A Fresno County judge blocked an attempt by the Fresno City Attorney’s Office to force a local business to comply with an investigation after it was accused of illegal payment practices by two employees.
Court records show Judge Kristi Culver Kapetan ruled late last month that City Attorney Andrew Janz’s office failed to show it had the authority to subpoena payroll records from The Janitorial Company, based in Fresno. According to Kapetan’s analysis, Janz’s office mainly cited a state law that allows state department heads, not city attorneys, to issue investigative subpoenas.
Kapetan’s rejection appears to be the first of its kind for Janz since his office began investigating and prosecuting employers for wage theft in 2024. It’s not yet clear what the decision could mean for his ability to ensure accused businesses comply with his investigations…