An investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division revealed that Ideal Discount Market in New Orleans paid workers straight time for all hours worked and failed to pay overtime at time and one-half for hours worked beyond 40 in a work week as required by the Fair Labor Standards Act. Additionally, Ideal Discount Market failed to keep accurate records of employees' hours and pay, with some employees working entirely "off the books." 

The court ordered the six corporations and two individuals named in the lawsuit to pay a total of $403,344 in back wages and liquidated damages to 56 employees including cooks, butchers, cashiers and stockers. The consent judgment also enjoins the corporations and individuals from violating the FLSA in the future and forbids them from retaliating against current and former employees.