RJP Framing’s Business Practices Paint a Clear Picture of an Unstable Foundation
Behind drywall, between insulation, and under roof rafters, wooden skeletons frame senior residencies, single and multi-family homes, and dorm halls throughout Northern California. RJP Framing, Inc. (“RJP Framing”), a California contractor, employs hundreds of employees to build these frame structures.
RJP Framing, Inc. has performed work under general contractors such as Brown Construction, Inc., Pacific West Builders Inc., Descor Inc., and Anton Building Company. Their website shows aerial photos of massive framing projects and promises that “Our reputation among framers and crews speaks for itself.” However, RJP Framing’s corporate history calls that “reputation” into question.
Multiple investigations conducted by the Workforce Defense League, a nonprofit labor compliance organization, have led to lawsuits against RJP Framing and their general contractors on both public and private projects. This is in addition to a recent class action led by different RJP Framing workers that settled for $1,000,000. Working with RJP Framing could be risky business.
WHO IS RJP FRAMING?
RJP Framing, Inc. and its associated contractor RJP Western States Framing, Inc. are California-based framing subcontractors.
PRIVATE WORKS
Investigations conducted by the Workforce Defense League in the last four years have uncovered at least three private projects in which RJP Framing failed to pay its workers all wages due. On each of these projects, the Workforce Defense League, as a representative of current and former employees of RJP Framing, filed a Labor Code section 218.7 lawsuit against RJP Framing and the relevant general contractor seeking to make the workers whole.
1. Workforce Defense League vs. Brown Construction Inc and RJP Framing, Inc.
Project: Arden Gateway Apartments, Sacramento, CA
GC: Brown Construction, Inc.
Sub: RJP Framing, Inc.
Complaint Filed: July 6, 2021
Amended Complaint Filed: November 29, 2021
Court: Sacramento County Superior Court
Case Number: 34-2021-00303749
A Workforce Defense League investigation revealed that RJP Framing failed to pay its workers all wages due on this private residential project. Workforce Defense League, as a representative for RJP Framing employees on the project, filed a complaint in Sacramento County Superior Court against RJP Framing and its general contractor on the project, Brown Construction, Inc. The complaint alleged that RJP Framing paid workers through a patchwork of piece rate and hourly rates and routinely failed to pay workers for all hours worked, including overtime.
Case Status: This case was dismissed in 2022 pursuant to a settlement for two workers totaling $23,260.80.
2. Workforce Defense League vs. Anton Building Company and RJP Framing, Inc.
Project: The Core Natomas, Sacramento, CA
GC: Anton Building Company, Inc.
Sub: RJP Framing, Inc.
Complaint Filed: October 29, 2021
Amended Complaint:
Court: Sacramento County Superior Court
Case Number: 34-2021-00310701
A Workforce Defense League investigation revealed that, on the Core Natomas apartments project in Sacramento, RJP Framing again shortchanged its workers by switching between piece-rate and hourly wages and instructing workers to clock out after 8 hours a workday and to continue working off-the-clock. Workforce Defense League, as a representative for RJP Framing employees on the project, filed a complaint in Sacramento County Superior Court against RJP Framing and its general contractor on the project, Anton Building Company, Inc.
Case Status: This case was dismissed in 2022 pursuant to a settlement for two workers totaling $19,893.63.
3. Workforce Defense League vs. Brown Construction Inc and RJP Framing, Inc.
Project: The Celeste, Davis, CA
GC: Brown Construction, Inc.
Sub: RJP Framing, Inc.
Complaint Filed: May 30, 2023
Court: Yolo County Superior Court
Case Number: CV2023-1091
The final Workforce Defense League investigation concerned a residential project in Davis where RJP Framing performed wood framing subcontracting work for Brown Construction, Inc. The investigation uncovered that RJP Framing routinely shorted its workers’ wages lawfully due to them and failed to provide adequate breaks. Workforce Defense League, as a representative for RJP Framing employees on the project, filed a complaint in Yolo County Superior Court against RJP Framing and Brown Construction, Inc.
Case Status: This case was dismissed in 2025 pursuant to a settlement for two workers totaling $14,800.79.
PUBLIC WORKS
RPF Framing’s questionable practices extend to Public Works projects. The following case filed on January 2020 is currently under investigation by the California Department of Industrial Relations, Division of Labor Standards Enforcement's Bureau of Field Enforcement (BOFE) for the following hotel project on public land.
Project: San Carlos Landmark Hotel, San Carlos, CA
Developer: Olson Development --> SC Landmark Hotels, LLC
GC: Deacon Corp.
Subcontractor: RJP Framing Inc. and RJP Western States Framing Inc
Case Number: 40-68931-332
The following potential Labor Code violations were identified:
- Misclassification of workers
- Deductions for tools out of base prevailing wage for workers
- Failed to employ registered apprentices as required by law
This case status is pending.
CLASS ACTION
Sacramento Rojas vs. RJP Framing, Inc.
Court: Sacramento County Superior Court
Case Number: 34-2022-00326581
On September 12, 2022, a former worker, Sacramento Rojas, filed a Class Action wage and hour complaint and a Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) complaint (Case No. 34-2022-00326589 against RJP Framing, Inc. on behalf of himself and similarly situated employees. The two lawsuits were consolidated on June 1, 2023.1 The resulting consolidated action for damages alleged that RPF Framing engaged in fraudulent and unlawful business practices, including the following:
- Failure to pay all wages, including minimum and overtime wages
- Failure to provide meal periods
- Failure to provide rest periods
- Failure to keep accurate payroll records
- Failure to reimburse employees for necessary business expenses
- Unfair business practices
A February 2025 hearing approved a settlement agreement requiring RJP Framing to pay a total of $1,000,000 to over one thousand workers.
RPF Framing’s business practices paint a clear picture of an unstable foundation.
[1] The Class and PAGA Actions were consolidated on June 1, 2023 (Pg 2 (Hearing on Motion for Final Approval of Settlement) 2/21/2025