Garcia

Plaintiffs and respondents Romeo Garcia, Eddy Gonzalez, Wilmer Urbina, and Desiderio Aguilar (collectively respondents) were truck drivers for defendant and appellant Seacon Logix, Inc. (Seacon). Respondents sued Seacon under Labor Code section 2802 for the reimbursement of paycheck deductions, contending that they should have been classified as employees, not independent contractors. Following a bench trial, the trial court agreed and awarded damages for specified paycheck deductions. In this appeal from the judgment, Seacon contends that the trial court’s finding that respondents are its employees is not supported by substantial evidence, and that the damages are excessive. We conclude that substantial evidence supports the finding that respondents are employees, and that Seacon has forfeited its challenge to the damages awarded. Accordingly, we affirm.

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

Overview

Seacon’s business involves arranging the transportation of cargo from the Port of Long Beach and the Port of Los Angeles to warehouses or other facilities. Respondents were truck drivers who transported the cargo for Seacon.

Around 2008, the ports began to implement a clean…