United States Department of Labor v. Fisteac Farm Labor, Inc. et al

Filing 52

ORDER granting 50 Motion for Relief from Consent Judgment; the Consent Judgment is VACATED; this case is reopened. Signed by Judge Patricia A. Seitz on 10/8/2013. (dgj)

UNI
TED STA TES D I
STR I C O URT
CT
SO U TH ERN D I
STR I O F FLO RIDA
CT
CASE N O.l 20743- V - TZ/ M ONTON
2Cl SEl S1
SETH HARRIS,
ACTI SECRETA RY OF LA BO R ,
NG
UNI
TED STA TES D EPARTM EN T OF LABOR
Pl ntf,
ai if

LEDFORD FARM S,l .
NC ,
and TROY LEDFORD,
D ef
endant
s.
/
ORDER GRANTI PLAI
NG
NTIFF' M O TI N FO R RELIEF FR OM CON SENT JUDGM ENT
S
O

Thi m a t r i be or t Cour on Pl i if t D e r m e ofLa ' ,M o i n f Re i f
s te s f e he
t
a ntf , he pa t nt
bor s
t o or le

fo Co e J
r m nsnt udgme t ( 5 . Pli ifa Defnda sTr Le or and Le or Fams
n . DE- 0) antf nd e nt oy df d
df d r ,

Ic (s fn a t' stld a F A wa ea d h u matra d fld ac nsn j d me twh c
n . C e d n s' ete n LS
De
)
g n o r t n ie o e t u g n ih
e
t e Co r e trd o M a 2 2 3 g 48 . Plitf n w s e rle fo te c ns n
h u t ne e n y , 01 . DE- ) anif o e ks eif r m h o e t
j d me tp ru n t F d rlRueo Cii Pr c dle6 ( ( ) o t eg ou dta i mitk ny
u g n u s a t o e ea l f v l o e t 0b)1 1 n h r n h t t sa e l
r
e cud d a maeilp rg a h e trn j dg n f r b c wa e slq i ae d ma e ,a d
xl e
tra a a rp ne ig u me t o a k g s iu d td a g s n
itr tt ai $1 019. Ha ng co i e Defnda s
nees otlng 76, 31. vi
nsderd e nt'Opposton ( 51 a t
ii DE- j nd he

r c r ,h f csa dj tc r q iet a t emoinb g a td
e o d t e a t n usie e ur h t h to e rne .
1.

Background

Def nda s e pl
e nt m oyed s s l l bor r on t i g e n be n fr i Hom e t ad,
ea ona a e s
he r r e
a am n
se
Fl i
orda. The Com pl i a l ge t t D e e
a nt le d ha
f ndan s vi a e m i m um w a a r or ke pi
t ol t d ni
ge nd ec d e ng

rq ie n so te FarLa o S a d r sAc.Plitf s u h ij n tv r l fa d i trai
e ur me t f h i b r tn ad t an if o g t n u cie ei n , ne l
e
a,
1Addii 1y,Pl ntf as ers gr
or elef ed
r tonalconta prnci es Beca e
r ct i pl .
tona 1 ai if s t ound f r i bas upon tadii
us

teCo r fn a qu t g o ndf rr le u de Rue6 b ( ) tePli ifsatr tv te r ofrle ne d
h u t ids de ae r u o eif n r l 0()1 ,h antf' lenaie h o y eif e
notbeaddr s d.
es e

t e wor s ba k wa s and lqui t d da a s. The pa te e e e i o s tlm e
h
ker ' c
ge
i da e
m ge z
ri s nt r d nt e te nt
ne i to whih oc ured i pa tove e l Pli if scou elhad t cmi ldifc tes
gotai ns c
c r n r
r mai. antf'
ns
e l ca f uli

sv n te v ro d a t o t e s t e nta r e n a d c n e tj dg n ta we ee ie
a i g h aius r fs f h et me g e me t n o s n u me t h t r mald
l
ba k a f t be w e n c
c nd orh t e ouns l O n Aprl 1 201 D e e
e.
i 5, 3, f ndan s e a l d Pl i ifs c
t m ie a ntf ouns l a
e

