Between March 2009 and May 2010, plaintiff Eneyda Mendez was employed as a cook at Rancho Plaza Carniceria in Los Angeles. She claimed that during that time, she was not paid the full minimum wage or wages for overtime. She also claimed that she was not paid for meal and rest periods. Mendez claimed that this continued throughout her employment and that those missing wages were not paid at the time of her termination, either. Mendez sued Rodolfo and Sylvia Ruiz, who were doing business as Rancho Plaza Carniceria. Mendez alleged that the defendants’ actions constituted violations of California’s wage and hour laws. Mendez claimed that she was not paid her full minimum wages or the requisite overtime premium, but was instead paid for all hours worked at the rate of $6.25 per hour. She also claimed she never received meal or rest periods, was paid entirely in cash, and never received any itemized pay stubs at all. Rodolfo and Sylvia Ruiz answered the complaint, but did not appear at depositions or the scheduled bench trial., Mendez sought recovery of $20,491.29 in total damages and penalties, including $8,883.29 in unpaid minimum wages, $2,760 in unpaid overtime wages, $2,880 in missed rest periods, $48 in missed meal periods, $1,920 in waiting time penalties, and $4,000 for non-itemized pay stubs. She also sought recovery of $7,848 in total prejudgment interest. Thus, the total amount sought amounted to $28,339.73.