jurisdiction over the subject matter and the parties hereto 

pursuant to 29 U.S.C. § 216(b) and 28 U.S.C. § 1331.

5. Plaintiff’s state law claim is sufficiently related to her federal claim that it 

forms the same case or controversy. This Court therefore has supplemental jurisdiction 

over Plaintiff’s claim under the Arizona Wage Statute pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1367.

6. Venue is proper in this District under 28 U.S.C. §§ 1391(b) and (c) because 

all or a substantial part of the acts or omissions giving rise to the claims occurred in the 

state of Arizona within this District. Plaintiff was employed by Defendants in this 

District.

PARTIES

7. At all times relevant to the matters alleged herein, Plaintiff Yolanda Ramos

was a resident of Arizona. 

8. Plaintiff was a full-time, non-exempt employee of Defendants from in or 

around September of 2013 until on or about November 30, 2015.

9. At all relevant times, Plaintiff was an employee of the Defendants as 

defined in 29 U.S.C. § 203(e)(1) and was a non-exempt employee under 29 C.R.F. §

213(a)(1).

10. Defendant Dental Specialty Associates, PLC, is an Arizona limited liability 

Case 2:16-cv-00045-SRB Document 1 Filed 01/08/16 Page 2 of 10
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ZOLDAN LAW GROUP, P

L

L

C

8100 E. Indian School Rd. Suite 103 Scottsdale, Arizona 85251

Tel & Fax: 480.442.3410 – mzoldan@zoldangroup.com

company, authorized to conduct business in Arizona, and was Plaintiff’s employer as 

defined by 29 U.S.C. § 203(d) and A.R.S. § 23-350.

11. Defendant Lior Berger is an Arizona resident. He has directly caused 

events to take place giving rise to this action. Lior Berger is an owner of Dental 

Specialty Associates, PLC.

12. Defendant Brian Lilien is an Arizona resident. He has directly caused 

events to take place giving rise to this action. Brian Lilien is an owner of Dental 

Specialty Associates, PLC.

13. Under the FLSA, Defendants Lior Berger and Brian Lilien are employers. 

The FLSA defines “employer” as any individual who acts directly or indirectly in the 

interest of an employer in relation to an employee. Defendants Lior Berger and Brian 

Lilien are the owners of Dental Specialty Associates, PLC. They determined the method 

and rate of Plaintiff’s payment of wages. As persons who acted in the interest of Dental 

Specialty Associates, PLC in relation to the company’s employees, Lior Berger and Brian 

Lilien are subject to individual and personal liability under the FLSA.

14. Plaintiff is further informed, believes, and thereon alleges that each of the 

Defendants herein gave consent to, ratified, and authorized the acts of all other 

Defendants, as alleged herein.

15. Defendants, and each of them, are sued in both their individual and 

corporate capacities. 

16. Defendants are jointly and severally liable for the injuries and damages 

sustained by Plaintiff. 

17. At all relevant times, Defendants have been engaged in interstate commerce 

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ZOLDAN LAW GROUP, P

L

L

C

8100 E. Indian School Rd. Suite 103 Scottsdale, Arizona 85251

Tel & Fax: 480.442.3410 – mzoldan@zoldangroup.com

and have been an enterprise whose gross annual volume of sales made or business done is 

greater than $500,000. 

FACTUAL ALLEGATIONS

18. Defendant Dental Specialty Associates, PLC is a dental practice that 

performs routine dental care and dental surgery for its patients. 

19. On or around September 2013, Plaintiff began employment with 

Defendants as a specialty dental assistant, often performing clerical work, manual labor, 

and generic assistance to Defendants’ management staff. 

20. For example, Plaintiff’s job duties included tasks such as: cleaning 

Defendants’ offices, washing/sterilizing Defendants’ medical equipment, stocking 

supplies, answering phones, and handing medical instruments to dentists during a clinical 

procedure. 

21. Plaintiff did not exercise discretion or independent judgment with respect to 

matters of significance.

22. Plaintiff did not have authority to formulate, affect, interpret, or implement

Defendants’ management policies or operating practices.

