Durham foundation faces contempt charge over unpaid employees

Investigation into Courtney Jordan Foundation’s Employee Pay Issues

DURHAM, N.C. (WTVD) — New details have emerged in an I-Team investigation into the Courtney Jordan Foundation, also known as CJF America, which is accused of not paying its employees.

The North Carolina Department of Labor (NC DOL) filed a motion in court to compel CJF America to provide pay records. This action follows over 30 complaints from former employees regarding unpaid wages.

Background on CJF’s Payment Problems

The ABC11 I-Team first reported on CJF’s payment issues in July. The foundation operated summer camps in Durham and Raleigh. At that time, more than a dozen workers claimed they either did not receive payment or received bounced paychecks. ABC11 also spoke with The Chicken Hut, which was not paid for meals provided to CJF’s summer camps. After intervention from Troubleshooter Diane Wilson, The Chicken Hut received payment.

Details of the NC DOL Investigation

The NC DOL initiated an investigation. According to the court motion, since June, 31 former employees of CJF have filed complaints regarding pay issues. Court documents indicate that CJF, specifically its registered agent Kristen Picot, failed to comply with repeated requests for pay-related documents from the wage and hour bureau.

In October, an investigator from NC DOL was contacted by Picot. She requested a letter stating that CJF was cooperating with the investigation and that repayment efforts were underway. However, the motion states that Picot has consistently failed to comply with the Department of Labor’s investigation, despite several extensions. The motion also references an I-Team story about criminal charges against CJF executives.

Consequences of Non-Compliance

The NC DOL has requested that if CJF and Picot do not produce the requested documentation, they should be held in civil contempt for non-compliance. Wilson asked the NC Department of Labor for further comment. They stated, “The motion to compel speaks for itself. As this is an ongoing investigation, we are unable to comment further at this time.”

ABC11 Troubleshooter reached out to Picot and CJF America, but there has been no response. At Picot’s last court appearance regarding criminal charges for worthless checks, she declined to comment.

Among the CJF employees who contacted us, only one reported receiving partial payment.

Summary of Key Facts