Downes v. Lessons of Life, LLC

This is an active federal lawsuit I filed on behalf of Direct Support Professionals who were misclassified as independent contractors at a New Mexico Developmental Disabilities Waiver residential care agency, a company the Department of Labor found had shorted 193 workers more than $1 million in wages.

Case No. 2:26-cv-00528-GBW-JHR, D.N.M. (filed February 23, 2026)

Background

Lessons of Life, LLC operates residential care homes in New Mexico under the state's DD Waiver program, which provides Medicaid-funded services to individuals with developmental disabilities. The company employed Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) who provided day-to-day care and support to residents. Instead of treating them as employees, Lessons of Life classified DSPs as independent contractors.

Before I filed this case, the Department of Labor investigated and concluded that Lessons of Life had violated federal overtime law. The DOL found that the company owed 193 workers a combined $1,079,208.91 in back wages. The company disputed those findings, refused to pay, and continued its practices. That is why this case is in federal court.

Allegations

Lessons of Life, LLC misclassified its DSPs as independent contractors to avoid paying overtime and to avoid the other obligations that come with employment under federal and state law. Under the federal economic reality test, DSPs who work set schedules, serve assigned clients, follow company policies, and depend on the company as their primary source of income are employees, not contractors.

I filed this case as a federal collective action and as a class action under the New Mexico Minimum Wage Act, seeking to recover back wages, liquidated damages, and attorneys' fees for the named plaintiffs and all similarly situated workers.

Named plaintiffs include workers who performed DSP services under the direction and control of Lessons of Life across its residential facilities.

Affected Workers

If you worked for Lessons of Life, LLC, or for another DD Waiver agency in New Mexico, as a Direct Support Professional and were classified as an independent contractor, you may be owed significant back pay. The DOL's findings make clear that this misclassification was systematic and widespread.

This case is a collective and class action. If you were a DSP at Lessons of Life during the relevant period, you may be eligible to join this lawsuit and recover the wages you are owed.

Next Steps

If you worked for Lessons of Life or a similar DD Waiver provider in New Mexico and believe you were misclassified or denied overtime, call me at (512) 799-2048 for a free consultation.

I handle these cases on a contingency fee basis. There are no upfront costs, and you pay nothing unless there is a recovery.