Siquic et al v. Star Forestry, LLC et al
Filing
54
MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by District Judge Glen E. Conrad on 10/5/15. (jcj)
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STAR FORESTRY,LLC,ET AL.
,
D e e nt .
f nda s
Pl i t f sCa l H um be t Ca Si c a Sa i go Y a alCuz f l d t s a ton o
a n if r os
r o b qui nd nta
xc
ie hi c i n
be foft m s vesa o he ssmia l st t d a ns de e nt St Fo e ty,LLC,
hal he el nd t r i l ry iua e gai t f nda s ar r sr
l pe
nde nden LaborSe wi s LLC,W hie Pi Re or s a i LLC, m y Spea s Thom as a
t
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t ne f e t ton,
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be ow ,pl ntf s m o i w ilbe gr nt
l
ai i f ' ton l
a ed.
Backeround
Si e de e nt a e i de a t t f t unde l ng t s ltga i a e unc t t d.
nc f nda s r n f ul, he ac s
r yi hi ii ton r
on es e The
t i vi l na e i t co anta ei ge m ir ntwor r who we ee oye by
wo ndi dua s m d n he mpli r ndi nt g a
ke s
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def
endant St For t y,LLC,l
s ar es r
ndependentLaborSer ees,LLC,W hie Pi Ref es aton,
vi
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,
n
i i
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t r ,
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i w hi h t y bi on a nego i t d c r c st pl nttee on l nd ow ne by ot ri vi l
n
c he d
nd
ta e ont a t o a r s a
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he ndi dua s
a c pa es D e n Spea s -ho a ha a ow ne s p i e e ti a 1t e de e n
nd om ni . vi
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compa e a Amy Spe sThom a ha a ownerhi i e es i l pe n La rSe vi es
nis nd
ars d n
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LLC a St rFor ty,LLC.I or rt f fl t m a powe r r m e sunde t s
nd a
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r equie nt
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ontac s f
nt oug or i
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k
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t m por r bass, n or rt wor i t Unie St t s pl i if o a ne t m por r vi as a s
e
a y i I de o
k n he t d a e , a ntf s bt i d e
a y s , lo
known as(H- ' vi a .Subs que l pl i if w e e a it d t t U nie St t s a
ç 2B ' s s
e nty, a ntfs r dm te o he t d a e nd
e pl ye a m e be s ofl borc e sor ni d by de e nt . s a c t o f r o a ni Hm o d s m r
a
r w ga ze
f nda s A
ondii n o bt i ng
28 vi a ,de e nt c r ii d t t D e r m e ofLa t tt y w o d pa pl i if e lt
s s f nda s e tf e o he pa t nt
bor ha he
ul y a ntf s qua o,
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i
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r ve o he t d a e Thes pe e r pr xi t l ,
r r r r
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ve a
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ai if ive ha he r
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e
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s
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pay cks Thi f iur c us pl i if t be una e t s a e wih c r a nt t a ountofunpai
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Pl ntf sf l d a c as a ton c pl i o Oc o 21 201 s ki t br ng c a s
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i
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wo k r p rua tt 8U. C. 1 01a ( 5 ( (i( wh weee ly di t ed fn a t'
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t vi
rfho , nde nde
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r t
nt s e ac s n a ntf s om a nt ndi t ha he l s s m i e
a oxi a e y 20 m i a wor r f om G ua e a a.I f c , e ntAm y Spea s - hom as
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a pa t i t ca i i i r s f om t s m e e ntorc s ofc
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t a ia lt of c Ma n de e esa ns a c a sr pr e a i .' a ood,1 F. D . t578.
he va l biiy
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09 R. a
The c a m s ne d notd pe f c l i ntc lo per e ty a i d. D e t rv. i r of Co p. 436
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le he t e he l m .' e e J nns N CI A : CV 00071
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pl i if 'a t pr pos c a s scl i s a e i er e a e a i e f o t s m e c s of
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our e
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naly, he l nt de cy e r ha he m d a ntf s sa r y nd deq t y
pr e tt itr t oft cas . Fe R. v. 23()4) Cf ea qua i r ..s r est
otc he neess he l s' d. Ci P. a( .l' de cy nquiy . e v o
'
-h
uncov r c l c sofi e es be wee na e pa te a t c a st y s e t r pr e .' rs
e onti t
nt r t t n m d ri s nd he l s he e k o e es nt' Har i ,
299 F. D .a 491. s i uiy t ndst k e ge w ih t pr c ng i r esi o c m ona iy
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o l s o f n a n a wh n 1 ca s mb r s ae o n b e tv s n h a
c
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I ( i W adv. xi Na. f I .Co.5 F. 1 1 ( hCi.201 ) l a tont
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n hi as t our i
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y o he m d ai if
d fr
i ntc lr le f a 1m e be s oft c a s
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he l s .
