Pursuant to 5 T H C IR . R. 47.5, the court has determined that thi s opinion should not * be publishe d and is not precedent except under the limited circu mstance s set forth in 5 T H C IR . R. 47.5 .4. 

### INTHE UNI TED S TATESCOU RT OFAPPEALS

FORTHEFIFTH CIRCU IT

N o. 07- 30990

BR UCE AC AS EY ; JAMES B AR RYB RYAN P l ai n t i f fs- A pp el l an t s v. L IVI NGS T ON PAR I S H CO M M UNI CA T I ONS DI S T RI CT ; R ONA L D W CO TTO N ; FRE D BA N K S D efen da n t s- A pp el l ees

A pp ealf

rom t h e U n i t ed S t ates D i st ri ctC ou rt f o rt he M i ddl e D i s t r i c to f Lo ui s i ana U SD C N o. 3: 06- C V

- 341

B ef ore S M ITH , B A R K S D A L E , an d P R A D O , C i rcui tJu dg es . P E R C U R IA M: * Bruc e A. Ca seya nd J am e s Bar r y Bry an ( s ubs t i t ut e d f o rBr e nda V u l gam ore, w h o d i ed i n A pri l200 7) , app eal
. C asey an d V u l gam ore (P l ai n t i f fs)
w e re em p loy e e s o f th e L ivin g sto n P a rish C o m m u n ica tion s D istr ict (L P C D ). C ont es t ed are : ( 1) the di sm i ss alunder Feder alR ul e o f C ivi lPro c edur e 1 2(b) ( 6) of P l ai nt i f

fs ’ c l ai m unde r 42 U
. S. C. § 19 83 f o r t e r m i nat i o n w i t ho ut no t i c e o r a h e a r in g , inv io la tio n o f d u e p r o c e s s ; (2 ) th e d is m is s a l w ith p r eju d ic e u n d e rR u le United States Court of App eals

Fifth Circuit 

### F I L E D Ma rch 6, 2009 Cha rl es R. F ulb ru g e II I ClerkN o. 07- 30990

2 12 (b) ( 1) of

t he i rs t at e - l aw ag e - di s c r i m i nat i o n c l ai m ; a nd the s um m ar y j udg m e nt aga i n stcl ai m s ( 3) f

or r et al i ator y t e rm in a tion , i n vi ol ati on of t h e F ai r La bor St and ar ds Ac t( FLSA) , 2 9 U
. S. C. § 215 ( a) ( 3) , and ( 4) f o rl i qui da t e d d am ag e s a nd
a tto rn e y ’ s f

e e s, p u rs u a n t to F L S A § 2 1 6 (b ). A t iss u e is w h e th e r: (1 ) P la in t iffs h a dap r o p e r tyin te r e s t in th e ire m p lo y m e n t; (2 ) th e d is tr ic t c o u r t’s e r r o rin di s m i s s i ng thes t at e - l aw ag e- di scr i m i n ati on cl ai m s w i t h prej u d i ce w as ha rm l ess; ( 3) Pl ai nt i f

fs e s t ab l i s he d a c o gni z ab l e c l ai m o f r e t ali at i o n und e rt he FLSA ; a nd ( 4) t he di s t r i c tc o ur te r r e d i n c o nc l udi ng t h atD e fe nda nt s ’e r r o ri n c al c ul at i ng o v e r t i me p a ywa s ma d e i ng o o dfa i t h
. A F F I RMED. I. T h e L P C D , a pol i t i ca l s u bd ivi si on of t h e State of

L ou i si an a, provi des
em er genc y c om m uni c at i ons s ervi c es f orLivi ngst on Pari sh. I n Februar y 2005 , C asey an d V u l gam ore began w orki n g at th e L P C D ’ s 911 E m ergency C al lC en t er. C asey w as a shi f

tsup ervi sor; V u l gam ore, a com m u n i cat i on s of f i cer. C asey regularly sup ervi sed V u l gam ore. T w o w eeks aft er Pl ai n tiffs began w orki n g f or t h e L P C D , ot h er of f i cers s t ar t e d c o m pl ai ni ng t o Cot t o n (LPC D ’ s dir e c t o r , a nd ade fe nda nti n t hi s a c t i o n) t h at V u l gam ore w as sl eepi n g on the j ob. S u ch cond u ctw as, of course, a dan ger t o pu bl i c s afet y given V u l gam ore’ s j ob du t i es, a n d t h e L P C D pol i cy m an u all i st ed it a s aca u s e fo rd is c ip lin a r ya c tio n . A f t er r ec eivi ng se ver al c om pl ai nt s of t hi s so r t and c onduct i ngan i nve s t i ga t i o n, Cot t o n s us pe nde d b o t h Vul ga m o r e , f o rs l e e pi ng o n t he j o b, a nd C asey, f or s h ow i n g favori t i sm t o V u lga m ore by al l ow i n g h er t o do so. C ot t on com pl et ed an E m pl oyee D i sci pl i n ary R eport f or each suspen ded em pl oyee. N e i t he rPl ai nt i f