sg iia tyr vs dd a to tec n e t u g n wh c c nan d amo eayj d me tf rt
in fc nl e ie r f f h o s n j d me t ih o tie
n tr u g n o he
fl a u d ma d d o $1 601 . . ( 5 - 1 Th c v re i sae t tDee d ns
ul mo nt e n e f 7 , 931 DE 0 7 . e o e mal ttd ha fn a t

t g e l n tt c ne ttee ty o mo yj dg n a an t( mqi te n u t came b
s re ) 0 o o ts h nr f ne u me t g is t
a
he n h mo ns li d y
t Se r t r ' I So e i e t r afe ,w ha was t n Pa a aph 7 c
he c e a y.' d
m tm he e t r
t
he
r gr
once ni dam a ,w a
r ng
ges s
i xplca y o it d f om t wor ng dr t alhough none of t pa tes e ai e hang
ne i bl m te r
he
ki
af, t
he r i ' m l xc
es

a d e sd te o sin. Co s q e ty te p ris p o osd o d r of c n e tj d me t
d r se h miso
n e u n l, h a t ' r p e r e
e
o sn u g n
s
ubmitd t t Cour di noti l apr son r rng De e nt t pa dama .
te o he
t d
ncude ovii equii
f nda s o y
ges
Pli if a s rs t tt par gr ph wa i dve tnty om itd,pe ha due t t c ca
antf s e t ha he a a
s na re l
te
r ps
o e hni l
pr e wih s vi t d a t. Pli ifcontnds t tdlrng s tl ntdicus i i ne r
obl ms t a ng he r fs antf
e
ha zi e teme
s sons t ve
wa r fom isposton t tt da
ve ed r t
ii ha he mage we e notnego i e be us t y ç r notowe t
s r
tabl ca e he i e
we
d o
t Unie St t but t t f e d l bor r w ho ea ned t . Pl M ot a 2. Ne rhel s ,
he
t d a es
o he i l a e s
r
hem ' .
'
.t
ve t e s
D e e nt m ai ai t tupon di c r ng t m i s ng pa a aph ii w a no ob ous ... ha a
f nda s nt n ha
s ove i he s i
r gr
dt s t vi
t t

mitk h d b e ma . g' De.Op ,a 3 . I se d De e d n s p sto i t tt e
sa e a e n de' se f p. t j n ta , fn a t' o iin s ha h
' e

p rg a h c nann t emo e j dg n wa e cud db c u eDe e s c u s lteiv d'h
aa rp o tiig h n y u me t s x l e e a s fn e o n e t l e 't e
b e
Gove m e ha r c i r d t Def nda s cr um sanc 3 a uniae al dr d t
m nt d e onsde e he
e nt ' ic t es nd
l tr ly oppe he
2Fitac Far La , l ,a f l s i ,and J eph Fit we e alo named m Def
se
m bor nc. ann abor uppler
s endant
s
os
seac r s
i t Compl nt Beca e t Fitac Def
n he
ai .
us he se
endant f l t ans t Compl nt t Cour ent e def t
s aied o wer he
ai , he
t er d aul

j g n a an tte ( 3 )
ud me t g is h m. DE- 8 .
3Durng s tl
i e tementne itons De e
gotai , f ndant c endedt tt we euna e t pa da
s ont
ha hey r
bl o y magesduet a
o
pendi banknl cy peii
ng
pt
tton.
2

r uie nt t t De e nt pa $1 01 31 i ba k wage a da a .Se i Though
eq r me ha f nda s y 76, 9. n c
s nd m ges e d.
ç e e 't tt pr son wa r m ove Def nda s di notcalPl ntf c ms la
t as d' ha he ovii
pl
s e
d, e nt d
l ai ifs ot e bouti
t

mu hls atmp t c n im tebeiv dc n ei Pli tf p sto 4 g 5 - 1 .
c e s te t o o fr h le e ha g n anifs o iin. DE- 0 1 j
I i undiput d t t a pa ag a c em i De e
t s
s e ha
r r ph onc ng f ndant 'pa a nt of ba k v a s
s yn e
c v ge ,
lqui t d da a s a i e e texit d i dr tve sons oft s tlm e . M or ove ,none of
i da e m ge nd nt r s se n af r i
he e te nt
e r
t ba k a f t emaisdic st r mova ofs apar gr ph. On t c r r De e
he c nd orh
l s us he e
l uch
a a
he onta y, f ndan '
ts
co m s ' c r e a la t c ng a dr f Stpul ton A g e m e s a e t t Def nda s a e not
t els ove m i t a hi
a t i ai
r e nt t t d ha
e nt gr ed

