New Mexico labor agency wins judgment for unpaid workers

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Workers who were left without their final paychecks when the Albuquerque-based consulting company they worked for went bust are one step closer to getting their money.
The New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions has won a summary judgment of more than $52,000 on behalf of seven workers of now defunct CPST Consulting, LLC.
State labor officials say the company ceased operations in 2015 without distributing final paychecks for employees.
The judgment includes $16,920 in unpaid wages plus 200% in liquidated damages and interest mandated by state law when workers are left unpaid.
A state district court found that company owner Richard Montoya was individually liable for the wage debts and that going out of business doesn't shield business owners from having to pay workers for time on the job.