f di s put e d t he ab o ve - de s c r ibe d r e as o ns c i t e d f o rdi s c i pl i ne w he n g ive n t he o ppo r t uni t y t o do s o i n t he r e po r t ’ s “ Em pl o ye e Rem ar ks ” s e c t i o n. O n l y af t er t erm i n ati on di d P l ai n t i f fs c on t en d V u l gam ore w a s n otsl eepi n g on dut y, al t hough bot h co nce ded s he o c c as i onal l y “ shutherey es ” w hi l e w or ki ng.N o. 07- 30990

3 Pl ai nt i f fs w e r e f

o r m all y t e r m i nat e d i n M ay2 00 5. They a pp eal e d the de c i s i o n t o t he Boa r d o f Com m i s s i o ne r s , t he LPC D ’ s g o ve r ni n g bod y. Banks ( C h ai rm an of

t h e B oard, al so a defen da n tin th is act i on ) an d the ot h er t h ree B o a r dm e m b e r s v o te dto u p h o ldC o tt o n ’ s te r m in a tio n d e c is io n . A f t er t erm i n ati on , C a se yf i l ed a com pl ai n tw i t h t h e U n i t ed S t ates D e p a r t me n to f

L a b o r( D O L ) , a l l e g i n gt h e L P C D i mp r o p e r l yc a l c u l a t e do v e r t i me p a y . A lth o u g h b o th C a s e ya n dV u lg a m o r e h a d c o m p la in e do r a llyto th e ir sup eri ors du ri n g t h ei r t en u re att h e L P C D regardi n g del ays i n t h e pay m en tof overt i m e, no w rit t en com pl ai n t w a s f i l ed u n t i lt h i s poi n t , ei t h er i n t erna l l y or wi t h t he DO L. T h e D O L fo u n dt h e L P C D h a ds lig h tly , b u t in go o dfa ith , un der- cal cul ated t he o ve r t i m e pa y, and de t e r m i ne d Cas e y andVul ga m o r e w e r e due$ 14 2. 86 a nd $16 3. 40, res pectivel y. T h e D O L facil i t ated a sett l em en t , an d the L P C D of fered P l ai nt i f fs c o m pe ns at i o n i n t hata m o unt
. The y r e f us e d t o a c c e ptt he f u n ds, b e c a u s e re c e ip t w a s c o n tin g e n t o n s ig n in gafo r m w ith th e D O L , re le a s in gth e ir b a c k -w a g e s cla im u n d e rF L S A§ 2 1 6 (b ). P la in tiffs la te ra d m itt e dint h e ir dep osi t i on s t h at th e overt i m e payow ed to t h em , as c al cul ated an d d et erm i n ed b yth e D O L , w a s co r r e c t. O n 16 M ay 20 06, P l ai n tif fs f il e d thi s act i on , seeki n g t h ei r un pa i d overti m e, l i qui da t e d d am ag e s , a nd a t t o r ne y’ s fee s , pur s uantt o FLSA§ 2 16 (b) , a nd
r e c o v e r yf

o rb e i n gt e r mi n a t e di n r e t a l i a t i o n f o r t h e i r o r a l r e q u e s t s f o ro v e r t i me pa y, pur s uant t o FLSA § 21 5( a) ( 3)

. They al s o f i l e d c l ai m s unde r § 19 83, for bei n g t erm i n ated w i t h ou tnoti ce ora hea ri n g, an d u n der t h e A ge D i scr i m i n ati on in E m p lo y m e n t A c t(A D E A). O n 1 1 S e p te m b e r2 0 0 6 , th e ya m e n d e dth e ir
c o m pl ai ntt o a dd ag e - di s c r i m i nat i o n c l ai m s und e rt he Lo ui s i anaEm pl o ym e nt D i sc r i m i nat i on Law (LE D L) , and w age- paym entc l ai m s und erLoui si ana’ s W age P a y m e n t L a w .N o. 07- 30990

