Document: 538 U.S. 691 BREUERv.JIM'S CONCRETE OF BREVARD, INC. No. 02-337. Supreme Court of United States. Argued April 2, 2003. Decided May 19, Petitioner Breuer sued respondent, his former employer, Jim's Concrete Brevard, Inc., in a Florida state court for unpaid wages, liquidated damages, prejudgment interest, and attorney's fees under the Fair Labor Standards Act 1938 (FLSA), which provides, inter alia, that "[a]n action to recover ... may be maintained any Federal or State competent jurisdiction," 29 U.S.C. § 216(b). removed case District 28 1441(a), reads: "Except as otherwise expressly provided by Congress, civil brought [federal] district courts have original jurisdiction, defendant [appropriate federal] court." sought an order remanding court, arguing removal was improper because 216(b)'s provision "may maintained" put forward express exception 1441(a)'s general authorization. Though denied Breuer's motion, it certified issue interlocutory appeal. The Eleventh Circuit affirmed, saying although Congress had barred direct, unequivocal language other statutes, 216(b) not comparably prohibitory. Held: Section does bar suit from federal court. properly 1441. Pp. 694-700. (a) unquestionably could begun 216(b), well 1331 1337(a). Removal FLSA actions is thus prohibited 1441(a) only if much. Nothing on face looks like prohibition removal, there being no mention let alone prohibition. While provides word "maintain" enjoys breadth meaning leaves its bearing ambiguous at best. "Maintain" reference legal often read "bring" "file," but "to maintain action" also mean continue" litigate, opposed "commence" action. If term qualified purposes, then requirement "expres[s] provi[sion]" would call nothing more than "provision," pure simple, leaving "expressly" without consequence whatever. need take seriously underscored examples indisputable prohibitions number e.g., 1445, demonstrate that, when wishes give plaintiffs absolute choice forum, capable doing so unmistakable terms. 694-697. (b) None refinements basic argument puts him stronger position. rejects shows up sufficiently prohibitory once coupled with policy construing jurisdiction narrowly, set forth Shamrock Oil & Gas Corp. v. Sheets, 313 100, 108-109. Whatever apparent force this might claimed handed down has been later amendment 1441 into present form, requiring removability rule express. Nor avail emphasize sense implying continuation final judgment, plaintiff who began statutory right see through. indeed fight finish, defeat right; far concluding before just transfers one forum another. Moreover, "an meant insist keeping wherever he filed first place, seem never transferred different over plaintiff's objection, result plainly clash change venue, 1404(a). Finally, many claims are such small amounts sometimes distant increasing cost litigation, make difficult employees vindicate their rights effectively, implications assertion keep going way. Because statutes incorporate use same see, 626(b), cannot wholesale exceptions actions, point too hard believe ever displace remove. 697-699. 292 F.3d 1308, affirmed. SOUTER, J., delivered opinion unanimous Court. CERTIORARI TO THE UNITED STATES COURT APPEALS FOR ELEVENTH CIRCUIT. Donald E. Pinaud, Jr., argued cause petitioner. With briefs Eric Schnapper. Andrew S. Hament respondent. brief Gregory Williamson. Lisa Blatt States amicus curiae urging affirmance. her were Solicitor General Olson, Deputy Kneedler, Howard M. Radzely, Allen H. Feldman, Edward D. Sieger.* JUSTICE SOUTER 1 question whether (FLSA Act), 52 Stat. 1069, amended, bars We hold bar. 2 * Petitioner, Phillip T. Breuer, fees. employer violates minimum wage overtime provisions liable employee, liability prescribed against (including public agency) jurisdiction." 3 Middle reads "[e]xcept defendants, division embracing place where pending." owing FLSA's authorization 1441(a). appeal 1292(b). "direct, language" 1310 (2002), joined First, Cosme Nieves Deshler, 786 F.2d 445 (1986), placed itself odds Eighth, Johnson Butler Bros., 162 87 (1947) (denying FLSA). granted certiorari resolve conflict, 537 1099 (2003), now affirm. II 4 There event 1331, "arising Constitution, laws, treaties States," 1337(a), regulating commerce." 