Source: https://litigation.consusgroup.com/2017/03/18/new-flsa-class-action-buchanan-v-republic-services-inc-rsg/
Timestamp: 2019-04-23 06:42:33+00:00

Document:
03-18-2017 – Republic Services (RSG) finds itself on the wrong side of a class action alleging that it neglected to compensate employees for required “off-the-clock” activities.
39. Republic knew and at times encouraged Plaintiff and the Putative Class Members to perform their pre and post-trip responsibilities “off-the-clock” in violation of the FLSA.
41. As a result of Republic’s failure to compensate Plaintiff and the Putative Class Members for performing their pre and post-trip responsibilities “off-the-clock,” Plaintiff and the Putative Class Members worked overtime hours for which they were not compensated.
42. Republic’s failure to compensate Plaintiff and the Putative Class Members for their “off-the-clock” overtime hours violated (and continues to violate) the FLSA.
Labor Standards Act of 1938, as amended 29 U.S.C. § 216(b).
Republic’s Corpus Christi, Texas waste disposal facility since approximately 2014.
Plaintiff Buchanan brings this action individually and on behalf of all other similarly situated non-exempt waste disposal drivers (“Putative Class Members”) employed by Republic throughout the United States during the preceding three years and through the final disposition of this matter.
Plaintiff and the Putative Class Members seek all available relief, including compensation, liquidated damages, attorneys’ fees, and costs, pursuant the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”), 29 U.S.C. §§ 201, et seq.
violations are described as follows.
Republic violated (and continues to violate) the FLSA by permitting and encouraging their waste disposal drivers, including Plaintiff and the Putative Class Members, to perform pre-trip and post-trip work duties “off-the-clock” and without pay.
Accordingly, Republic violated (and continues to violate) the FLSA by failing to pay their waste disposal drivers across the United States, including Plaintiff and the Putative Class Members, time and one-half for each hour worked in excess of 40 hours per workweek as is required by the FLSA.
Buchanan during the past three years and through the final disposition of this matter.
Defendant Republic Services, Inc. (“Republic”) is a for-profit corporation incorporated in the State of Delaware and doing business in the State of Texas. Republic may be served with process by serving its registered agent, CT Corporation System, 1999 Bryan Street, Suite 900, Dallas, Texas 75201-3136.
This Court has personal jurisdiction over Republic because the cause of action arose within this District as a result of Republic’s conduct within this District.
This Court has jurisdiction over the subject matter of this action pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1331 as this is an action arising under 29 U.S.C. § 201 seq.
the acts, omissions and events giving rise to this action occurred in the Southern District of Texas.
Plaintiff Villarreal resides in Nueces County, Texas, all of which are in this District and Division.
Venue is therefore proper in this Court pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1391(b).
At all material times, Republic has been an employer within the meaning of section 203(d) of the FLSA, which is defined to include any person acting directly or indirectly in the interest of an employer in relation to an employee. 29 U.S.C. § 203(d).
At all material times, Republic has been an enterprise in commerce or in the production of goods for commerce within the meaning of section 203(s)(l) of the FLSA because Republic has had and continues to have employees engaged in interstate commerce. 29 U.S.C. § 203(s)(1).
and 207 of the FLSA. 29 U.S.C. §§ 206–07.
business volume in excess of the statutory minimum of $500,000.00. 29 U.S.C. § 203(s)(1).
the State of Texas and the United States.
Republic’s corporate history and structure is not only necessary but instructive.
waste disposal facilities throughout the State of Texas and the United States for many years.
Prior to the filing of this action, Republic (including its affiliates or subsidiary companies) acquired (or organized) numerous other waste disposal companies doing business throughout the State of Texas and the United States. Today, along with Republic, these companies employ waste disposal drivers such as Plaintiff and the Putative Class Members and conduct waste disposal operations throughout the State of Texas and the United States.
Today, Republic conducts its waste disposal business throughout the State of Texas and the United States.
Republic and its affiliates and/or subsidiaries, hold themselves out to the general public as one company—that is, Republic Services, Inc. Prior to 2016, Republic organized itself into three geographic regions in the United States: East, Central and West. Republic is currently organized into two geographic regions in the United States: Group One and Group Two.
Republic’s organization allows it to provide collection, transfer, recycling and landfill waste services nationwide. Republic’s structure allows it to fully integrate operations within each region and area, allowing for a top-down operating strategy. This organization also allows Republic to minimize administrative and personnel costs by collapsing and consolidating job duties into fewer managerial and administrative positions. Ultimately, this structure, with fewer administration and upper management personnel, allows for a more streamlined managerial decision-making.
the basis of this complaint.
