A lawsuit alleges that a company failed to pay overtime wages to its staff appraisers over a three-year period, raising questions about compliance with federal labor standards for hourly workers. The complaint was filed by La Rica Golar in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia on March 12, 2026, naming Class Valuation, LLC as the defendant.
According to the filing, Golar brings the case on behalf of herself and other current and former employees who worked as staff appraisers for Class Valuation, LLC between March 12, 2023 and the present. The suit claims that these employees were not paid at one-and-a-half times their regular rate for hours worked beyond 40 in a workweek as required by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), 29 U.S.C. §§ 201 et seq.
The complaint outlines that Golar was employed by Class Valuation, LLC from October 2022 through November 2025 as a staff appraiser. She alleges that her primary duty—and that of similarly situated employees—was to develop and deliver compliant residential appraisal reports. The document states that these workers did not perform executive functions or manage any aspect of company operations. It further asserts they did not supervise other employees or have authority over hiring or firing decisions.
Golar claims that she and other staff appraisers had no discretion or independent judgment regarding significant matters in their roles. According to the complaint, “Defendant exerted significant control over Plaintiffs and other Appraisers’ work,” including determining hours, schedules, assignments, compensation rates, and requiring adherence to company policies. The filing also notes that these services were an integral part of the defendant’s business operations: “Defendant received the majority of its revenue from the work performed by Plaintiff and other Appraisers.” The complaint adds that Class Valuation determined how much these employees were paid and maintained records of their hours worked.
The legal argument centers on allegations that Class Valuation willfully failed to pay overtime wages at one-and-a-half times the regular rate for hours exceeding forty per week. Staff appraisers were reportedly paid on a piece-rate basis but regularly worked more than forty hours per week without receiving appropriate overtime compensation. The plaintiff asserts this practice violates FLSA provisions regarding non-exempt employees.
Golar seeks conditional certification of a collective action covering all persons employed as staff appraisers by Class Valuation within three years prior to filing who were denied overtime pay for working more than forty hours in any given week. She requests prompt notification be sent to potential class members so they may join the suit by opting in with individual consents.
In addition to unpaid wages owed under FLSA guidelines, Golar asks for liquidated damages equal to those unpaid amounts as well as reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs associated with pursuing the action. She also requests any further relief deemed just by the court.
The complaint is signed by attorneys Christopher B. Hall (Georgia Bar #318380) and Gordon Van Remmen (Georgia Bar #215512) from Hall & Lampros LLP in Atlanta. A jury trial is demanded on all factual issues raised in the case. The matter is identified as Civil Action File No. 1:26-cv-01377-TWT.
Source: 126cv01377_La_Rica_Golar_v_Class_Valuation_Complaint_Northern_District_of_Georiga.pdf