t c ne t te Se rtr s mo ea y j dg n . Ad iin l te Co s n J d me t Or r
o o ts h ceay' n tr u me t
dto al h
y,
n e t u g n de
s cii aly r f r nc st pa nt t t f m wor r by Pli ifupon r c ptoffmdsfom
pe fc l e e e e he yme s o he ar
ke s
antf
e ei
'
t
r
De e nt a t tDe enda swoul be r s nsbl f t e oye c rbuton f F.. A.
f nda s nd ha f nt
d
e po i e or he mpl r onti i or IC.
t xeson t bac wage .5
a
he k
s
II.

Di
scusson
i

Rue 6 ( )1 al ws fr rle fo j d me tf rr a o s o ç sa e ia v re c ,
l 0 b ( ) lo o eif r m u g n o e s n f s tk , n d e tn e
mi
s prs ,ore a ene e t' FE R.CI P.60( ) 1;se Unie St e v Goul 301F.
ur ie xcusbl glc.' D.
V.
b () e td ats . d,
2d

3 3 3 7( t Ci.1 6 ) (ieal c n tun Rul 6 ( )1 a d sti a i ec n e t u g n
5 , 5 5h r 9 2 6 lb r l o sr i g e 0 b ( ) n et sd o s n j d me t
y
ng
bas d on t gove nm e ' m i t ke under t ndi t ta l ownerw a due ot rt n nom i l
e
he
r nts s a n
s a ng ha and
s
he ha
na

4 By confr i g t ac a of t r s rs belef as t Pl ntf s
im n he cur cy
hei um ied i
o ai ips udden c nge i poston,
ha
n ii
Def
endant' couns coul have s ve is cle s opposi Couns a t Cour consi a e tme a
s
el
d
a d t int,
ng
el nd he
q
der bl i nd
expe e. Couns ha ng t e i
ns
el vi he xperence l sofDef e Couns r i f t i r i appr it whe
evel
ens
el ealze urher nquiy s
oprae
n
a c es i oft smagniudei ma wihoutcomment
onc son hi
t s de t
.
5tpl ntf upon r cei ofany moni pur ntt t s J
ç ai if
e pt
es sua o hi udgment s lditi e s moni lss
srbut uch
es e
, hal
deduci f f der li om et esand e oyee c rbutonst F.. A . asr r d by lw,t t named
tons or e a nc
M
mpl
onti i o IC. , equie
a o he
empl
oyees....The Def nda ss lbe r ponsbl f payi t e pl ' pori oft F.. A.t s.
e nt hal
es i e or
ng he m oyers ton he IC. axe '
'

( n e t u g n, 48 !7 .
Co s n J d me tDE- , q
6 Fit Cicui deci ons is prort Se e r 30, 1 ar bi ng pr de on t Elve h
fh r t si s ued i o pt mbe
981 e ndi
ece nt he e nt

Cic t s eBo n rv Ci o ic r 6 F.d 1 06 1 7( 1hCi.1 81.
rui. e n e . t fprtha d, 61 2 2 , 20 1 t r 9 )
y
3

c mp n ain frhsln l W hi fn l u g n ss o l n tbelg t ro e e ,Rue 6 ( )
o e s to o i a d .
l ia j d me t h u d o
e
ihl e p n d l 0 b
y
ç sspowe i c t a
s t
ve
r n ours dequae t e bl t m t va t j
t o na e he o cae udgme swhene rs h a ton i
nt
ve uc ci s

