Ajay Dayal and his now-defunct companies (Quantified Investment Group, Quantified Capital Group, etc.) hired Eric Neeraj Kohli in 2019. They gave Eric amenities typically associated with a job, like an office, a work email address, a reserved parking spot, etc. After six weeks of working but no paycheck, Eric concluded that Dayal had no intention of paying him.

Eric soon filed suit in federal court for breach of the employment contract, violations of the Federal Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”) and Nevada Wage and Hour Laws (“NWHL”), unjust enrichment, and fraud.

Dayal denied Eric was owed anything. In fact, Dayal denied he and his companies ever even hired Eric.

The litigation carried on for five years. Dayal initially had a lawyer, who quit because Dayal had not paid him. Dayal hired a new law firm, who also quit after a year because Dayal never paid them.

The case went to trial in federal court on November 18, 2024. It was tried in front of a jury, and lasted four days. Political activist and former Vice Chair of Clark County Democratic Party Mr. Fayyaz Raja, Hon. NV State Assemblyman Reuben D’Silva, and India Market owner Gaurang Patel (“Gopal”) testified as witnesses on behalf of Eric, along with Dayal’s own broker Mr. Anthony Keep. They testified that they witnessed Eric, in his office, working for Dayal, during that six week period. Overwhelming evidence was presented in the form of work emails, work-related text exchanges, etc., that Eric worked for Dayal and the other defendants. Raja testified that Dayal had bragged to him back then that he had hired Eric and the high salary at which he had hired Eric. Gopal testified regarding witnessing Eric working for Dayal during his deal where, as he previously sued Dayal, Dayal cheated him for $115,000 under the pretext of a loan that was actually a sham.

Dayal denied almost everything. He testified under oath that “it never happened.” Several points of his testimony were directly contradicted by his own responses that he had previously served, under oath, during the discovery phase of the litigation. He testified that he generously provides an office, a company email address, his company’s logo and letterhead, etc., to everyone. He testified that he has a “fantastic memory,” accurately recalling everything, but then denied remembering several key facts. He testified he had 7-8 employees, whose payroll was always handled timely. But when evidence was presented that during discovery he had denied having any employees, only “independent contractors,” he immediately changed his testimony that even his front desk receptionist and his office manager were independent contractors and not employees. He then denied knowing any difference between an employee and an independent contractor. Although the witnesses testified about his parade of new BMW X5 cars at the time, and him allegedly working on deals worth tens of millions of dollars, he testified he earned only $5,000 per month. He denied owning any car now, even when asked “don’t you drive a Porsche now?”

After four days of a highly contentious trial with Dayal challenging or denying practically everything, the jury deliberated for only two hours. Their verdict was in favor of Eric on every single point, it was a full victory sweep in Eric’s favor. The jury found that Dayal employed Eric, and he actually promised Eric the salary that Eric stated, that he violated both the FLSA and NWHL. Most significantly, that federal court jury found that Dayal committed fraud.

The jury’s verdict was unanimous on every count and dollar amount. Their total verdict for Eric, for six weeks of employment, was more than $180,000.

As submitted by plaintiff Eric Kohli, Esq.