Another Contractor Caught Using a Sub with Criminal Past- Does Anyone Care?
- BDN
- 9 hours ago
- 3 min read
In another example of an egregious lapse in industry oversight, Las Vegas General Contractor DC Building Group is using a subcontractor with a documented history of sexual harassment, and wage theft. Southern Nevada Drywall Systems LLC (SND), the company in question, is no stranger to controversy—but this latest partnership highlights a broader, deeply rooted problem: the failure to properly vet subcontractors in the construction industry.
Initially, SND LLC was under investigation for alleged disregard of area wage standards and the suspected exploitation of workers on the Meadows Mall Renovation jobsite in Las Vegas.
“Once we started really looking into this company, not only is there a consistent track record of worker exploitation, but we also immediately unearthed lawsuits that point up the vile nature of SND’s leadership,” said Don Burchell a labor advocate who’s been tracking SND for years.
Exploitation
Labor activists report that Southern Nevada Drywall has long maintained a pattern of paying below area standards, denying basic benefits, and cutting corners on jobsite safety protocols.
“Just because you are a non-Union contractor doesn’t mean you get away with paying your workers crap and denying them proper benefits,” Burchell Continued.
As recently as 2023, these shady practices culminated in a wage theft lawsuit—Nava vs. Southern Nevada Drywall Systems—which alleges systemic underpayment and the failure to pay overtime, with current and former workers corroborating the claims.
Sexual Harassment Lawsuit
In the same year as the Nava case, Southern Nevada Drywall also faced a sexual harassment suit the seriousness of which was heightened given the status of the parties involved. The lawsuit alleges a pervasive culture of male toxicity and misconduct at the leadership level, with multiple women coming forward with similar stories of harassment, intimidation, and retaliation. According to the lawsuit, the “old boys club” of Doug Kuperman, Eric Richardson, and Louis Martel allegedly engaged in atrocious behavior towards the plaintiff that ultimately led to her being fired in retaliation for filing a complaint.
According to court filings, the lead plaintiff—a former admin employee—details a workplace filled with crude jokes, inappropriate advances from supervisors, and a retaliatory environment for those who spoke up. One example of harassment outlined in the lawsuit that left her traumatized was when her bosses tried to force her to go on dates with clients-telling her to, "take one for the team!".(this appears to be what some of the demonstration banners reference). She alleges that after submitting an internal complaint, her hours were cut, and she was eventually terminated without cause.
“This isn’t just about one bad actor—this is about a culture,” says Jovan Johnson, another labor advocate involved with the demonstrations. “Companies like SND shouldn’t be rewarded with public or private contracts. They should be blacklisted. Imagine that’s your sister or daughter being treated that way.”
The Response
Organized labor Unions like the Carpenters and community groups aren’t sitting on the sidelines. Gatherings have been taking place outside DC Building Group sites, with demonstrators calling for accountability from both the general contractor and SND. Leaflets highlighting the lawsuits, wage theft allegations, and unsafe work conditions are being distributed at job sites, and pressure is mounting for clients to sever ties with the controversial subcontractor.
“It’s simple,” one demonstrator said. “If you subcontract with a company that mistreats workers, you’re complicit. And if you work with a company that promulgates that kind of culture, what does it say about you?”
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