At all times relevant herein, and upon information and belief, Republic and its subsidiaries were (and continue to be) joint employers and/or a single enterprise within the meaning of 29 U.S.C. §§ 203(r) and 207(b), as they have an interrelation of operations, common business purpose and activities, common management, common control of labor relations, and common ownership and financial control.
Republic has residential, commercial, and industrial lines of business that employ waste disposal drivers throughout the United States (the industrial division is also known as the “roll off” division; the commercial division is also known as the “front load” division).
Republic’s Drivers are or were non-exempt employees under both the FLSA.
Plaintiff and the Putative Class Members are (or were) non-exempt waste disposal drivers employed by Republic for the three-year period preceding the filing of this complaint and through the final disposition of this matter.
rate of pay apply to Plaintiff or the Putative Class Members.
Moreover, Plaintiff and the Putative Class Members are similarly situated with respect to their job duties, their pay structure and, as set forth below, the policies of Republic resulting in the complained of FLSA violations throughout the United States.
and indispensable to their core job duties.
Republic knew and at times encouraged Plaintiff and the Putative Class Members to perform their pre and post-trip responsibilities “off-the-clock” in violation of the FLSA.
As a result of Republic’s failure to compensate Plaintiff and the Putative Class Members for performing their pre and post-trip responsibilities “off-the-clock,” Plaintiff and the Putative Class Members worked overtime hours for which they were not compensated.
“off-the-clock” overtime hours violated (and continues to violate) the FLSA.
subjected to) the same or substantially similar policy, practice or scheme that required them to perform their pre and post-trip responsibilities “off-the-clock,” as described above.
overtime wages for the period for which unpaid overtime damages are sought. 29 U.S.C. § 216(b).
Republic knew or should have known that it was miscalculating Plaintiff and the Putative Class Members’ regular rates of pay and that the proper amount of overtime compensation was not being paid to Plaintiff and the Putative Class Members in violation of the FLSA.
Republic knew or should have known that its failure to pay the correct amount of overtime to Plaintiff and Putative Class Members would cause, did cause, and continues to cause financial injury to Plaintiff and the Putative Class Members.
continues to cause financial injury to Plaintiff and the Putative Class Members.
be impermissible under the FLSA.
Republic violated provisions of Sections 6, 7 and 15 of the FLSA, 29 U.S.C. §§ 206, 207, and 215(2)(a) by employing individuals in an enterprise engaged in commerce or in the production of goods for commerce within the meaning of the FLSA for workweeks longer than forty (40) hours without compensating such employees for their employment in excess of forty (40) hours per week ar rates at least one and one-half times the regular rates for which they were employed.
Moreover, Republic knowingly, willfully and in reckless disregard carried out their illegal pattern of causing Plaintiff and the Putative Class Members to perform pre and post trip inspections off the clock and thereby failing to pay Plaintiff and other similarly situated employees overtime compensation. 29 U.S.C. § 255(a).
Republic knew or should have known its pay practices were in violation of the FLSA.
Republic is a sophisticated party and employer, and therefore knew (or should have known) its policies were in violation of the FLSA.
Plaintiff and the Putative Class Members, on the other hand, are (and were) unsophisticated laborers who trusted Republic to pay according to the law.
reasonable nor in good faith.
Plaintiff and the Putative Class Members are entitled to overtime wages for all hours worked pursuant to the FLSA in an amount equal to one-and-a-half times their regular rate of pay, plus liquidated damages, attorneys’ fees and costs.
Pursuant to 29 U.S.C. § 216(b), this is a collective action filed on behalf of all those who are (or were) similarly situated to Plaintiff Buchanan.
Other similarly situated employees have been victimized by Republic’s patterns, practices, and policies, which are in willful violation of the FLSA.
Republic’s systematic failure to pay wages for all hours worked and overtime compensation at the rates required by the FLSA results from generally applicable policies and practices, and does not depend on the personal circumstances of the Putative Class Members.
Members does not prevent collective treatment.
worked in excess of forty (40) hours per workweek.
Although the issues of damages may be individual in character, there is no detraction from the common nucleus of liability facts. Indeed, the Putative Class Members are non-exempt, bluecollar waste disposal drivers entitled to overtime after forty (40) hours in a workweek.
United States during the past three years.
Absent a collective action, many members of the proposed FLSA class likely will not obtain redress of their injuries and Republic will retain the proceeds of its rampant violations.
of the individual members of the classes and provide for judicial consistency.
What is going on with this lawsuit? I haven’t heard anything back yet.

References: § 216
 § 1331
 § 201
 § 1391
 § 203
 § 203
 § 203
 § 216
 § 255
 § 216