Durham foundation accused of not paying staff facing lawsuit by former employees

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.

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 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.

ABC11 reached out to CJF and the executives named in the lawsuit, but has not heard back. In our previous reporting, CJF said they’re addressing all outstanding compensation matters through legal counsel, and those impacted would receive direct communication.

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