New lawsuit filed against Durham company accused of not paying employees

A lawsuit was filed this week in Durham County by three sisters who say they are owed money for working as camp counselors for CJF America. WRAL Investigates reported in August about another lawsuit that was filed by seven former employees from multiple states. WRAL has reported, for months, on the Durham-based company accused of not paying its employees, and on criminal charges against three of its executives. 

The complaint, filed Monday, seeks unpaid wages for Briana, Jasmine and Kalia Thompson. They are represented by Raleigh attorneys Jonathan Marx and Philip Thomas, who also represent the plaintiffs in the first lawsuit.

"I just felt like the way that they did us was very wrong," Jasmine Thompson told WRAL Investigates, as to why she filed the lawsuit. "We worked very hard. We did stuff for those kids and I feel like everybody deserves their money."

Thompson, 21, says she still feels the financial strain from not being paid.

"I haven’t been able to pay rent in like four months," she said. "I have never worked [anywhere] and not [gotten] paid."

The complaint describes a disorganized summer camp environment, stating:

"During her time as a camp counselor at CJF, Jasmine Thompson was in charge of approximately 36 children ages 5 to 7, sometimes with no assistance from another adult. In addition to understaffing, she saw that the camp was poorly run: meals (which the camp was supposed to arrange) did not arrive on time, and the camp did not provide any activities for the children to do besides watch TV."

WRAL Investigates emailed CJF America spokesperson Reagan Cartwright seeking a response to the lawsuit, and asking why employees had not been paid and when they would be paid. They have yet to answer.

For months, WRAL has sought interviews with CJF America executives to no avail, despite Cartwright claiming on Sept. 5 that she would be "happy to coordinate" an interview with the president, Kristen Picot.

WRAL reported last month that CJF America founder, Courtney Jordan, and Chief Financial Officer Nicholas Gallardo are facing charges of felony conspiracy and obtaining property by false pretense. Those warrants remain unserved. WRAL Investigates previously asked Durham Police what steps they are taking to find the two men. A department spokesperson said they could not disclose that information as it could jeopardize the case.

CJF America President Kristen Picot is charged with writing worthless checks, yet has twice missed her court dates, the most recent time because her attorney told the court she was hospitalized for an unknown reason. Two of the Thompson sisters are among those named as victims in Picot's cases. Picot has a court date scheduled for this week, although it is unclear if she will appear in person.

In the original lawsuit filed against CJF America and its executives, the majority of attempts to serve those named in the suit were unsuccessful, with online court records showing the documents were returned unserved. In a filling this week, attorney Jonathan Marx states they were successful in serving defendant Courtney Jordan Group Inc. with a summons and complaint on August 19th via its registered agent, United States Corporation Agents Inc.

"More than 30 days have elapsed since service, and defendant Courtney Jordan Group Inc. has failed to appear, plead, or otherwise defend as required by law," the motion states. Marx submitted a motion for entry of default, which seeks a ruling in their clients' favor due to the length of time without a response.