In 2014, plaintiffs Ying Gao, a bookkeeper, and Shi Lin Wang, a nail technician, were terminated from their positions at Pivoine Nail Spa, in Pasadena. Gao and Wang claimed that while they were employed, they were not paid appropriate wages, or given meal or rest breaks. They also claimed that they were discriminated against and wrongfully terminated. Gao and Wang filed separate suits against their employers, the operators of Pivoine Nail Spa, Guang An Run International Investment Corp., Guang Hong International Investment Corp. and TingTing Sun, the president of the corporations. Gao and Wang each alleged that the defendants’ actions constituted racial discrimination, whistleblower retaliation, and wrongful termination in violation of California’s Labor Code. The matters were ultimately consolidated for trial. Plaintiffs’ counsel contended that Gao and Wang were discriminated against based on their race, in that Gao and Wang were not paid for the overtime hours they worked, nor were they provided meal or rest breaks, unlike their non-Asian co-workers. Gao also alleged that she was wrongfully terminated for complaining to her employer about the hiring of undocumented employees. Prior to closing statements, Wang dropped her wrongful termination claim. Guang An Run International Investment Corp., Guang Hong International Investment Corp. and TingTing Sun brought a counterclaim against Gao, alleging that Gao’s actions constituted conversion. Specifically, they claimed that Gao destroyed all documentation related to Pivoine Nail Spa, rendering the company(s) unable to defend the lawsuit., Gao and Wang worked at Pivoine Nail Spa since 2013 and were terminated approximately one year later, in 2014. They subsequently sought recovery of unpaid wages for the overtime hours worked. According to defense counsel, during closing statements, Gao and Wang sought recovery of damages in the range of $150,000 to $200,000, plus recovery of punitive damages. In regard to the counterclaim, Guang An Run, Guang Hong, and Sun sought recovery of at least $61,000 in damages.