Along with attorneys Andrew Free, Devin Theriot-Orr, and Meena Mentor, SGB filed suit against the GEO Group, Inc. in September 2017, alleging that GEO violated the Washington Minimum Wage Act by not paying minimum hourly wages to civil immigration detainees who worked for GEO in its voluntary work program at the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma, Washington.

On October 29, 2021, a federal jury returned a verdict of $17.3 million in favor of the class of detainees who worked in the Voluntary Work Program at the Northwest ICE Process Center (formerly known as the Northwest Detention Center) in Tacoma, Washington, any time between September 26, 2014, and October 29, 2021. GEO appealed the jury’s verdict and the Ninth Circuit affirmed the judgment in favor of the plaintiff class of detained individuals on January 16, 2025. GEO petitioned the Ninth Circuit for a rehearing which was denied on August 13, 2025.. GEO is now seeking Supreme Court review of the judgment. The Supreme Court will decide whether or not to accept review in the first half of 2026. If the Supreme Court accepts review, the appeal could take from months to over a year to finally resolve.

If you believe you are a member of the class, please contact paralegal, Mary Dardeau at (206) 233-1257 or (800) 809-2234 or dardeau@sgb-law.com to ensure we have current contact information for you.