Former Employees Of Shuttered Four-D College Say They Have Not Been Paid

COLTON ­­­(CBSLA.com) — Former employees of a recently shuttered for-profit college in the Inland Empire are wondering if they will ever see their paychecks.

Nursing and vocational trade school Four-D College abruptly shut its doors in Colton and Riverside on July 12 after the school lost its accreditation. Surprised staffers and students were greeted that day by a notice on the school's front door and a padlock on the door handles.

More than two weeks later, former staffers said they still have not heard from the school's founder, Linda Smith, as to whether they will be paid.

"I asked her blatantly what's going on," former Four-D employee Gina Ruan told CBS2/KCAL9's Tom Wait. "I have a small child at home that I have to feed. [I said], 'Can you please respond?' I reached out to her daughter, who is the CEO. Nothing."

CBS2/KCAL9 reached out to Smith by phone and went to her home, but there was no response.  A voicemail was also left for her daughter, Aisha Smith-Thompson.

CBS2/KCAL9 legal expert Steve Meister said that, by law, the school must pay its former employees. But recovering the lost funds may be a huge challenge, especially if the case ends up in bankruptcy court.