4 D efen da n t s m ovedt o di sm i ss al lcl ai m s. O n 23 Feb rua ry 200 7, t h e di st ri ct
c o u r tg r a n t e dD e fe n d a n t s ’R u l e 1 2 (b ) ( 6 ) mo t i o n t o d i s mi s s t h e § 1 9 8 3 c l a i m, concl u di n g: t h e L P C D w as n ot a pa rt of t h e L ou i si an a S t ate C ivil S ervi ce Sys t e m ; t he r e f

o r e , Pl ai nt i f

fs di d no tha ve a pr o pe r t y i nt e r e s ti n t he i rj o bs ; a nd,
w i t ho uts uc h a n i nt e r e s t , t he r e w as no de pr iva t i o n o f Cons t it ut i o nalr i ght s a nd privi l eges. I tal so grant e d D efen da n t s’R u l e 12(b) ( 1) m ot i on t o di sm i ss P l ai n t i f fs’
s ta te a n dfe d e r a l a g e -d is c r im in a tio n cla im s , fin d in gn e ith e rcla im p r o c e d u r a lly pr o pe r . Pl ai nt i f

fs had no ti ni t i all y f

i l e d ac o m pl ai ntw i t h t he EqualEm pl o ym e nt O p p o r t u n i t yC o mmi s s i o n ( E E O C ) b e f o r e f i l i n ga n a c t i o n f

o rt h e i rA D E Ac l a i m, no rha d the y give n writ t e n no t i c e t o t he i re m pl o ye r , a s r e quir e d, b e f o r e f i l i ng t he L E D L cla im
. F in a lly , th e co u r t d is m i s s e d P la in tiffs ’s ta te w a g e -la w cla im s aga i n stt h e i ndivi dua lD e f e nda nt s , b e c aus eth ey coul d on l y seek recovery agai n st t h ei r em pl oyer, t h e L P C D
. Th e w age cl ai m s ag ai n stthe L P C D rem ai n ed befor e th e cou rt. In Ju n e 2 0 0 7 , D efen d a n ts m ov ed f or su m m a ryj u d gm en t w i th resp ect to al lof Pl ai nt i f

fs’c l ai m s. T h e d i stri c tc our ti ss ued a s ec ond r ul i ng on 20 S eptem ber 200 7, di sm i ssi n g w i t h prej u di ce t h e § 198 3 an d s t ate andfederalagedi sc r i m i n a ti on c l ai m s f ort he r eas ons pr ovi ded i n t he abo ve- di sc uss ed 23 Feb r uary o pi ni o n. Addit i o nall y, i tg r ant e d s um m ar y j udg m en ta ga i ns tt he
r e m ai nde ro f

P l ai nt i f

fs ’cl ai m s , det e r m i ni ng: t he y hadnotpr o ve d ap rim afa cie
c as e o f r et al i at i on underFL SA§ 215( a) ( 3) , be c ause t heiri nt er nal , or al
com p l a i n ts reg a rd i n g d elayi n rece ivin g o ve rti m e p a y d i dn ot con stit u te

“ pro t ec t ed ac t ivi t y” under t he FL SA ; and, ev en if t hey had pro ved a p rim afa cie
c as e , t he D e fe nda nt s co ul d s ho w a l e git i m at e , non- di s c r i m i nat o r y r e as o n f o rt he t er m i nat i on, one Pl ai nt i f fs c oul d notpr ove w as pr e- tex tu a l : V ul gam or e w as sleep i n g on th e j ob a n d C a sey , a s h er su p erv i sor, w a s a w a re of this an dfa i l ed to ta k e co r r e c tiv e a c tio n .N o. 07- 30990

5 The d i s t r i c t c o u r t a l s o c o n c l u d e d t h a t Pl a i n t i f fs we r e e n t i t l e d t o t he overt i m e paycal cul ated b y t h e D O L , b u tw ere not en t i t l ed to l i qu i da t ed d am ages and at t or ney’ s fee s und erFL SA§2 16(b) be c ause : perFL SA§ 260, i tw as c l ear th e ov ertim e m i sca l cu l a ti on w a s m a d e i n go od fai th , th ere fore, the distri ct cou rt, i n it s di s c r e t i o n, c ou l d r e f us e t o a w ar d li qui da t e d d am ag e s ; a nd, b e c aus e t he LP C D of

fer ed Pl ai nt i f

fs t he am ount of bac k w ages det er m i ned by t he D O L t o b e d u e (a n da g r e e db yth e P la in tiffs to b e c o r r e c t) in J a n u a r y2 0 0 6 , bef oreP la in tiffs hadr e t ai ne d c o uns e l , they had noc o gni z ab l e a t t o r ne y’ s - fe e s c l ai m und e rt he st at ut e. Fi nal l y, i tdi sm i ss ed w i t h prej udi c e t he Loui si ana W age Paym entl aw c l a i m s agai nstt he i ndivi dualD ef endant s f

ort he r eas ons s t at ed i n t he 23 Februar y o pi ni on; and, i tr ef use d t o e xer c i ses uppl em ent alj uri sdi c t i on under28 U
. S

. C

. § 1367 , di sm i ssi n g al lpen di n g st ate- l aw cl ai m s w i t h ou tprej u di ce. II. A di s t r i c tc o ur t ’ s di s m i s s alo f c l ai m s und e rRul e 1 2(b) ( 6) i s r e vi e w e d de
novo . E
. g ., C u vi l l i er v. T aylor , 503 F
. 3d397 , 401 ( 5th C i r. 200 7)

