Proceedings to obtain back wages? Civil suit possible after Dept of labor proceedings?

My summer employer is refusing to pay me the second half of my summer wages upon completion of my allotted work time. Someone told me that I can file a claim with the department of labor, which I plan to do.
They also told me that if I win I can also file a civil suit. Is this true?! It would actually be helpful to me because the job ended up COSTING me money in the end and I also worked more hours than were agreed upon. I'm not looking to get rich, here, I just want to break even! I just have trouble believing I could file a civil suit, so I'm really just asking if that's possible?

One other thing, What is the statute of limitations for this type of claim with both the Dept of Labor and a civil suit.

You can file a complaint with the Wage and Hour Board of the Department of Labor. They will get your wages paid to you. Unless there was discrimination I don't think you have a civil suit. It never hurts to consult an attorney.

You can contact civil rights in your area and they may help you in this matter. You deserve to be paid, also you need to send a certified letter to the head office of the company and tell them what has happened and request your final pay. This will help you if you do have to go to court or otherwise. keep records of your letter proof you mailed this out.

Your going to need to have documentation of all the hours you worked to begin with, plus if there was any sort of agreement between you and your employer as to how many hours were expected or agreed up, i suggest you have that with you if you decide to pursue this further.
Any difference in hours worked to the plus above and beyond your agreed number of hours expected, that you worked to his full expectations, leaves you more in the driver's seat case-wise than it leaves him. It shows you to be an honorable and trustworthy person for going beyond what was expected of you. As for your employer, it leaves him looking bad that at the end of the term of employment, he failed to live up to his end of any such type of agreement as you may have had with him, and that doesn't look good in the eyes of the business community.
You should be able to receive compensation for him not paying you in an orderly fashion as agreed upon, and that is on top of what he already owes you for services rendered.