Alvarado Balderramo v. Go New York Tours Inc.

Background

Victor H. Alvarado Balderramo brought a putative class action under the Fair Labor Standards Act, New York Labor Law, the Minimum Wage Act, and the Wage Theft Protection Act against Go New York Tours Inc. and Asen Kostadinov. The opinion states that Kostadinov was the company's president and owner. In a prior opinion in this action, the court granted in part and denied in part the parties' cross-motions for summary judgment.

Settlement Discussions

The parties reported beginning private mediation in April 2023. In December 2023, they said they were preparing a settlement agreement and expected to seek preliminary approval of a class-action settlement. In July 2024, they stated that they were finalizing the settlement and preparing to request approval under Rule 23(e), which governs court approval of class-action settlements. They also said they would seek approval under the review process referenced in the opinion as “Cheeks” review. In April 2025, the parties again reported that they were finalizing the settlement and that Balderramo expected to share proposed motion papers with the defendants within the next few weeks.

Ruling

Because there had been no further activity, Judge Edgardo Ramos directed the parties to submit a status letter by July 18, 2025. The order did not grant or deny settlement approval, rule on any pending motion, or decide the underlying wage claims.