A New York judge has allowed a lawsuit to proceed against a pediatric dental chain accused of mistreating children who received treatment through Medicaid. Allegations against the dental chain Small Smiles include horrific accusations of malpractice and negligence, including performing painful procedures like extractions and fillings without anesthesia while using immobilizing devices and radios to […]
Collective Action
Magistrate judge concludes that Smithfield wage and hour collective action should proceed
In this case, plaintiffs are bringing collective action claims under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) based on the under-payment of wages and overtime at Smithfield Packing’s Tar Heel, North Carolina meat processing facility. Magistrate Judge Gates issued an opinion last week recommending that defendant’s motion to decertify the FLSA collective action be denied. If his recommendation […]
Ninth Circuit rejects tip-pooling claims of servers making more than minimum wage before tips
In a case that appears to one of first impression at the federal appellate level, the Ninth Circuit ruled in Cumbie v. Woody Woo, Inc. that there are no tip-pooling claims under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) for restaurant employees who are paid more than the minimum wage before tips. FLSA, the federal wage […]
Recent Fourth Circuit labor and employment decisions
The Fourth Circuit has published opinions in three labor and employment cases in recent weeks. The first case, Sepulveda v. Allen Family Foods, Inc., concerned a Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) collective action that was brought on behalf of a class of current and former employees of a chicken processing plant. The employees claimed, among other things, […]