a p o raet a c mp ihj sie' Klp ot .Uni dS ae , 35U. 6 , 5( 9 9 .
p r p it o c o ls u t . a pr tv t t ts 3
c '
e
S. 01 61 1 4 )
Th r c r a y s p o t atn ig t tte p r g a h c n anig te mo e j d me t
e e o d mpl u p rs i dn ha h aa r p o ti n h n y u g n
wa e cu e b mitk .Dr f v rin o tec nsn j d me t e uie De e d n st pa te
s x ld d y sa e a t eso s f h o e t u g n r q r d fn a t o y h
f r wor sba k wag a da ges Ha t De rm e ofLa r e e i is de nd
am
ker c
es nd ma . d he pa t nt
bor elnt d n t ma
t t t f l w or r be m ade w hol s h a i por a c nge of he t w oul ha be n
ha he a'
m
ke s
e, uc n m t nt ha
ar
d ve e

c r a e by t r cor e de . Ho ve , no pa t of t r or i l ng t e a l
orobor t d
he e d vi nce
we r
r
he ec d, ncudi he m is
e ha d bewe n t pa te du i t s tl ntnego ito ,s
xc nge t e he ris rng he e teme
ta i ns how t tt r mova oft s
ha he e
l hi
pa ag a wa e n neg ibl, m uc l s ac ualy ne i t d. M or ov r i l i of
r r ph
s ve
ota e
h es t l
gota e 7
e e , ncuson

Paa rp 7 i t s bmitdfn lc n e tj d me ta dto al s g e t ta Plitf ma ea
rg a h n he u te i a o s n u g n d iin ly u g ss h t anif d
m i t ke. Tha pa ag a r uie t t t
sa
t r r ph eq r s ha s
upon r c pt of a m oni s pur ua t t s J
e ei
ny
e
s nt o hi udgm ent'
'

Pli if woul diti e t mone t t wor r and Def nda s woul be r ponsbl f
antf
d srbut he
y o he
ke s
e nt
d
es i e or
pa ng t e pl rpori ofF.. A.t xes pa ag a c
yi he m oye
ton
IC. a .A r r ph once i t fna diti i n of
nzng he i l srbuto

temo e j d me ti o v o syme n t b pe d n t ap o so o d rn amo e j d me t
h n y u g n s b i u l a t o e n e t o r viin r e ig
n y u g n.
11
1.

Conc us on
l i

The r c d c ai s tcint f c s t c l t t Pli if m a a m itke i not
e or ont ns ufi e a t o oncude ha a ntf
de
sa n

icu ig apaa rp f rmo yj g n . Gie t tRul 6 ( )1 i l e al c n tu d t
n ldn
rg a h o ne ud me t v n ha e 0 b ( ) s i rly o sr e o
b
g a r le i s h c s s i i ,
r nt e i f n uc a e , t s
7TheDepa mentofLa ' m ihandlng oft s s tl
rt
bors s
i
hi e tementcoul ha be a de by t e cs
d ve en voi d
he xer ie
ofamodium ofdii
c
lgence. Pl ntf' Couns ' pr es i prde,es aly whe t y ha t prvieget
ai ifs
els of sonal i
peci l
n he ve he i l o
r es t Unie St e s d de a mor rgor pr -ea ng. l t f ur Couns ar
epr ent he
t d ats, houl m nd
e i ous oofr di
n he ut e,
el e
a
dmonihed t bemor pr e i l dii . M or toublng,howe r i De e
s
o
e of ssonaly lgent
er i
ve , s f ndant'Counse ' r pons
s
ls es e.
The m s ton t ti wasnotobvi t Def nt Couns ,who wasi ve i t s te
s eri ha t
ous o enda s'
el
nvol d n he etlmentnegotatons,
ii
t tt misi par a wasa erorhmsan ai ofwiluli a
ha he s ng agr ph
n r
r
lf gnor nce. W hiet i vi couns ma be
l he ndi dual
el y
wilng t deplt t rper onalcr biiy bank a
li o
ee hei s
edi lt
ccount t rconducts les t r aton oft r entr
, hei
uli he eput i
hei ie
fr .
im

O RDERED t t
ha

()
1

Pli ifsM oi f Rele fo Cons ntJ me Or i GRANTED.
antf
ton or if r m
e udg nt der s

()
2

Th Co snt u g n ( 48 i VACATED.
e n e J d me t DE- ) s

(
3)

Thi c s i rope
s a e s e ned. The Cour wil C e l ne l is a Ode
t l ontmpo' ousy sue n r r
a

r uii anew J ntSc dulng Re t
eq rng
oi
he i
por.
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