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o a s ns , ai if s e t ha he ga d usi e nt r s
lpublc i t r tl ga s r i sor z ton w ih s t nta e
i n e es e l e v ce gani a i
t ubs a i l xpere i i m i r a
i nce n m g ant dvoca y a
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he ga d us i e nt r o
co pe c or a z i Sc t F.Supp.3d a 59 l a ton,Covi on & Buri LLP i a
m t nt g ni aton. ot,
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r put bl na i l1 w fr w ih e e i e r e e i a wi va i t ofl ga i s ,i udi
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e pl e di put s Pl i if al o no e t tbo h or ni to ha s f c e tf
m oym nt s e . a ntf s s t ha t ga za i ns ve uf i i n undst
o
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t
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cton. n uppor oft s a gum e t , a ntf s a t c d a de l r ton f o e h or ni ton.
t he e r
n s pl i if ta he
c a a i r m ac ga za i
D e e nt do notdi put t e qualtca i ns The c r fnds t tc as c
f nda s
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ii to .
ou t i ha l s ouns li c pe e ,
e s om t nt
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e nd he opos d c a s A c or i y,pl ntf s
e l s . c d ngl ai i f
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ve t he qua y equie nt
Fort f egoi ras ,t co 'fndst tt Rul 23()rquieme sar s tsi
he or ng e ons he ul i ha he e a e r nt e aited.
t
l1.
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e b)
I a tont me tngt r quie nsofRul 23() acas mus as qualf asoneof
n ddii o ei he e rme t
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t t e tpe ofca s s tf rhunde Rul 23( .Gryv. rtCommc' l ,444F.
he hre y s lses e o t
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n, nc.
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ca sa o i s p ro t ohe a alb emeho sf rfil a det e tya j dc t t e
ls din s u ei r o t r v ia l t d o ary n fkin l du iai h
ng
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ontoves 'Fe R. v. 23( ( .
e na e nd uperort e r nt ns e
t tc t ac e e onom y i tm e, f t a e ns w ihouts rf c ng pr edur lf ines .
ha our s hi ve c
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ac ii i
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A lho h pl i if ha esa i he t e se ofc m on que tonsofl w a f t
t ug a ntf s ve t bls d he xi t nce om
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om
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ton s 'i l o t e ti nt ha he m
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e pl i k m m on quesi pr m i t r ga di la lt t n co t g r ly fnd t
xam e, f s
co
tons edo na e e r ng i biiy, he ur s ene a l i he
pr dom i nce r qui e en t be s ts i d e n i i vi ua da a i s s r m ai ' Stlm oc
e
na
e rm to
a i fe ve f ndi d l m ges s ue e n.' il k
v.W ei Makes I , F.
s r ts nc.385 App' 267, ( hCi. 0)( i Smiow v. Bel
x
273 4t r 201 quotng l
Sw. l
-
M obieSys,l , F. 32,40( s Ci.2003).s -as He et 1 F. D. t220(s he e
l . nc.323 3d
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ve , he s ue i biiy ur
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ai i f , uc
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ts
no,byis f s fce t stsyRul 23( ( ' mo ede ndi prdomi nc r quie nt'
t tel, ufiint o aif e b)3)s r ma ng e na e e rme .
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od, , 4 3d t
nse d, ai if
t how Sno onl t e se e of
t t y he xit nc
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hos
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r le he a
ij ist oughrpeaedc
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t he a
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pr pos d c a sm e be s pur uet r c a m s u ert s m e l galt y.The e o e,de e nt '
o e ls m r
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la lt wihr s tt ise oyme pr cie woul bes j c t rs utoni asnge
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a j d c to . eo ydfee c a n t ep ttv ca sme e si t eridvd a d ma e .
du iain Th nl ifrn e mo g h uaie ls mb r s h i n iiu l a g s
H ow e r t sdif r nc i o m i m a co e nc gi n t c m on que tons ofl w a
ve , hi f e e e s f ni l ns que e, ve he om
si
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t r ui s ound t tt ne d f
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l ndi dua i ed pr ofda a w ilnotde e tc a sc r ii ton. Gunne l v. e lhpl
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i
oof
m ges l
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'
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SevssI ,3 F. 41 429( hCi. )(mpha i i orgi l,Mor ove,t da
r . nc. 48 3d 7,
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l
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s i y o e o cin t 1 o h j rt f ls mb r .' o te . u fx n o
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N
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ls
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cin s u eir o t e to s f du iain.
