Estrada et al v. Alexim Trading Corp.
Filing
73
ORDER granting in part and denying in part 64 Motion for Summary Judgment. Defendant's Motion is granted as to Count 1 for unpaid overtime. Defendant's Motion is Denied as to Count 2 for retaliation. Signed by Judge Patricia A. Seitz on 11/7/11. (mg)
U NI
TED STATE S D I
STR I CO UR T
CT
SO UTH ERN D I
STR I O F FLO RI A
CT
D
CASE NO .1 23696- V - TZ/ M ON TON
0CI SEI SI
FELI VELEZ,
X
Pl i if
a ntf ,
VS.
ALEX I TM D I CO RP.
M
NG
,
De e nt
f nda
/
ORDER DENYI M OTI FO R SUM M ARY JUDGM ENT
NG
ON
THI M ATTER i be or t Cour on t Def nda ' M oton f Summ a y J
S
s f e he
t he e nts
i or
r udgm e
nt
( 6 j Pan ifst c u tsc n a n dc mpli alg sacam f ru p i o e t i
DE- 8 . litf wo o n e o d me de o ant le e li o n ad v ri n
me
vi atonoft Fai Lab St r Act(
ol i
he r or andads
FLSA)a acai f r aiton i vi ai oft
nd l m or etlai n olton he
F A.Dee d n mo e f rs mmayj d me t nb t c u t a g igta Plitf i n
LS
f n a t v s o u l u g n o o h o n s r un h t anif s ot
c r d by t FLSA. Bec us Def ntf iedt r iet M ot Carire m pton i is
ove e
he
a e enda a l o a s he
or re xe i n t
pladi o d i dic r De e ntsm oton i de e a t Count1 Def ntsm oton
e ngs r urng s ove y, f nda '
i s ni d s o
. enda '
i
i de e a t Count1 be us Pli ifi c e byt r a iton pr sonsoft FLSA.
s ni d s o
1 ca e antf s over d he etla i
ovii
he
1. M at alFad s
eri
Defnda i a c z a ntt tpr de i e alc r ta poraton s r c t a fom
e nt s a go ge ha ovi s ntgr a go r ns t i e vies o nd r
a po ti t , wol ( 70- :2. Pl ntf wase oye byDee n asad i rofcag
ny r n he rd. DE- 2, ) ai if
mpl d
fnda t
rve
ro
tu ksfo De embe 13,2007t Aug t1 2008.( 67, 20. Ac or ngt Dee nt
r c rm c r
o us 4,
DE- p. ) c di o fnda ,
durng t tm ePl ntf wor d f De enda , f nda had fveca go tuc us t ta por
i he i
ai if ke or f nt De e nt
i
r r ks ed o r ns t
mecha s f delveyt nato la i e nai ldesi tons ( 70- a ! ) A1oft
r ndie or i r o ina nd ntr tona tnai . DE- 2 t 5. l he
tu ksha agos ve ceweg i exc sof1 001pounds (d a !6. Du i t r lvan
r c d r s hil ihtn es 0,
. 1 t ) rng he ee t
tme,Def nda o d one tuc t thad agr sve cl wei ofls t 1 001pounds
i
e nt wne
r k ha
os hi e ght e s hat 0,
,
whc wa n t e b c r ot c d i r.(d a ! . Ac o dn t Plitf, narg lrb ss
ih s o usd y ag nlk rves 1 t 7) c r ig o an ifo e ua ai
hedr s le t c t theetmaesweg dl st n 1 000pounds ( 67a 20.
ove malr nzks ha si t ihe es ha 0,
. DE- t )
W hiePli ifwor d f De e nthewa i t c e t punc i a outa t
l antf
ke or f nda
s nsnzt d o
h n nd
t he
begnni a e ofhi wor da ( 67a 20. Thepunc coc wa l atd i i
i ng nd nd
s k y. DE- t )
h l k s oc e nsde
Dee ntsf iii a wa onl a e sbl durngbusne shour .(d.at21. Pl ntf,
fnda ' acltes nd s y cc si e i
i s
s 1
) ai if
howe r s tm e dei r d ca go a rhour a was t e or una e t punch i a out
ve , ome i s lve e r he
s nd
,her f e, bl o
n nd
f t tmes ntonhi afe ho sdei re .(d)Pli ifc ane t Dee ta t
or he i pe
s tr ur lveis 1
antf ompli d o fndan bout he
l a i oft punc cock a t tt l a i n pr nt Pli iffom bengabl t r c d al
oc ton he
h l
nd ha he oc to eve ed antf r
i
e o e or l
ofhi hour wor d rs tngi Pl ntf notgetngpadf a1oft hou shewor (d)
s s ke euli n ai if
ti i or 1 he r
ked. 1
Pl ntf alo c
ai if s ompl i t thewa notbe ngpr pe l pad f rt ove tm et thewo ke
aned ha
s
i
o ry i o he ri ha
r d.
