Opinion ID: 2140651
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Recipient of Civil Penalties

Text: The final issue of statutory interpretation we address is determining to whom civil penalties are payable. The plaintiffs argue that the court of appeals erred in concluding that civil penalties are payable to the state, not to individual litigants. Farmers argues that the court of appeals correctly concluded that civil penalties are payable to the state. The MFLSA does not specify to whom civil penalties are to be paid, either when assessed by the Commissioner or by a district court. In the absence of any plain language in the MFLSA dictating to whom civil penalties are payable, we look to other related statutes for guidance. Statutes should be read as a whole with other statutes that address the same subject. Harris v. County of Hennepin, 679 N.W.2d 728, 732 (Minn.2004); see Minn. Stat. § 645.16(5) (2006) (stating that when the words of a statute are not explicit, the intention of the legislature may be ascertained by considering, among other matters, other laws upon the same or similar subjects). In addition, we presume that the legislature intends to favor the public interest as against any private interest. Minn.Stat. § 645.17 (2006). In this case, we look to the Minnesota Payment of Wages Act (PWA), Minn. Stat. §§ 181.01-.171 (2006). The PWA is a related act that covers employment and wages, is enforced by the Commissioner of Labor and Industry, and is referenced in the MFLSA. See Minn.Stat. § 177.27, subd. 4. While the MFLSA addresses minimum wage and hour standards, the PWA addresses how often wages must be paid and establishes penalties for wages that are paid late. See Minn.Stat. §§ 181.10-.15. The PWA also has similarities to the MFLSA in that its provisions can be enforced by either the Commissioner or by an employee in a private action. See Minn.Stat. §§ 181.101, 181.13, 181.171. Thus, together, these acts provide a comprehensive statutory scheme for wages and payment in Minnesota and should be interpreted in light of each other. We decline to look to the federal FLSA, as it is structured differently from the MFLSA. We also decline to look to the Minnesota Human Rights Act, as suggested by the court of appeals, Milner, 725 N.W.2d at 145, because that act is broader than the MFLSA and does not pertain exclusively to employment. See Minn.Stat. §§ 363A.01-.41 (2006). [8] Under the PWA, penalties are paid to the individual employee, even when the Commissioner collects the money. See, e.g., Minn.Stat. § 181.101 (Money collected by the commissioner must be paid to the employee concerned.). The PWA also specifically provides that an employer found to have violated the PWA is liable to the aggrieved party for civil penalties. Minn.Stat. § 181.171, subd. 1. If the legislature had intended the same result under the MFLSA, the legislature would have used similar language and explicitly provided for civil penalties to be paid to the individual employees. For example, in enforcement actions brought by the Commissioner under the MFLSA, the legislature specifically provides for the employer to pay to the aggrieved parties back pay and compensatory damages, as well as liquidated damages. Minn.Stat. § 177.27, subd. 7. The legislature did not include civil penalties within this particular provision. See id. (stating that an employer found to have repeatedly or willfully violated the MFLSA shall be subject to a civil penalty). And the legislature did not specify a different result for civil actions brought by employees. See Id., subd. 8. Therefore, we hold that civil penalties are payable to the state under the MFLSA, regardless of whether the penalties are assessed by the Commissioner or the district court.