SOUTH BEND, IND. — Former workers at injection molder Fortis Plastics LLC are suing the company and its private equity owner, claiming the companies did not comply with a federal law that requires 60 days' notice before a mass layoff or plant closing.
On Sept. 24, U.S. District Court Judge Jon DeGuilio in South Bend, Ind., certified the class-action suit, which was filed June 29 by 91 former Fortis employees.
The case stems from the closure of a Fortis plant in Fort Smith, Ark., in 2011, although all 11 Fortis plants have closed. The last closing, in Carlyle, Ill., happened in April 2012.
The lawsuit, against Fortis and parent company Monomoy Capital Partners LP, seeks lost wages, benefits, interest and lawyer fees.
Fortis was headquartered in South Bend.