Disney Hit With $37.5M Class Action Suit By Former Ex-Theme Park Employee

Disneyland was not the happiest place on Earth for at least one former employee, and he’s seeking hundreds of others who feel the same way. Reykeel Zorio this week slapped Walt Disney Parks and Resorts and finance data services Walt Disney Worldwide Services with a class action complaint, alleging he was ripped off by Disney for unpaid vacation, unpaid wages and other monies. Claiming that the class members “exceed five hundred (500) persons,” Zorio’s complaint seeking a jury trial was filed yesterday in LA Superior Court (read it here). It presently seeks less than $75,000 for Zorio and the other class members individually. However, add that all up and you get a hefty figure around $37.5 million that’s being sought from the House of Mouse.

The three-claim class action seeking certification is intended to cover all former nonexempt employees who worked at Disneyland Park, Disney’s California Adventure Theme Park, Disneyland Hotel, Disney Grand Californian Hotel, Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel and Downtown Disney from 2010-2014. Zorio was hired by Disney Worldwide Services in November 2011 and was “transferred” to Disneyland. His first day of work there was November 26 that year. The 11-page complaint does not state when he left the company, but it alleges violation of labor code for denial of vacation wages, violation of labor code for unpaid wages at discharge and violation of business and practices.

Zorio’s complaint also says that a class action is the best action because Disney would “use their superior financial and legal resources to gain an unfair advantage over each individual class member. The filing also adds that Disney’s handling of the funds due the employees constitutes “unfair, fraudulent, or illegal business practices” under California law. As well as wanting the owed funds, plus interest and legal fees, the complaint seeks an order “enjoining Defendents for further unfair, unlawful or fraudulent business practices.”

Pasadena’s Neal Fialkow and James Cahill and Tarzana’s Sahag Majarian are representing Zorio in the action.