Fi s ,c t m us cons de C he i t r to m e be soft c as i i vi l
r t ours
t
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t
he l s n ndi dualy
c r lngt pr e utonordee eofs paaea i 'Fe R. v.P. b)3)A)
ontoli he os c i
fns e rt ctons. d. Ci 23( ( ( .
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Pl i if c e t tt i vi
a ntf s ont nd ha he ndi dualpu a i cl s m e be s ha ltl i t r t i a i
t tve a s m r ve ite n e es , f ny, n
brngi t i ow n i vi la tons A s e ai d a
i ng he r
ndi dua c i .
xpl ne bove, he pr pos c as m e be s r s de i
t
o ed l s m r e i n
Guae aa,dono s a Engls a ei i nt ar unf miirwih U. lw ,a m a onl be
tm l
t pe k
ih, r nd ge , e a la t S.a nd y y
due r l tve y s al s sofm oney. s f c o sa ls
e a i l m l um
The e a t r 1 how t tt i vi ua cl s m e be s
ha he ndi d l a s m r
w oul have ltl i eres i pur ui s at actons.See A m chem Pr .l ,521 U . at617
d
ite nt t n s ng epar e i
ods. nc.
S.
(û- polcya t veycor ofcas a tonmec nim i t o c t pr e t s l
dl
-he i t he r e l s ci
ha s s o verome he oblm hat mal
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o he rg s'( tngM a v. n Ru Cr tCor ,l F.d338,344( hCi.1 9) s e
r r iht. quoi
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7t r 997( * e
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as Le v. ey,1 F. D.51 51 ( D. ah.1 (k iht rlc ofEngls t i
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pr s a y lm ied und s a ng oft l ga s t ,t f c t tf w lve pe m a nty w ihi
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woul puruet sltgai i ca scetfc tonwe eno al d.'Theeor t sfco doe
d s hi ii ton f ls riiai r t lowe ' rf e,hi a tr s
)
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Se ond, he co ts d c i rt te e ta na ur ofa lt g ton conc r ng t
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r sy r
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v.
23( ( ( .nt sca e noot rlws t ha be nfldbyme r oft pr edcl s
b)3)B) l hi s , he a uis ve e ie
mbes he opos as.
14
The e or t s f c ordoe notw e gh a ns c r ii a i
r f e, hi a t
s
i gai t e tfc ton.
U nde t t r f c or t c tm us e l t t û s r biiy orunde ia lt of
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de
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co e rtngt ltgai oft camsi t pa tc a f r 'Fe R.Ci P. b)3)C) I
nc ntai he ii ton he li n he riulr oum. d.
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v. 23( ( ( .n
t s c e t r i a de ie t c e r t t ltga i i t s f u bec us t de e nt
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a e he f nda s
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uc ed i nii nt i s n r ni nd hos
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el
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et
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ke he oc s k.' Eve houghpli if c e t tdeenda sdonotha a
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e
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n iyi ls mbe s s nt o e b)3 .
ve, antfs tt ha he a
pr vi t c t t anotc pln upon a or rgr ntng cas c rii ton.Acc di y, he
o de he our wih
ie a
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ende i c hii aton i ppr i t ,t cou tc n al a dec r iy a t ttm e Haywood,1
rng e fc i na opra e he r a w ys e tf t ha i .
09
F. . .at593.
RD
Ove a l t r i c e n t , n t a e e ofa c as a ton,onl a ve y f w H - B
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2
w or r w ilbe pos tone t ltga e t i c a m s A c or ngl a i co l i t c t i
ke s l
ii d o ii t he r l i . c di y, nd n nc uson, he our f nds
t tRul 23( ( ca sce tfc toni a opraei t sc s
ha e b)3) ls riiai s ppr it n hi a e.
1
11.
Fai L abor St
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andards Act
U nde t Fa rLa S a r A c ,a em pl e m a i ta e a c as a ton on be l of
r he i bor t nda ds t n
oye
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hi efa ohesû i lryst td. 29U. C.j21 b)Unlkeca saci und Rul 23,
ms l nd t r ç mial iuae '
s
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S.
