Staff report

A Boardman resident filed a federal lawsuit last week in U.S. District Court’s Northern District of Ohio seeking unpaid wages from an international Mexican food chain.

Marcus Crissman of Beechwood Drive alleges Chipotle failed to pay him for work performed May 2, according to paperwork submitted Dec. 12 in Youngstown.

Crissman said he was hired at a rate of $14 per hour at Chipotle’s Canfield location on U.S. Route 224. On his first day, Crissman worked for five hours.

“He resigned after completing that shift,” the complaint states.

Crissman said he was not paid and discussed the issue with Chipotle’s general manager, who reportedly said she would contact the payroll department. That did not occur, the lawsuit alleges.

Crissman’s attorney, Chris P. Wido of Independence, charges the Newport Beach, California-based company violated the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Ohio Fair Minimum Wage Standards Act and the Ohio Prompt Pay Act.

“Chipotle failed to pay as agreed, breaching the implied contract,” the lawsuit states.

Crissman is pursuing back pay, damages, interest, attorneys’ fees and costs. He is requesting a jury trial.

According to its website, Chipotle has more than 130,000 employees in approximately 3,900 restaurants in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and the Middle East. The company says it owns and operates all of its facilities in North America and Europe.

Chipotle did not respond to a request for comment.