. Asum m ary j udg m e nti s a l s o r e vi e w e d de no vo . E .g., H & A L a n dCo rp . v . C ity of K en n ed a le , 4 8 0 F .3d 3 3 6 , 3 3 8 (5t h C ir. 2 0 0 7 ). A. P l a i n tiffs con ten d , u n d er § 1 9 8 3 , tha t t h eyw ere term in a te d w i th ou t a he ar i ng i n v i o l at i o n o f t he i rdue

- pr o c e s s r i ght s . Def e nda nt s m ai nt ai n t hatt he di s t r i c tc o ur tpr o pe r l y di s m i s s e d t he c l ai m o n t he i rRul e 1 2(b) ( 6) m ot i o n. The d i stri ct cou rt con cl u d ed : the L P C D w a s n ot p a rt of the L ou i sian aS tate C ivil Se rvic e Sy s t e m (LSC SS) b e c aus e LPC D w as nei t h era n i ns t r um e nt ali t y o f t he S t ate un der t h e tradi t i on aldef i n i t i on , nor ha d the L ou i si an a L egi sl ature
e xp r e s s l y i ndi c at e d it s de s i r e t hatLPC D b e i nc l u ded in the LSCSS. As s uc h, P la in tiffs h a dn o p ro p e r tyin te r e s t in th e ire m p lo y m e n t t h a t w o u ldv a lid a te th e ir § 1 9 8 3 c l a i m.N o. 07- 30990

6 A r tic le 1 0 , § 1 (A) o f th e L o u is ia n aC o n s tit u tio n s ta te s : “T h e s ta te civ il servi c e i s e s t ab l i s he d a nd i nc l ude s a l lpe r s o ns ho l di ng o f f i c e s a nd p o s i t i o ns of t rust or em pl oym en ti n t h e em pl oy of the st ate, or an y i n st rum en t al i t y t h ereof

. . . . ” L A
. C ONST
. art
. 10, § 1. If a n e n tityis foun d to be an i n st rum en t al i t y of t he St at e , i ti s c o ns t i t ut i o nall y m and at e d t hati t s em pl o ye e s be i nc l ude d i n t he
c iv i l

- s e rv i c e s y s t e m. Se ePo lk v . Edw ar ds , 6 2 6 S o . 2 d1 1 2 8 , 1 1 4 7 ( L a . 1 9 9 3 ). C ivi l

- servi ce em pl oyees ha ve a property i n t erest i n m ai n t ai n i n g t h ei r posit i on s, a n d , a c c o r d in g ly , c a n n o t b e te r m in a te dw ith o u t d u e p r o c e s s . Se eAFSCM E, Cou n ci l#17

v. S t ateex rel
. D ep’

tof Heal t h & Hosps. , 789 So. 2d 126 3, 1267- 68 (L a . 20 0 1 ). InS lo wi n s k iv . Eng la n dEc o n o m i c& I n d u s t r i a lDe v e lopm e nt D i st ri ct , 828 So. 2d 52 0 (L a. 200 2) , t h e L ou i si an a S u prem e C ou rti den t i f i ed
s e ve r alfac t o r s us e d t o de t e r m i ne w he t he ra n e nt i t y i s a n i ns t r um e nt ali t y o f t he S ta te , in c lu d in g , in tera lia : it s pow ers, f u n cti on s, de gr ee of i n terrelation sh i p w i th th e S ta te , g e o g r a p h ics c o p e , a n dle v e l o f a u to n o m y . Id
. a t 5 2 3
. If a pol i t i calsubd ivi si on does not f i tt h i s def

i n i t i on , i ti s not
c o n s tit u tio n a llym a n d a te dt o p a r tic ip a te inth e L S C S S

. Itm a y , h o w e v e r , st ill do so i f there i s cl ear legi sl ative i n t en ttha tthe en t i t y so part i ci pa t e, regardl ess o f h o w lo c a l o r a u to n o m o u s th e e n tit y m ig h t b e . I d. at 527
. Th i s i n t en ti s of t en sho w n by an e xpr es s dec l ar at i on t hatan ent i t y s hal lbe c onsi der ed an i nst r um ent al i t y o f

t he St at e, and, w i t houts uch dec l ar at i on, i tw oul d be “u n r e a s o n a b le to a s s u m e [th e ] le g is la tu r e o v e r lo o k e dit”

. I d. at528. E ss ent i al l y f

o rther e a s o nss t a t e d by the di st r i c tc our ti n i t s c om pre hensive o pi ni o n, t he L PC D i s notan “i ns t r um e nt ali t y o f t he s t at e ” , b e c aus e i tl ac ks t he

“ extensive en t an gl em en t” w i t h t h e State t o be so def i n ed u n der Slow i nski
. I d.
a t 5 2 6 ; Ca seyv . L ivingsto n Pa ris h Co m m c’n s D ist. , No
. 0 6