(d) A fw wee ltr Pli ifwa tr nae (d)Ac r i t Dee nt Pli ifwa
1
e
ks ae, antf s emi td. 1
co dng o fnda , antf s
t r nae bec us he diplye agg es i t r a t rdrve a wasr de a
e mi td a e
s a d r son owa ds no he i r nd
u nd
dse p cf l ohss pev s r.( 6 - a ! . Th r atr Plitf flds i.
ir s e tu t i u r io s DE- 4 1 t 5) ee fe , an if e ut
I . Sum m ar Judgm e St
I
y
nt andar
d
S mmayj d me tsa p o raewh n th pla i g . . h ta t eei nog n ie
u r u g n i p r p it e t e e d n s . s ow h t h r s e un
t
is ea t a ymaeil a ta dt th mo i gp ryi e tte t aj d me t samatro
su s o n tra fc n ha te v n a t s n i d o u g n a
l
t f
e
lm ' An e s nv fie t Lo b , n .47 U. 2 2 2 7( 9 6 ;
a ' d r o . b ry b y I c, 7 S. 4 , 4 1 8 ) HCA He t S rs o .I c
al e v. fGa, n .
h
v Emplye sHe t I s Co. 2 F. 982,991(1 t Ci.2001 .Onc t movi pa t
. o r alh n . , 40 3d
1h r
)
e he
ng ry
de
monsr t st a enc ofa ge nei s ofm aera f c , henon- ovi pa t mus i
ta e he bs e
nui s ue
t il a t t
m ng ry
t'
come
f wa dwih tpe ii f c ss
or r t s cfc a t howi t tt r i a ge ne is f ti l'' M atus t Elc.
ng ha he e s nui s ue or ra .'
s hia e
I d s Co v Ze t Ra i Co p.4 5U. 57 5 7( 9 6 ( o igFe . Ci P, 6 e) The
n u . . . ni do r , 7 S. 4, 8 1 8 ) qu tn d R. v. 5 ().
h
2
Cour mus viw t r c d a a lf c ua i e e st r r i t lghtm os f vor bl t t
t t e he e or nd 1 a t l nf r nce he efom n he i
t a a e o he
non- ovi pa t a dec d whe he ûthee de pr s nt a s fci tdia ee
m ng ry nd i e
t r çt vi nce e e s ufi en s gr mentt
o
rq ies b sint aj r o wheh ri i s o e sd dt a o ep rymu t rvala amatr
e ur u miso o u y r te t s o n -ie h t n a t s p e i s te
o 1w.' Ale v T s nFo d , n . 1 F3 6 2 6 6( 1hCi. 9 )( oigAn ro 4 7
f a ' ln . y o o s I c, 21 .d 4 , 4 1 t r 1 97 qu t
'
n des n, 7
U. a 25152).
S. t - )
I o po igamo inf rs mma yj d me t ten n- vn p ryma n trl s ey
n p sn
to o u r u g n ,h o mo ig a t y o ey oll
o t pl di ,b mus s
n he ea ngs ut t how by a fda t ,de ii ,a wer t i e r t i ,a
f vis postons ns s o nt roga ores nd
a isonst ts cii f c sexitde onsr tng age neis f til Se Fe R.Ci P.
dm s i ha pe fc a t s m ta i
nui s ue or ra . e d.
v.
