CJF America responds to ABC11 after lawsuit filed by former employees of the Durham foundation

DURHAM, N.C. (WTVD) -- New details in an ITEAM investigation into a Durham foundation accused of not paying its employees. Now, a lawsuit has been filed against CJF America and its executives. The lawsuit is filed in Durham County, where CJF America is based, and filed by seven former employees who alleged CJF did not pay them for the work they did for the foundation.

"They left these hardworking employees who have families of their own without pay checks, and so we sent a demand letter to the Courtney Jordan Foundation and their legal counsel and we received no response, and so the next logical step is to move this to the court system," said Philip Thomas, an attorney with Chalmers, Adams, Backer & Kaufman based out of Raleigh, who is representing the seven former employees.

ABC11 Troubleshooter Diane Wilson has been investigating the foundation for weeks. First, for not paying the Durham restaurant, The Chicken Hut, for meals they provided to CJF's summer camp, which they eventually paid after our stories. Wilson also heard from more than a dozen employees who said they haven't been paid for their work. Many of them owed thousands of dollars. We also uncovered; eviction paperwork was filed against CJF for allegedly not paying rent at its Durham office location.

This new lawsuit was filed against CJF and its executives on Friday, August 15th. The plaintiffs claim they weren't paid for the work they did at summer camps not only in North Carolina, but Georgia, Virginia, Maryland, Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, and Washington, DC.

"The folks were hard-working individuals, who put their time in; some of them put forth their own money, which they haven't been reimbursed for, and they also haven't been paid," Thomas said. "Not only did CJF fail to uphold what its stated mission is, which is to uplift communities and families, they in fact harmed both. They left children without the promised programs. In one case of DC, there were over 60 children signed up, and they pulled the plug on that program three days before it was to start."

The lawsuit seeks unpaid wages, and names not only CJF America, but its related company, the Courtney Jordan Group, Inc., Courtney Jordan himself, and other executives of the foundation, including President Kristen Picot whom Troubleshooter Diane Wilson caught up with at a summer camp. Picot told Wilson the employees would get paid, but did not give a timeline.

CJF has responded to the lawsuit filed. Reagan Cartwright, the Executive Director of External Communications for CJF America Inc., sent ABC11 Troubleshooter this response:

"CJF America disputes allegations that mischaracterize our work or relationships. In recent weeks, we have encountered a surge of false claims following media coverage. Individuals who were never employed have come forward, and some of the numbers reported are inconsistent with verified records. These discrepancies are why outstanding balances and wage matters are now being handled by outside counsel. Only two of the seven individuals recently named were employees, both of whom were terminated months ago."

So far, the employees we talked with all said they have still not been paid.