Former security guards who say their paychecks bounced after Westech’s Throggs Neck office suddenly shut down last fall have cleared a big legal hurdle. A federal judge has granted class-action status to their case, turning what started as individual complaints over missing wages into a coordinated push for back pay, benefits and legal fees.
Court narrows class to Throggs Neck hourly workers
On March 16, 2026, U.S. District Judge Analisa Torres signed off on a class limited to hourly workers employed out of Westech’s Throggs Neck office between June 10, 2024 and September 30, 2024 who either never got their paychecks or had them bounce. The order names Keith Rodriguez as the class representative and appoints Valli Kane & Vagnini LLP and Rissmiller PLLC as class counsel. The judge also told the plaintiffs to submit a proposed notice so other potential class members can be alerted, according to Justia.
Workers say they found the office locked and paychecks bounced
Employees and local reporting say dozens of guards showed up at Westech’s Throggs Neck office at 3040 East Tremont Ave. in September 2024 expecting to grab their paychecks, only to find the doors locked and a sign saying the office was temporarily closed. Many never recovered their money for earlier pay periods. Court filings and neighborhood coverage say some guards reported that checks had already bounced in the pay cycles leading up to the shutdown. The lead plaintiffs’ attorney called the closure “incredibly disruptive to employees,” as reported by Bronx Times.
Complaint alleges WARN and wage-law violations
The federal complaint accuses Westech of violating the federal WARN Act, New York’s WARN law and several wage-and-hour rules, including claims of unpaid overtime and improper meal-break deductions. In granting class certification, the court summarized these theories and noted that, because the defendants have not appeared, the evidence submitted by the plaintiffs is credited for purposes of certification. The filing spells out the legal arguments the putative class is pursuing and the tight limitations of the certified class, according to Justia.
Owner faces tax delinquencies and has not answered
Public tax records list William C. Vassell, identified in court papers as the owner of Westech, on New York State’s roster of top-100 delinquent taxpayers with more than $1.5 million in assessed liabilities tied to several entities. Local reporting says Vassell has not responded to the new class-action complaint, and employees and their lawyers say the company did not respond when guards tried to collect their pay. The outstanding tax amounts appear on the New York Department of Taxation and Finance’s delinquent taxpayers page.
Legal implications and next steps
If the WARN claims move ahead, Westech could be on the hook for back pay and benefits covering the required notice period. The U.S. Department of Labor says the federal WARN Act generally requires 60 days of advance notice before qualifying mass layoffs or closures. New York’s WARN statute typically demands an even longer runway, generally 90 days’ notice for covered employers under state law. With class certification now granted, the case is expected to proceed to notice for potential class members, followed by discovery and the usual round of motions that come with wage-and-hour litigation.