5 () () s eas Ceoe Cop.r Car t, 7 U. 31 , 2 ( 9 6 .A meeç cn i a' f
6 c ,e ; e lo ltx r . tet4 7 S. 7 3 4 1 8 )
r f itl 'o
s l
e de e s
vi nc uppori t opposngpa t sposton wilnots fc i t d,t r mus bea
tng he
i
ry' ii
l
uf e; nsea he e
t
s f in s o n ta t j r c u dr a o a l 5ndf rt a pat.An r o , 7U. . t 2;
u fce t h wig h the u y o l e s n by
o h t ry des n 47 S a 25
s ealo Wale v Da b 91 F.d 1 7 ,1 7 ( 1hCi. 9 0 .
e s
k r . ry 1 2 5 3 5 7 1 t r 1 9 )
1 1 D icus i
1 . s s on
1 De n a i No Enildt Su r Ju g n o Pl it ' Ov ri Cl m
. # d nts t t e o mma y d me t n an t s e tme ai
t
z
Dee a t v sf rsl r u g n o Plitf cam f run i ov ri b c u e
fnd n mo e o l
mmayj d me t n an ips li o pad e t e a s
me
Def ntas e t i i e mptfo t FLSA ' overi epr sonsundert M ot Ca re
enda
s rs t s xe
r m he
S
tm
ovii
he
or rir
Ex mpt n, U.. j21 ( )1. Pli t fe s n ilya srsta De e d n h swav dti
e i 29 SC. 3 b ( ) ani se tal se t h t fn a t a ie hs
o
f
de e ebec us Def ndantf ie t r s t a fr ai de ens i isa werori r pons t
f ns
a e e
a ld o aie he fim tve f e n t ns
n es e o
Pli ifsi erog t i s a r que t f a s i a De e ntne rs
antf nt r a ore l nd e ss or dmi sons nd f nda
ve oughtt n e is
o m nd t
1n r pons t t f l ng i e r t r De e
I es e o he olowi nt roga o y f ndan r ponded 1 / '
t es
$ A.'
N
I you cli t tPli ifi exe fom t ove tmepr sonsoft FarLa
f
am ha antf s mpt r he ri
ovii
he i bor
St nda dsAc o t tt FarLa St nda dsAc i i pplc et Pli ifor
a r
t r ha he i bor a r
t s na iabl o a ntf
Defnda t i n iy by saut y, eg a o y a c s l w ciai t s ii e m pton
e n , de tf
t t or r ult r nd a e a tton he pec fc xe i
a we ort s e e isdic y r pons s Pli iff t ra guest ti wol be s ve ey
ns r o upplm nt t s over es e . antf urhe r
ha t d
e rl
p eudc di De e d n i al we t riet ee mp ina t i sa eo tep o e dn sgv n
rj ie f fn a t s lo d o as h xe to t h s tg f h r c e ig ie
t tdi c r i cl ed a ti li s ti Fe u r
ha s ove y s os nd r a s e n br a y.
Gene a l f l r t pl a a afimatvedef ns wa ve t tde e e. atme v Roarng
r ly, aiu e o e d n fr i
e e i s ha f ns L i r .
i
To ,I .601F. 1 1 ( 1hCi. 1 .l Di v J rResaur Gr p,LLC,
yz nc,
3d 224, 239 1 t r 20 0) n az . agua t ant ou
627
F. 1 2,1 4 ( 1hCi. 01 ,hedee n f ldt pl di isa we t a FLSA
3d 21 21 1 t r 21 0) t fnda t aie o ea n t ns r o n
c
ompli t afima i de e eofa ad i sr tvee mpton.The de enda ne rmoved
ant he fr tve f ns
n m nita i xe i
f nt ve
t a e isa we a ne rr ie t e m p i durng dic r TheDi c tf undt t
o m nd t ns r nd ve as d he xe ton i s ove y.
az our o
ha
t swa ac a scc e ofwai ra f undt tt dititc thad e r by pe m itng t is
hi s l s i as
ve nd o
ha he src our
red
r ti he s ue
t be r s d a ti . I a 1 5. Si lry,i t sc e,De e ntdi notr iet M ot Ca r
o aie t ral d t 21
mia l n hi as
f nda d
as he
or nie
e m pto i isa we and a fr i de e es ne rmovedt n e isa wer a ne r
xe i n n t ns r
fimatve f ns , ve
o m nd t ns , nd ve
r s i dur ng di c r Cons que l Def nda c nnotr i e t e m pton f t fr ttm e
aied t i
s ove y.
e nty, e nt a
a s he xe i or he is i
a t es mmayj d me tsa e Ac o dn l, u r j d me ti d n e
t h u r u g n tg . c r igy s mmay u g n s e id.