23. Plaintiff did not carry out major assignments in conducting the operations 

of Defendants’ business.

24. Plaintiff did not perform work that affects business operations to a 

substantial degree.

25. Plaintiff did not have the authority or discretion to commit the Defendants 

in matters of significant financial importance.

26. Plaintiff did not have authority to waive or otherwise deviate from

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ZOLDAN LAW GROUP, P

L

L

C

8100 E. Indian School Rd. Suite 103 Scottsdale, Arizona 85251

Tel & Fax: 480.442.3410 – mzoldan@zoldangroup.com

Defendants’ established policies and procedures without prior approval.

27. Plaintiff did not provide consultation or expert advice to management.

28. Plaintiff was not involved in planning long-term or short-term business 

objectives.

29. Plaintiff did not investigate and/or resolve matters of significance on behalf 

of Defendants. 

30. Plaintiff did not represent Defendants in handling complaints, arbitrating 

disputes, or resolving grievances.

31. Plaintiff’s primary duty was not the management of Defendants’ office(s)

in which she was employed.

32. Plaintiff did not customarily and/or regularly direct work of two or more 

employees.

33. Plaintiff did not have the authority to hire or fire other employees.

34. From September 2013 until July 2015 Plaintiff was paid a rate of

approximately $14.50 per hour.

35. From August 2015 until November 30, 2015 Plaintiff was paid a rate of

approximately $16.00 per hour.

36. In a given workweek of Plaintiff’s employment with Defendants, Plaintiff

worked between approximately one (1) and twenty (20) hours of overtime without being 

compensated at one-and-one-half times her regular rate of pay for such time worked.

37. Plaintiff worked more than forty (40) hours in a given workweek without 

being compensated for the overtime hours worked during many workweeks.

38. For example, during the 2-week pay period ending on November 25, 2014, 

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ZOLDAN LAW GROUP, P

L

L

C

8100 E. Indian School Rd. Suite 103 Scottsdale, Arizona 85251

Tel & Fax: 480.442.3410 – mzoldan@zoldangroup.com

Plaintiff worked at a minimum approximately 11 hours of overtime without being 

compensated at one-and-one-half times her regular rate of pay for such time worked.

39. At all relevant time during Plaintiff’s employment, Defendants failed to 

properly compensate Plaintiff for her overtime hours.

40. Defendants were aware that Plaintiff’s working hours routinely exceeded 

40 hours, and required her to work overtime as a condition of her employment.

41. Defendants wrongfully withheld wages from Plaintiff by failing to pay all 

wages due for hours Plaintiff worked.

42. Defendants failed to pay Plaintiff her complete final paycheck.

43. Defendants refused and/or failed to properly disclose or apprise Plaintiff of 

her rights under the FLSA.

44. Defendants’ willfully failed and/or refused to compensate Plaintiff at the 

rates and amounts required by the FLSA and the Arizona Wage Statute.

COUNT I

(FAILURE TO PAY OVERTIME WAGES – FLSA – 29 U.S.C. § 207)

45. Plaintiff incorporates by reference all of the above allegations as though 

fully set forth herein.

46. At all relevant times, Plaintiff was employed by Defendants within the 

meaning of the FLSA.

47. Plaintiff was a non-exempt employee entitled to the statutorily mandated 

overtime wage.

48. Defendants have intentionally failed and/or refused to pay Plaintiff 

overtime according to the provisions of the FLSA.

49. As a direct result of Defendants’ violations of the FLSA, Plaintiff has 

Case 2:16-cv-00045-SRB Document 1 Filed 01/08/16 Page 6 of 10
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ZOLDAN LAW GROUP, P

L

L

C

8100 E. Indian School Rd. Suite 103 Scottsdale, Arizona 85251

Tel & Fax: 480.442.3410 – mzoldan@zoldangroup.com

suffered damages by not receiving compensation in accordance with 29 U.S.C.§ 207.

50. Under 29 U.S.C. § 216 Defendants are liable to Plaintiff for an amount 

equal to one and one-half times their regular pay rate for each hour of overtime worked 

per week.