- 3 4 1

- F J D- DL D (M
. D. L a . 2 3 F e b . 2 0 0 7 ) (D is tr ic t C o u r t’s R u lin gre : d e fe n d a n ts ’m o tio n to d is m is s ). W e a d d i t i o n a l l yd e t e r m i n e t h a t t h e Lo u i s i a n aL e g i s l a t u r e d i dn o ti n t e n dt h e L PC D t o b e apa r to f

t he LSCSS, a s t he r e i s no l ang uag e s ugg e s t i ng s uc h i nt e nti n t heN o. 07- 30990

7 st at ut or y aut hor i t y c r eat i ng com m uni c at i ons di st r i c t s. ( B ec ause w e have d eterm i n edthe L P C D i s n ot an i n stru m en tality of th e S tate, th ere i s n o n ee dto deci de w h et h er Pl ai n t i f fs’ fai l u re t o m eet t h e requ i rem en t s of A rt i cl e 10, § 7 of t h e L ou i si an a C on st i t u t i on–m an da t in gth at al lcl assi f i ed civi lservan t s t ak e a c o m p e tit iv e e x a m – p r e v e n te dt h e m fr o m o b ta in in gp e r m a n e n t c la s s ifie dciv ils e rv ic e s ta tu s .) Acc o r dingl y, t h e di st ri ctcourtproperl y di sm i ssed t h i s c l ai m : w itho utb e i ng a pa rtof

t h e L S C S S , P l ai n t i f fs had no p ropert y i n t eresti n t h ei r j obs an d w ere notent i t l ed t o due pro c ess b ef or e b ei ng t er m i nat ed. There f or e, t hei r§ 1983 cl ai m necessaril y fai l s. B. P l a i n tiffs n ex t con ten dthe d i stri ct co u rt e rron eo u sly dism i sse dthe i r state age- di sc r i m i nat i on c l ai m s w i t h prej udi c e; and, b e c a us etheti m eli m it at i ons have
r un o n t ho s e c l ai m s , o urc o ur ts ho ul d a pply e quit ab l e t o l l i ng t o t he m dur i ng t he pen den cy of

th eir f ederalcl ai m s a n da d d iti o n a l sta te a d m in istr a tive proceedi n gs. D efen d a n ts do n ot con test th e dist ri ct cou rt’ s erro r i n d i sm i ssing th e cl a i m s w i th prej u di ce (vi ce w i t h ou t) ; rat h er, t h ey cl ai m t h i s i s h arm l ess errori n t h e l i gh tof P l a i n t i f fs ’ a d mi s s i o n t h a t t h e i r s t a t e - l a w a g e - d i s c r i mi n a t i o n c l a i ms a r e t i me b a r r e d
. M o r e o v e r , th e ya s s e r tt h a tP l a i n t if fs ’ e q u i t a b l e - t o l l i n gc o n t e n t i o n s h o u ld b e reje c te d , a s th e yra is e it fo rth e fir s t t im e o n a p p e a l. T h e d is tr ic t c o u r t d is m is s e dth is s ta te -la w c la im u n d e r L E D L , c o d ifie din L A
. R EV . S TAT
. A NN . §§ 23: 312 and 23: 323, f orfai l ure t o f

oll ow t he pr oc edur al requ i rem en t s, pu rsuan tt o L A
. R EV . S TAT
. A NN . § 2 3 :3 0 3
. U n d e r§ 2 3 :3 0 3 (C ), a pl ai n t i f f i n t en di n g t o pu rsue a di scr i m i n ati on cl ai m aga i n sthi s em pl oyer m u st g iv e w r i tt e n n o tic e o f th is fa c t a t le a s t 3 0 d a y s b e fo r e in itia tin glitig a tio n . S ee L A
. R EV . S TAT
. A NN . § 23: 303 ( C )

. I n i t s 23 F ebru ary 200 7 order, the di st ri ctcourt concl u ded : becau se t h ere w as no evidence P l ai n t i f fs fol l ow ed thi s procedure, t he i rc l ai m s w e r e pr e m at ur e a nd m us tb e di s m i s s e d.N o. 07- 30990

8 T h e di st ri ctcourtreaf f i rm e d its di sm i ssalof t h e st ate- l aw agedi sc r i m i nat i on c l ai m s i n i t s 2 0 Sept em ber2007 sum m ar y-j udgm entr ul i ng; h ow ev er, i t erron eo u sly dism i sse dthe cl a im w i t h prej u d i ce . N onet hel es s, as di s c us s ed bel o w , t hi s e r r o rw as ha r m l e s s , a s t he c l ai m s w e r e t i m e b ar r e d a nd coul d n otha ve been pu rs u ed even if t h e di st ri ctcourtha d p roperl y di sm i ssed
w i t h ou tprej u di ce. U nder§ 23: 303(D ) , any c l ai m f i l ed und er LE D L i s subj ec tt o aone - year p r e s c r ip tiv e p e r io d
. L A
. R EV . S TAT
. A NN . § 2 3 :30 3 (D ); se e Th ompson v. S ysco Cor p. , 200 8 W L 655 82, at *2 (M
. D
. L a. 4 Jan
. 200 8)