6( . i ls tons er e
e h i vi lcl s m em be m us afim a i l cons nti w rtng t pa tc pa e i t s t
ac ndi dua as
r
t fr tve y
e n ii o r i i t n he ui
unde t FLSA. d.The e or t c t us frtde em i t tt pl ntfsa e t i ia l
r he
1
r f e,he our m t is tr ne ha he ai if r d m lry
s
stae 'a dte t a t e û p e -n' yfl gc n e t t j i tes i. uso v.
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u
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o
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591F.Supp. 8 8 ( D. 2008) Fis,tpon ami ma e de ir s ng't tt
2d 27, 31 E. Va.
. rtdu
ni l vi ntay howi 'ha he
c as i s m ia l st t d,t pl i ifm a m ove f w a d w ih a c l c i a ton on a
l s s i l r y iua e he a ntf y
or r t ole tve c i
ç ovii ba i.' wl v. usi Ho eHe lh Ca e. nc.244 F. D.298,300 ( M d.
û sonal s s'Ra s Aua tne m
pr
at r l ,
R.
D.
2007 .The t c tpr ee t t s ondse f l ngdic r I Att ss c sage
) n,he our oc ds o he ec tp olowi sove y. d. hi e ond t ,
16
t c ta i am or srnge i r t dee mi whehert pl i if a esm ia l
he our pples
e ti nt nquiy o tr ne
t he antfs r i lry
s t t d. d.
iua e I
The fr ti r i whe he t pl i if a e s m ia l st t d.Thi i a i a ry l ni
is nqui y s
t r he a ntf s r i l ry iua e
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m
Fa r i l
o t . nc.
475F.Supp. 557,5 ( D. .2006) Theprmayf usi whehe t potnta pli if
2d
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.
i r oc s t r he e il antfs
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t r ne ' 1 l hi a e he m d a ntf s ve de ufi i n howi t tt y a e
ng ha he r
s m ia l st t d t t pr ed c as m e be s A ga n, a ntf s s ek r c r unde t s m e
i l ry iua e o he opos l s m r . i pl i if e e ove y
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l lt r e bas d on def nda s'ale vi a i o e pl e 1 w pe t i ng t
ega heo i s e
e nt l ged ol tons f m oym nt a
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e m s m nt , ges
ri
nd um t ton. a ntf s s e he r le tons t
de l r tonsfo s ve a potnta cas me be s l a ton, he c t ha f
c a a i r m e r l e il l s m r . n ddii ot r ours ve oundt ts h
ha uc
w or r w e e sm ia l s t t d i lke c r um s a e .Se D e Luna Gue r v. . G r e s
ke s r i l ry iua e n i ic t nc s e
- r eo N C. ow r
As'.n ,3 8F. u p. d6 9, 5 ( D. C. 0 4 (rnigrq eto c ri cto u d r#
sn lc, 3 S p 2 4 6 4 E. N. 2 0 ) ga tn e u s fr ett ain n e
i
21 b whena1pli if wokedfrd e nta c mpl ne ofde e ntsri s nt
6()
1 antfs r o efnda nd o ai d
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polc whihalgedl rs tdi ami mum wa vi ai unde FLSAI s ealoM ont v.
iy, c le y e ule n ni
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2008 (rntngcl sc rii tonunde j21 b)whe pl ntfss weda quaee de e
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r 6(
n ai if ho
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t oug s nde aai oft smeFLSA vi ai ,i udi fiu et payovetme .
hr h wor clrtons he a
oltons ncl ng alr o
ri )
Ac or ngl t c tfndst tpli if aesmial st tdunde j216( .
c di y,he our i ha antfs r i lry iuae
r
b)
Be us di c y i c pl t i i now a opr a e t pr e d t t s cond s e oft
ca e s over s om e e, t s
ppr i t o oc e o he e
t p he
c a sc tfc ton i uiy. e Es a e v.SSC La e O pe a i Co. C,8 F. p.2d 8 ,
l s eri i a i nq r Se s m
ur l r tna
LC
47 Sup
21
826- ( M d. 2)( clni t pr e dt t ne se uni dic r hasbee c eed)
27 D. 201 de i ng o oc e o he xt tp tl s ovey
n omplt .
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enda s r n a t nd he ef r ve
r ued ha ec r i ton s ppr i t
k
r
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he a i
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iua ed, nd he ef e s a i f hi i ht ne c utny.
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ond tng ute h n
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l ddii
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I ,231F. pp.2d433,436( D. 2002)(i ngt tf t rnotcewa unne esay
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E. Va.
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e r nt
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hi m a
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e r
ENTER:Thi Y
s
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