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<\/a><\/p>\nThe owner of Biggie Burrito blamed his manager for the problems. In turn, the manager made his own accusations.<\/p>\n
Since 2024, the Fresno City Council has empowered Janz to pursue wage theft cases.<\/p>\n
Janz, through his executive assistant, said his office does not \u201ccomment on ongoing litigation or pre-litigation strategy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Biggie Burrito Failed to Pay<\/p>\n
Biggie Burrito Taqueria,\u00a0 1600 E. Belmont Ave., south of downtown Fresno at Calaveras Avenue, is vacant. Owner Claude Leon Patterson shut it down in June 2024, according to the city\u2019s lawsuit<\/a>.<\/p>\n The city accuses Biggie Burrito, Patterson, and manager Joseph Daniel Briseno of not paying employees for hours worked, failing to pay minimum wage, and not providing required breaks, among other alleged labor law violations. At least 12 employees were affected.<\/p>\n Biggie Burrito also bounced checks, failed to pay on a regular schedule, failed to keep accurate records, and misclassified workers, the city alleges.<\/p>\n \u201cBriseno ordered employees to sign agreements designating them as independent contractors rather than employees. However, defendants retained and\/or exercised substantial control over the workers with restrictions on when, where and how the work may be performed,\u201d Janz said in the lawsuit.<\/p>\n Briseno, speaking to GV Wire, denied the allegations.<\/p>\n The city filed the lawsuit in Fresno County Superior Court on Feb. 23, shortly after receiving complaints from former workers. The case is scheduled for a case management conference July 23 before Fresno County Superior Court Judge Maria G. Diaz.<\/p>\n Patterson lives in Pacifica. He said he first met Briseno when he rented him a home in Fresno. His son knew him through high school wrestling.<\/p>\n \u201cI saw this as an opportunity to help somebody who was a wrestler, who I thought was dependable, who I thought would work hard,\u201d Patterson told GV Wire.<\/p>\n Patterson said he bankrolled the restaurant by borrowing on his credit card and selling property. His goal was to sell it to Briseno in the future. He\u00a0called Briseno a partner.<\/p>\n \u201cHe was an independent contractor working for a profit of the business once the restaurant had a profit,\u201d Patterson said.<\/p>\n That is one of several areas on which the defendants disagree.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s a false lie by Mr. Patterson. I was an employee. I was a manager,\u201d Briseno said.<\/p>\n Briseno said he filed wage complaints with the state labor commission and the city of Fresno. He claims he is owed six figures and rejected a $50,000 settlement with Patterson. Briseno said he plans to sue Patterson to recover his wages.<\/p>\n \u201cHe was not an employee. Nobody works a year with no wages,\u201d Patterson countered.<\/p>\n Both blame the other for Biggie Burrito\u2019s problems. Patterson said Briseno hired workers and operated the business.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m absolutely not to blame,\u201d Patterson said. \u201cHe\u2019s a crook.\u201d<\/p>\n Briseno operated the restaurant, saying he often worked 15-hour days. He confirmed several of the allegations made by the city.<\/p>\n \u201cEverything was handwritten. We never had a time system,\u201d Briseno said.<\/p>\n 360 Bounced Checks<\/p>\n The company went through several payroll companies and then paid employees in cash, Briseno said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe had about 360 checks bounce. He knows about it,\u201d Briseno said.<\/p>\n The finances never improved, Briseno said.<\/p>\n \u201cHe never caught up. I told him in text messages and emails, \u2018Shut the place down. What are we doing here? If you don\u2019t have the money to finance it, do not do it,\u2019 \u201d Briseno said.<\/p>\n Patterson called Briseno a liar, a cheater and a thief.<\/p>\n \u201cHe stole the equipment. He took everything out of the restaurant,\u201d Patterson said.<\/p>\n Patterson said he attempted to file a police report but has not yet done so.<\/p>\n Briseno disputes that account.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen Patterson did not pay the rent, he told me to take the equipment out. I took it to storage,\u201d Briseno said.<\/p>\n Briseno said Patterson did not pay the rent for the storage unit, and the unit and its contents were auctioned off.<\/p>\n A Home and Truck<\/p>\n Patterson and Briseno also engaged in personal transactions, including a home rental.<\/p>\n In February 2025, Patterson filed an eviction lawsuit against Briseno, claiming $8,000 in unpaid rent. He also claimed $30,000 in property damage.<\/p>\n The court sided with Patterson in part, granting him possession of the property. Briseno is appealing the decision.<\/p>\n Briseno said any damage was wear and tear.<\/p>\n Patterson also said he sold a truck to Briseno and never received payments. Briseno\u2019s version is that he returned the truck after he could no longer afford it.<\/p>\n City Fails in Bid for Documents in Another Case<\/p>\n The City Attorney\u2019s Office also has made wage theft allegations against The Janitorial Company. Two employees filed complaints with the city in 2025, saying they were not paid in full for their work.<\/p>\n The city issued a subpoena for records, with which the company complied in part. The city filed a petition to enforce the rest of the subpoena<\/a> in Fresno County Superior Court on Feb. 5.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Biggie-Burrito-Taqueria-at-1600-E.-Belmont-Avenue-closed-in-2024.-The-city-is-suing-for-wage-theft.-.jpeg\")
<\/a>Biggie Burrito Taqueria at 1600 E. Belmont Ave. in Fresno closed in 2024. The city is suing for wage theft. (GV Wire\/David Taub)
\nPatterson, Briseno Blame Each Other<\/p>\n