Starnes v. Wallace

Plaintiff filed suit against defendants, alleging that the antiretaliation provision of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), 29 U.S.C. 201 et seq., was violated when she was terminated after raising concerns about whether a coworker's pay complied with the FLSA. The court concluded that there was a factual dispute about whether plaintiff was stepping outside her ordinary role as Risk Manager and giving fair notice to Daybreak that she was asserting rights adverse to it; plaintiff had established the causal link required to establish a prima facie case; and there was sufficient evidence from which a jury could conclude that Daybreak's reasons for firing plaintiff was a pretext for retaliation. The court also concluded that the district court erred by dismissing plaintiff's request for emotional damages. Finally, the court agreed with the district court that the state statute does not provide protection to employees reporting FLSA violations. Accordingly, the court affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded. View "Starnes v. Wallace" on Justia Law