Victor Delgado Wins $928K in Wage and Battery Lawsuit
Table of Contents
Case Background
This case took place in the Circuit Court of the 11th Judicial Circuit in Miami-Dade County, Florida. Victor Delgado brought a lawsuit against Leonardo Gonzalez. The dispute revolved around unpaid wages and a violent altercation between the two. Delgado, a former worker for Gonzalez, accused his employer of underpaying him for months of labor. He also claimed that Gonzalez attacked him during a confrontation about those unpaid wages. The lawsuit combined employment law with personal injury claims, creating a mixed case of financial and physical harm.
Cause that led to the dispute
Delgado worked for Gonzalez between May and July of 2022, performing manual labor related to food preparation. According to Delgado’s complaint, Gonzalez had hired him to clean fruits and vegetables but never paid him fairly. Delgado worked about 56 hours a week, receiving only $400 weekly. The Florida Minimum Wage Act (FMWA) at that time required $10 an hour. Delgado alleged Gonzalez owed him thousands in unpaid wages, including overtime.
Tensions between the two escalated. On January 3, 2023, after months of disputes over unpaid amounts, Gonzalez visited Delgado’s home, which started as a verbal argument quickly turned physical. Delgado claimed Gonzalez grabbed his shirt and threw him to the ground. Gonzalez fled after the scuffle, leaving Delgado injured and later seeking medical treatment.
Injury
Delgado described suffering physical injuries from the battery, along with emotional distress. His complaint detailed mental anguish, pain, and disruption to his life. He also reported lost earnings, both from the work he had already done, and future earnings lost due to his injuries. The complaint highlighted permanent or ongoing pain from the incident, affecting both his health and financial stability.
Damages
Delgado sought multiple forms of damages. First, he wanted unpaid wages under federal and state labor laws. These included $2,229.76 in unpaid minimum wages and additional unpaid overtime. He also asked for liquidated damages, meaning double the amounts owed under the law. Finally, for the civil battery, Delgado requested compensation for his physical injuries, emotional suffering, medical costs, lost wages, and any future harm stemming from the incident.
Legal Representation
Plaintiff(s): Victor Delgado
· Counsel for Plaintiff(s): Elvis J. Adan| Ranier Regueiro | Armando Montesino | Christian Paul Struven
Defendant(s): Leonardo Gonzalez
· Counsel for Defendant(s): Self-represented (pro se)
Key Arguments by Counsel
Delgado’s attorney built the case on two fronts. First, they argued Gonzalez’s failure to pay Delgado for his work violated both the Fair Labour Standards Act (FLSA) and Florida law. The law required minimum wage and overtime pay, which Delgado didn’t receive. Counsel also pushed for liquidated damages, a provision that doubles the unpaid amount if the employer acted recklessly or willfully.
The second major argument centered on civil battery. Counsel painted a picture of a calculated attack, with Gonzalez arriving at Delgado’s home and physically assaulting him after an argument over the unpaid wages. The attorney stressed how the assault caused long-lasting harm to Delgado’s physical and emotional well-being.
Gonzalez, representing himself, denied the wage claims, insisting that Delgado only worked temporarily and that LAU Enterprises had accurate timecard records. On the battery claim, Gonzalez admitted a dispute had occurred but framed it as a mutual altercation, pointing out that both parties called the police and that no charges had been filed.
Claims Asserted
The lawsuit had three main claims:
Unpaid Wages under the FLSA:
Delgado sought payment for both unpaid minimum wage and overtime, claiming violations of federal labor law. He also demanded liquidated damages, attorney’s fees, and costs.
Violation of the Florida Minimum Wage Act (FMWA):
This claim focused on Florida’s wage requirements, with Delgado alleging Gonzalez paid him far below the state’s minimum wage.
Civil Battery:
Delgado accused Gonzalez of intentional physical assault, seeking compensatory damages for pain, suffering, emotional distress, and financial losses.
Defense Arguments
Gonzalez’s defense stood on several points. He argued that Delgado worked for him only temporarily and that he had proof of time records through his business. On the civil battery charge, Gonzalez described the altercation as a heated exchange where both sides contacted the police, emphasizing that no criminal charges resulted. He also asked the court to investigate Delgado’s medical records and any other pending lawsuits Delgado might have filed, suggesting a pattern of legal claims for financial gain.
Jury Verdict
The jury delivered its verdict on April 16, 2025, siding entirely with Victor Delgado. The jury in Victor Delgado v. Leonardo Gonzalez returned a verdict awarding Victor Delgado $250,000 in compensatory damages for the civil battery claim. This sum covered pain and suffering, emotional distress, medical expenses, and lost wages. On his Fair Labour Standards Act (FLSA) claims, the jury awarded $3,512.00 for unpaid minimum wages and $5,959.20 for unpaid overtime wages.