B.Dek d ntsNo Enildt Su r J d me to Pl n f 'Rea ito Cl m
j n a i t t e o mmay u g n n ait fs tla in ai
t
Dee d n mo e frs mmayj d me t nPlitf rtlaincam b c u ePli if
fn a t v s o u r u g n o anirs eaito li e a s ant
f
i notc r d by t FLSA ' r t iton pr so .A cli f r t i i unde t FLSA
s
ove c
he
S eala i
ovi ins
am or ealaton
r he
rq ie as o n ta ( )tee ly ee g g d i a tvt p o e tdu d rteAc; 2 t
e urs h wig h t 1 h mpo e n a e n ciiy r tce n e h t ( ) he
e ly es b e u nt s fee a v rea to b tee l e ; n ( )ac uslc n e to
mpo e u s q e l u frd d e s cin y h mpoy r a d 3 a a o n cin
y
e itd b t e t e o e ' a tv t a dtea v rea to
xse ewe n he mply es ciiy n h d es cin.Wofv Co a coa Co, 0 F.
l . c - l .2 0 3d
upo whihy r l de ci t r s nt)youbeivet e mpto i a ia e
n c ou ey, s rbe he ea o s
le he xe in s pplc bl,
i c t a pa4ofyoura we t f t bas f cli i s h e mpton and
ndi ae s l
ns r he acual es or am ng uc xe i
des rbe t r or a doc e su whih you r l i r s
c i he ec ds nd um nt pon c
ey n e pondi t t s
ng o hi
i e r t y.
nt r oga or
4
1 1 43( 1hCi.2000) Defnda ague t tbe us Pli ifi notcovee byt
337, 342- 1 t r
. e nt r s ha ca e antf s
rd he
FLSA ,he ca te t bls t fr tel m entofa r t i ton cl m .
nno s a i h he is e
e ala i
ai
Thet r Se oye 'i de d by t FLSA a t ny i vi e pl
e m tmpl e' s sne
he
s ' ndi dual m oyedby an
a
e oy r' 29U. C.j203( () Ther aitons ci oft FLSA satst i i unl ul
mpl e .'
S.
e)1.
etlai e ton he
t e hatt s awf
$ o dic r ori a o he m a rdicrmi t a i ta e oye be us s h e o e
ç s ha ge n ny t r nne s i nae gans ny mpl e ca e uc mpl ye
t
ha fl a c
s ied ny ompl i ori tt e o c us d t bei tt ed a pr ee ng u rorr l e t
ant nsiutd r a e o ns iut ny oc di nde
eatd o
t scha er' 29U. C.j215.Thus on isfc t r aitonpr sonoft FLSA woul
hi pt .
'
S.
, t a e he etlai ovii
he
d
a yt Pli if Furhe e t e mptonr le onbyDefnda ,29U. C.j21 b ( )i
ppl o antf. t nnor,he xe i eid
e nt
S.
3() 1,s
anexe i t t m a m um hourr quie e soft Act nott ot rs tonsoft Ac .
mpton o he xi
e r m nt he ,
o he ec i
he t
Thus ba edon t l ngu oft sa u e, ai ife ged i a i t pr e t unde t Act, s
he a age he t t t Pl ntf nga
n ctviy ot ced
r he
co pli ng a
m a ni boutt l a i oft punc cl k andhi r s tng i biiy t pr ryr c d
he oc ton he
h oc
s e uli na lt o ope l e or
hi tm ea r ceve pr pe c pe ai De e ntsm o i n onl a es est fr telmen
s i nd e i
o r om ns ton. f nda ' to
y ddr s he i s e t
ofacai f r t la i Cons que l be a et r t la i pr son oft FLSA a ist
l m or e a iton.
e nty, c us he e a iton ovii
he
pple o
Pli if Dee ntsM otonmus bede e a t Pl ntf srt iton cam.
antf fnda '
i
t
nid s o ai if ealai li
Acc di y,ti he e
or ngl i s r by
ORDERED ta De e d n ' M oin frS mmayJ d me t DE- )i GM NTED i
h t fn a ts t o u r u g n ( 68 s
o
n
pa t D EN I i par :
r and
ED n t
1 Def ndantsM oton i gr nt d a t Cou 1f unpad ove tme.
. e
'
i s a e so
nt or
i
ri
2. De e ntsM oton i de e ast Co t2 f r t la i
f nda '
i s nid o un or e a iton.
DONE a ORDERED i M im i Fl i t s
nd
n a , orda, hi
? d yoç
a
*
'
,
2011
.
q
.
PA TR I A A .SEI
CI
TZ
UN I
TED STA TES D I
STRI J D GE
CT U
c
c:
Al Couns lofRec d
l
e
or
Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.
Why Is My Information Online?