Former employees file suit against Lansing pot farmer

[TexasTowelie]

A federal lawsuit seeks to recoup unpaid wages and hold a Lansing-based marijuana cultivator accountable for allegedly breaking several labor and discrimination laws.

Two former employees of RGR Industries, which does business under the name Iliad Epic Grow at 921 Terminal Road in Lansing, sued the company and its owner, Richard Ruzich, earlier this month in the Western District federal court in Grand Rapids. Among the allegations: Former staffers Dominic and Jessica Price claimed they weren’t paid for at least several weeks of work.

The lawsuit also labels the company’s finances as a “mess” and maintains that Jessica Price was paid far below the rate at which her male counterparts made for the same amount of work.

“Their jobs were extremely labor intensive such that the nature of their work routinely required a significant time commitment from them each week,” the lawsuit states. “The Prices regularly worked between 40 and 55 hours (or more) each work week for RGR during their employment.”

Read more: https://www.lansingcitypulse.com/stories/former-employees-file-suit-against-lansing-pot-farmer,15502

[iemitsu]

1. How quickly the pot business adopts the worst

practices of capitalism.

[TexasTowelie]

4. I'm not surprised in the least.

I've always noted the presence of capitalism in the marijuana business even though there is a social aspect of sharing a buzz with friends. However, with COVID running rampant I can understand why the activity is less social--I'm far more reluctant to share a bong, blunt, or joint with someone since those are activities that could be contagious.

[iemitsu]

7. Yeah, the social aspect has been ruined.

[safeinOhio]

8. I've stopped the social aspect of smoking

almost a year ago. I think at first my friends thought I was antisocial. Now they do the same.

[Budi]

2. Perhaps pot farm owner, Richard Ruzich just "forgot" to pay the Prices

Perhaps pot farmer Ruzich just sorta "forgot" to do his books

Uuuh ya know.

[TexasTowelie]

3. What has me perplexed is how the claimants can be suing in federal court

when the activity that they are engaged in is a federal crime. My understanding of the law is that there isn't a valid contract when the underlying activity is illegal. I wouldn't be surprised if the judge dismisses the lawsuit for that reason alone. Maybe one of our brilliant attorneys on DU can explain this?

[Budi]

5. That's true Tx Towelie. Does Michigan law allow pot farming?

Just asking..

[TexasTowelie]

6. Yes, it is legal to have a commercial operation as long as it is licensed,

As far as personal consumption is concerned, any household with at least one adult 21 and older is allowed to grow 12 plants. That makes Michigan's household marijuana cultivation law the least strict out of all of the states.

[safeinOhio]

9. You need a license to grow more than 12 plants.

Seems to be lots of growers and the underground cheap pot is abundant. The street prices are about half of the price at the stores.

Grow your own is easy peasy.