51. In addition to the amount of unpaid wages owed to Plaintiff, she is entitled

to recover an additional equal amount as liquidated damages pursuant to 29 U.S.C. §

216(b).

52. Defendants’ actions in failing to compensate Plaintiff, in violation of the 

FLSA, were willful. Defendants knew Plaintiff was working overtime but failed to pay

proper overtime wages. Defendants had no reason to believe their failure to pay overtime

was not a violation of the FLSA.

53. Defendants have not made a good faith effort to comply with the FLSA.

54. Plaintiff is also entitled to an award of attorneys’ fees pursuant to 29 U.S.C. 

§ 216(b). 

COUNT II

(FAILURE TO TIMELY PAY WAGES DUE – ARIZONA WAGE STATUTE)

55. Plaintiff incorporates by reference all of the above allegations as though 

fully set forth herein.

56. At all relevant times, Plaintiff was employed by Defendants within the 

meaning of the Arizona Wage Statute.

57. Defendants were aware of their obligation to pay timely wages pursuant to 

A.R.S. § 23-351.

58. Defendants were aware that, under A.R.S. § 23-353, they were obligated to 

pay all wages due to Plaintiff.

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ZOLDAN LAW GROUP, P

L

L

C

8100 E. Indian School Rd. Suite 103 Scottsdale, Arizona 85251

Tel & Fax: 480.442.3410 – mzoldan@zoldangroup.com

59. Defendants failed to timely pay Plaintiff her regular and overtime wages 

due without a good faith basis for withholding the wages.

60. Defendants failed to timely pay Plaintiff her complete final paycheck.

61. Defendants have willfully failed and refused to timely pay regular and 

overtime wages due to Plaintiff. As a result of Defendants' unlawful acts, Plaintiff is 

entitled to the statutory remedies provided pursuant to A.R.S. § 23-355.

CONCLUSION AND PRAYER FOR RELIEF

WHEREFORE, Plaintiff prays:

A. For the Court to declare and find that the Defendants committed one or 

more of the following acts:

i. violated overtime provisions of the FLSA, 29 U.S.C. § 207, by failing to 

pay overtime wages;

ii. willfully violated overtime provisions of the FLSA, 29 U.S.C. § 207;

iii. willfully violated the Arizona Wage Statute by failing to timely pay all 

wages due to Plaintiff;

B. For the Court to award compensatory damages, including liquidated 

damages pursuant to 29 U.S.C. § 216(b) and/or treble damages pursuant to 

A.R.S. § 23-355, to be determined at trial;

C. For the Court to award interest on all wage compensation due accruing 

from the date such amounts were due under all causes of action set forth 

herein;

D. For the Court to award such other monetary, injunctive, equitable, and 

declaratory relief as the Court deems just and proper;

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ZOLDAN LAW GROUP, P

L

L

C

8100 E. Indian School Rd. Suite 103 Scottsdale, Arizona 85251

Tel & Fax: 480.442.3410 – mzoldan@zoldangroup.com

E. For the Court to award Plaintiff’s reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs 

pursuant to 29 U.S.C. § 216(b) and A.R.S. § 12-341.01 and all other causes 

of action set forth herein;

F. Any other remedies or judgments deemed just and equitable by this Court.

JURY DEMAND

Plaintiff hereby demands a trial by jury of all issues so triable.

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED January 8, 2016.

ZOLDAN LAW GROUP, PLLC

By: /s/ Jason Barrat 

8100 E. Indian School Road 

Suite 103

Scottsdale, AZ 85251

Attorneys for Plaintiff Yolanda Ramos

Case 2:16-cv-00045-SRB Document 1 Filed 01/08/16 Page 9 of 10
1 VERIFICATION 

2 Plaintiff Yolanda Ramos declares under penalty of petjury that she has read the 

3 

4 foregoing Verified Complaint and is familiar with the contents thereof. The matters 

5 asserted therein are true and based on her personal knowledge, except as to those matters 

6 stated upon information and belief, and as to those matters, she believes them to be true. 

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