Opinion ID: 901298
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: Exemptions to Wage and Hour Claims

Text: [¶ 21.] The Cantalopes wage and hour claims are based in both state and federal law. The Cantalopes were hired to work an eighty hour week between them. VFW is open eighty hours per week. The Cantalopes claim that when the VFW sponsored private events during times the establishment would otherwise be closed, they consequently worked substantial overtime hours. VFW argued that the Cantalopes position was exempt from overtime compensation because they were employed in a management position and were therefore administrative employees. Certain administrative employees are exempt from the overtime provision. The trial court did not rule on the Cantalopes employee status. Rather, the trial court ruled that VFW did not have actual or constructive notice of the Cantalopes overtime and therefore removed the issue from a jury trial. Cantalopes request that the trial court rule whether their employment status exempted them from overtime compensation. Further, they point out that if they are exempt, then a trial as to VFWs knowledge of overtime would not be necessary. If their position is not exempt, they request that a jury decide the issue of overtime. Generally, the right to a jury trial exists in an FLSA [Fair Labor Standards Act] suit to recover minimum wages or overtime pay. 48A Am.Jur.2d Labor and Labor Relations 4620 (2003). Not all FLSA issues can be tried to a jury because FLSA provides that the court award any liquidated damages and attorneys fees and costs. Id. [¶ 22.] We remand for the trial court to determine if the Cantalopes management position was overtime exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act. [11] If the court finds that the position was exempt, then no jury trial would be necessary. If, on the other hand, the trial court determines that the position is not exempt, the question of whether VFW had actual or constructive knowledge of the Cantalopes overtime should proceed in a jury trial because of the disputed material facts on this issue. [¶ 23.] GILBERTSON, Chief Justice, and KONENKAMP and ZINTER, Justices, concur.