Ukrainian man sues Livermore couple, alleging he was forced to work without pay for 15 months [Video]

A Ukrainian man is suing a Livermore couple, saying they forced him to work on their home without pay for about 15 months, seized more than $2,100 in stipends from Catholic Charities, and kept his dog after kicking him out of their home.

Oleksandr Bulatov, 36, filed a civil lawsuit last week in U.S. District Court alleging that Kathryn and Michael Cook, of Livermore, “lured him into a predatory living and working situation under the pretense of an opportunity to earn good money for his two daughters in Ukraine.”

He arrived in Maine in November 2022 based on an agreement with Kathryn Cook, who sponsored him for immigration, according to the lawsuit. Bulatov is deaf and has limited English, and says the Cooks took advantage of his struggle to communicate through text messages and Google translate.

He also is suing Michael Cook’s cousin Chris Botka, who owns Maine Mountain Maple …