. Th e al l eged i nj u ry occ u rred
o n 2 4 M a y2 0 0 5 , w h e n P la in tiffs w e r e te r m in a te d ; t h e yd idn o t file th e ir
am ended c om pl ai nt , addi ng t he s t at e- l aw a ge d i sc r i m i nat i on c l ai m s, unt i l11 S e p te m b e r2 0 0 6
. In s h o r t, th e o n e -y e a rp r e s c r ip tiv e p e r io dh a dru n . A s n oted , P l a i n tiffs d i dn ot raise eq u i tab l e tolli n g indistri ct cou rt. G en eral l y, contenti on s not rai sed i n di st ri ct court are w aived
. W e w i l lconsi der
an i ssue rai sed f

or th e f i rstt i m e on ap pea lonl y w h en i ti s a pu rely l egal qu est i on and consi derati on i s n ecess ary t o avoid a m i scarr i age of j u st i ce. E .g., L a ng h off Props. , L L Cv. BPProds. N
. A m . I n c. , 5 1 9 F .3 d 2 5 6 , 2 6 1 n .12 (5t h C ir. 2 0 0 8 ). S u ch ci rcu m stan ces a re n ot p rese n t i n this a c tio n . P l a i n tiffs si m p l y fail ed to
m e e tt he pr o c e duralrequir e m e nt s o f pur s ui ng t he i rc l ai m ; e quit ab l e t o l l i ng shou l d n otbe usedt o excuse t h at fai l u re. C. P la in tiffs n e x t c o n te s tt h e s u m m a r yju d g m e n t a g a in s t t h e ira n tir e t ali at i o n c l ai m , pur s uantt o FLSA§ 2 15 ( a) ( 3)

. U nde rt he fam i l i arb ur de nshif t i ng f or m ul a, i n or dert o e st abl i sh a pri m a f aci e ca se of re ta li a tion , ap la in tiff
m us ts ho w : ( 1) he i s eng ag e d i n a pr o t e c t e d ac t ivit y; ( 2) an a dv e r s e e m pl o ym e nt
ac t i o n o c c ur r e d; a nd ( 3) a c aus al l i nk e xi s t e d be t w e e n t he pr o t e c t e d a c t ivit y and th e a d v e r s e a c tio n . E
. g. , P i n edav. Un i t ed ParcelS erv. , I n c. 360 F. 3d 483, 487 ( 5t h C i r . 2004)

. O nce a pri m a f aci e c as e i s e s t ab l i s he d, t he b ur de n s hi f t s t o t heN o. 07- 30990

9 defenda n tt o prove a l egi t i m ate, non - di scr i m i n ator yp u rpose f or t h e adv erse e m pl o ym e nta c t i o n. I f t he de fe nda ntm e e t s t hi s b ur de n, itsh i f t s b ac k t o t he pl ai n t i f f, w h o m u stprove t h at th e em pl oyer’ s s t ated reason f or th e adv erse e m p lo y m e n t a c tio n w a s m e r e lyp r e te x tu a l. I d. Pr i m ar i l y ati s s ue i n di s t r i c tc o ur tw as w he t he rt he f i r ste l e m e nto f

t he pri m a f aci e c a s e w a s s a tis fie d
. S e c tio n 2 1 5 (a )(3 ) o f th e F L S Ae s ta b lis h e s : it w ill b e u n l a w ful f

or a n y p erso n “t o d i sch a rg e or inan y o th er m a n n er d i scrim i n a te agai nstany e m pl oye e b ec ause s uch e m pl oye e has fi leda nyco mp la in t or in s tit u te do rca u s e dto b e in s t i t u t e da n yp r o c e e d in gu n d e ro rre la te dto th is cha pter”

. 29 U
. S

. C

. § 215(a) ( 3) ( em ph asi s add ed). Plai n t i f fs c on t en ded t h ey w er e e ngaged i n pro t ec t ed ac t ivi t y be c ause t hei r abov e- di sc uss ed i nt er nal , or al
c o m p la in ts co n s tit u te d“filin gaco m p la in t” u n d e rF L S A§ 2 1 5 (a )(3 ). T h e di s t r i c tc o ur t , ho w e ve r , a gr e e d wi t h t he D e f e nda nt s a nd c o ncl u ded t hatt ho s e c o m pl ai nt s sh ou l d notb e c o ns i de r e d p r o t e c t e d a c t ivit y unde rt he F L S A , becau se itw as i n consi st en tw i t h it s p l ai n langu age. Fu rt h er, i thel d: even i f th ose c om pl ai nt s qual i f i ed as pro t ec t ed ac t ivi t y, Pl ai nt i f fs had fai l ed t o es t abl i sh a pri m a f aci e c as e o f