5 "To action.1 Black's Law Dictionary 1143 (3d ed. 1933). But "file"; "[t]o commence institute it; imports existence action." Ibid.; A J. Moore et al., Moore's Practice ¶ 0.167[5], p. 472 (2d 1996) (calling "`may maintained'" "ambiguous phrase" "certainly within 1441"); 14C C. Wright, A. Miller, Cooper, Procedure 3729, 235 (1998) (referring "use `maintain' statute"). most, then, can claim simply text, even ambiguous, inconsistent "express" prohibiting statute. purposes U. "[E]xpres[s] must something verbal hook argument. 6 statutes. example, 7 "(a) railroad receivers trustees 8 "(b) carrier damages delay, loss, injury shipments unless matter controversy exceeds $10,000, exclusive interest costs. 9 "(c) arising workmen's compensation laws 10 "(d) Violence Against Women 1994 States." 11 See 15 77v(a) ("[N]o [the Securities 1933] shall States"); 1719 ("No Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure Act] States, except officer employee official capacity party"); 3612 Condominium Cooperative Abuse Relief 1980] party"). When "wished shown terms." Nieves, F. 2d, 451. It done here. B 12 He goes say, interpretation stop dictionary, argues phrase narrowly. relies heavily our statement 100 (1941), "the successive acts calling strict construction [removal legislation].... `Due regard rightful independence governments, should actuate courts, requires they scrupulously confine own precise limits statute defined.'" Id., 108-109 (quoting Healy Ratta, 263, 270 (1934)). whatever development. At time decided, subject-matter removed. Fourteen years later, however, amended June 25, 1948, 62 937 (authorizing suits courts' Congress"); (historical revision notes). Since therefore, whenever subject qualifies burden find exception. As said, evidence[s] Congressional purpose," S., 108, congressional insistence hardly satisfied malleability text upon. 13 do good concede does, concession us.2 between seems betray indifference, merely maintaining "in Court," ibid. 14 reason enough doubt conveys remain implication position certainly raise misgivings about point. For 1404(a) ("For convenience parties witnesses, justice, transfer brought"). is, finally, concern consequences us fatal reservations pragmatic less convenient expensive effectively. This true, truth somehow justified winking ambiguity "maintain," 626(b) (providing Age Discrimination Employment 1967 "shall enforced accordance powers, remedies, procedures in" sections FLSA); 2005(c)(2) ("An [under Employee Polygraph Protection 1988] paragraph (1) jurisdiction"); 2617(a)(2) equitable relief Family Medical Leave 1993] employees"). entailing becomes remove.3 III 16 1441, judgment 17 ordered. Notes: Briefs ofamici affirmance Academy Management Attorneys, Peter W. Zinober; Human Resource Association Palm Beach County, Florida, al. Christine Hanley, Sally Still, Betty L. Dunkum. Actually, think intended. Under FLSA, Secretary file behalf wages compensation, files suit, employee's bring comparable terminates, see,e.g., 216(c). reports suggest longer initiate new sued, continue i.e., already pending. R. Conf. Rep. 327, 87th Cong., 1st Sess., 20 (1961) (filing Secretary's complaint "not, operate terminate private become party action"); 145, 39 (Secretary's filing "terminates individuals suit"); cf. Smallwood Gallardo, 275 56, 61 (1927) ("To uphold, foot collapse begun"). Seen light, Congress's easy understand, carrying removal. individual cases institution Government, n. 1,supra. points two nonjudicial authorities assuage skepticism. calls attention taken Administrator Wage Hour Division, Department Labor, anamicus Eighth 2d (1947), policies motivating passage persuasive authority. responsibility applying particular authority interpret absence language. Senate Report accompanying 1958 enactment barring workers' law. Referring report states "[i]f law prohibits 1830, 85th (1958). stray comment stands long way provision.

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