Comptroller Lander Secures $650K in Back Wages & Benefits from 160 Madison Ave LLC for 421-a Prevailing Wage Violations
With this settlement, the Bureau of Labor Law has collected over $11M during Comptroller Lander’s tenure
New York, NY — New York City Comptroller Brad Lander reached a settlement with 160 Madison Ave LLC for prevailing wage violations regarding 15 workers over the course of three years – and their second prevailing wage violation. The settlement payments total $650,000.00, including back wages and benefits, civil penalties, and interest. This most recent settlement brings the total collected under Comptroller Lander’s term to over $11 million.
“160 Madison Ave LLC spent three years underpaying employees of their rightful wages—and failed to do so not once, but twice,” said New York City Comptroller Brad Lander. “It’s unacceptable for a building owner that’s receiving a tax benefit to underpay its service workers by more than a year’s rent in those buildings. New York City workers deserve to be compensated fairly, and I’m proud of the work we’ve done to make sure New York City remains a stronghold of workers’ rights.”
“The Bureau of Labor Law works to prevent future prevailing wage violations,” said Claudia Henriquez, Director of Workers’ Rights at the Comptroller’s Bureau of Labor Law. “This is why it’s imperative our bureau maintains a critical eye even after a settlement, and further proof of the important work we do to ensure employees working at properties that receive tax exemptions from the state are paid the wages and benefits they rightfully deserve.”
160 Madison Ave LLC is the owner and employer of a 308-unit rental building located at 160 Madison Avenue. It receives tax exemption benefits under Real Property Tax Law Section 421-a and is therefore required to pay building service employees prevailing wages and benefits under the law.
The Comptroller’s Office Bureau of Labor Law had previously settled with 160 Madison Ave LLC in 2020 for $285,224.88 after finding that the employer failed to pay its building service workers prevailing wages and benefits, as required by 421-a, from December 2016 through March 2019. After reports that the employer continued its practices, another investigation was opened against them. The second investigation found that 160 Madison Ave failed to pay 15 employees prevailing wages and supplemental benefits from March 2019 through February 2021.
The Stipulation of Settlement required additional training for the employer’s staff to be completed as well as compliance with notice requirements. The Stipulation was executed on May 1, 2025.
This case was handled by Agency Attorney Emily Chang under the supervision of Supervising Attorney Amy Luo. The investigation was conducted by Investigator Cordie McCann under the supervision of Francisco Gonzalez, Director of Investigations, and Jose Quiroz, Deputy Director of Investigations. The audit of underpayments was performed by Xiaoyue Lin, Auditor, under the supervision of Stuart Rimmer, Director of Audit. The Bureau of Labor Law is overseen by Claudia Henriquez, Director of Workers’ Rights.
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