r e t ali at i o n, b e c aus e t he r e w as i ns uf f i c i e nt evi den ce t o est abli sh the requ i si t e causal con n e ction betw een t h e prot ect ed
ac t ivi t y and t er m i nat i on. M or eo ver , i t hel d: eve n i f a pri m a f

aci e case h adbeen
e s t ab l i s he d, t he c l ai m fail e d b e c aus e D e fe nda n t s ef fe c t ive l y r e but t e d t he pr e s um pt i o n o f

r e t ali at o r y i nt e ntb y ar t i c ul at i ng a l e git i m at e , no ndi sc r i m i nat or y r eas on f orPl ai nt i f

fs’t er m i nat i on, t hatc oul d not be sho w n t o b e pr e t e xt ual–Vul ga m o r e w as s l e e pi ng o n t he j o b; a nd Cas e y bo t h kne w a bo ut , a nd
con d on ed , i t. W h en t h e di st ri ctcourtrul ed, our courtha d n otyeta ddr essed t h e contours of prot ect ed ac tiv i t y u n der F L S A§ 215(a) ( 3) , specif i cal l y, w h at c on st i t u t es

“f i l [i ng] any c om pl ai nt” under t hats ec t i on. Al t h ou gh the Sec ond C i r c ui thad p rev i ou sly de term i n edt h a t th e sta tu te’ s p l a i n l a n gu a ge l i m i tedthe cl a i m toN o. 07- 30990

10 filin gafo r m a l co m p la in t w ith ag o v e r n m e n t a g e n c y , seeL am bertv. G en esee Ho s p. , 1 0 F
. 3 d4 6 , 5 5 ( 2dC i r . 1 9 9 3 ) , th e maj o r i t yi n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f F LS A § 215 ( a) ( 3) w as t h at an i n f orm al , i n t erna l com pl ai n t m ay c on st i t u t e p rotect ed
a c tiv ity
. S ee L am bertv. A ckerley , 180 F
. 3d997 , 100 3- 05 (9t h C ir. 1 9 9 9 ) ( en b a n c ); V

ale ri o v. P u t n am A ssoc s. I n c. , 1 7 3 F .3 d3 5 , 4 4 -4 5 (1 s t C ir . 1 9 9 9 ); EE OC
v . Rom e o Com ty . Sc h. , 9 7 6 F .2 d 9 8 5 , 9 8 9 -9 0 (6 th C i r . 1 9 9 2 ); EE O Cv. W h i t e & S on E n t ers . , 8 8 1 F .2 d 1 0 0 6 , 1 0 1 1 (1 1 th C ir . 1 9 8 9 ); B rock v. R i cha rdson , 812 F. 2d 1 2 1 , 1 2 3 -2 5 (3d C ir. 1 9 8 7 ); L ove v. R E /M AX of A m . , I n c. , 73 8 F
. 2 d38 3 , 38 7 ( 1 0 th C ir. 1 9 8 4 ); B renn an v. Maxey’ s Ya m ah a, I

n c. , 5 1 3 F .2d 1 7 9 , 1 8 1 (8 th C ir. 1 9 7 5 ). Bet w e e n t he di s t r i c tco ur t ’ s dec i s i o n and t hi s appe al , ourco ur tj o i ne d t he
m ajo r ityp o s itio n . Se e Haga n v . Ec h o s t a rS a t e l l i t e, L
. L. C. , 5 29 F
. 3d617 ( 5th C i r. 2 0 0 8 ). Hagan adopt ed the m aj or i t y r ul e, w hi c h “ a l l ow s an i nf or m al , i nt er nal
c o m p la in t t o co n s tit u te p r o te c te da c tiv ityu n d e r[F L S A] § 2 1 5 (a )(3 )”. I d. at626. O u r c ou rtnoted, how ever, t h at th is rul e cam e w i t h som e “ n ecess ary qu al i f i cat i on s” , an d that “ n otal l‘ abstractgrum blin g s’ o r vagu e expressi on s of d is c o n te n t a r e a c tio n a b le a s co m p la in ts ”. Id
. (q u o t in gth e d is t r i c tc o u r t ’s
o p in io n , Haga n v . Ec h o s t a rS a t e l l i t e, L
. L. C. , 2007 W L 543441, at*4( S. D
. Tex. 1 6 F e b
. 2 0 0 7 )). I n any eve nt , w e need notdet er m i ne on w hi c h si de of the l i ne be t w ee n an a c tio n a b le a n dn o n -a c tio n a b le co m p la in t P la in tiffs ’co m m e n ts fa ll. E s s e n tia lly f o rt he r e as o ns s t at e d i n t he di s t r i c tc o ur t ’ s 2 0 Se pt e m be rs um m ar y-j udg m e nt
r u lin g , w e h o ld : e v e n a s s u m in g , argue ndo , P l ai n t i f fs’i n f orm alcom pl ai n t s w ere act i on able, rat h er th an m ere“va gu e expressi on s of di scontent” , t h e di st ri ctcourt pr o pe r l y c o nc l ude d the c l ai m fail e d b e c aus e ( 1) Pl ai nt i f fs di d no te s t ab l i s h a
c aus alc o nne c t i o n b e t w e e n t he pr o t e c t e d a c t ivit y andt he a dv e r s e em pl o ym e nt
ac t i o n (t e r m i nat i o n) , a nd ( 2) e ve n had t he y do ne s o , D e fe nda nt s pr e s e nt e d a l egi t i m ate, non - di scr i m i n ator y reason f or th e f i ri n gs, one P l ai n t i f

fs c ou l d n ot
s h o w w a s p r e te x tu a l.N o. 07- 30990

11 D. For t hei r f

i nal c l ai m , Pl ai nt i f

fs c ont end t he di st r i c tc our ter r ed i n rul i ng: t he LPC D ’ s m i s t ak e i n c al c ul at i ng o ve r t i m e pa y w as m ad e i n g o o d fait h; a nd, t h eref o re , th e y w ere n oten titledto liq u id a te dd a m a g e s u n d e r F L S A§ 2 1 6 (b ). (W e , a t le a s t, a s s u m e t h is is t h e P la in tiffs ’c o n te n tio n . T h e irb r ie fin gis w h o lly i nadequat e–o ne hal f of a pag e o f

c onc l uso r y s t at em ent s an d s pec ul at ive al l egati on s. ) D efen da n t s cl ai m t h e good-fai t h rul i n g w as proper. (T h e di st ri ct
c o u r t a d d itio n a llyd e n i e d a tt o r n e y ’ s fe e s u n d e rF L S A§ 2 1 6 (b ). O n a p p e a l, P l ai n t i f fs hav e n ot contest ed th at r u l i n g. N eedl ess t o say, i ssues not r ai sed on
a p p e a l a r e d e e m e dw a iv e d
. E
. g., Un it ed S t ate s v. Jim enez , 509 F. 3d 682, 693
n .1 0 (5 th C ir . 2 0 0 7 ), cer t
. den i ed , 1 2 8 S . C t. 2 9 2 4 (2 0 0 8 ).) U n der F L S A§ 216(b) , an em pl oyer w h o vi ol ates F L S A§ 207 (t h e provi si on r e ga r di ng unpa i d o ve r t i m e ) s hallb e li able t o a f fe c t e d e m pl o ye e s f

o rb o t h t he unp ai d ov er t i m e a nd, i n so m e i nst ance s, an addi t i onal e q u alam ountas liq u id a te dd a m a g e s . S ee29 U
. S

. C

. § 216(b)

. Pu rsuan t t o F L S A § 260 , how ever, i f a n e mp l o y e rc a n s h o w t h a tt h e a c to ro mi s s i o n l e a d i n gt o t h e u n p a i do v e r t i me w as m ad e i n good fai t h , t h e courtm ay, in it s di scr et i on , aw ard n o l i qu i da t ed d a m a g e s . S ee29 U
. S. C

. § 260. E ssenti al l y f

or t h e reasons st ated i n t h e di st ri ct court’ s 20 S e p te m ber
sum m ary- j u dg m en trul i n g, i tw as not er ror t o rul e t h at th e L P C D act ed i n good fa ith w h e n it m is c a lc u la te dth e P la in tiffs ’o v e r tim e w a g e s . L P C D o ffic ia ls p r o v i d e dd e t a i l e da f f i d a v i t s e x p l a i n i n gh o w t h e yma d e t h e o v e r t i me mi s c a l c u l a t i o n , s t a t i n g t h a t a t n o t i me p r i o r t o a n a u d i t c o n d u c t e d b yt h e DO L i n t h e s u m m e ro f

2 0 0 5 d i dt h e yb e l i e v e t h e L PC D wa s i n v i o l a t i o n o f t h e F LS A. A d d i ti on a l l y, up on this a u d i t, th e D O L s p ecif i ca l l y fou n dth e m i sca l cu l a ti on s to hav e b e e n m ad e i n g o o d fait h. P l ai nt i f fs ’a bo ve - r e fe r e nc e d c o nc l us o r y and
s p e c u la tiv e s ta te m e n ts co n c e r n in gb a dfa ith a r e n o t s u f fic ie n t t o d e fe a t t h is
r ul i ng.N o. 07- 30990

12 III. F o rt h e f

o r e g o i n gr e a s o n s , t h e j u d g me n ti s A F F I RMED.