Opinion ID: 688670
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Kansas Wage Payment Act (K.S.A. 44-315)

Text: 23 Plaintiff seeks to recover from Mr. Goodrich personally for all unpaid wages. The Act directs that a person as a manager or a corporation who knowingly permits the violation shall be deemed the employer. K.S.A. 44-323(b). 24 The wages sought are accrued vacation pay, an incentive bonus, and notice pay. The basic issue was whether these were due when Plaintiff was fired for cause. 25 The Act provides that employers pay a terminated employee his final wages on or before the next payday. The Act further provides that an officer or agent who has management of the corporation who knowingly permits the corporation to engage in such violation shall be deemed the employer. A good faith belief that the wages are not due negates the knowingly requirement. K.S.A. 44-323(b). The trial court found good faith. See State ex rel. McCain v. Erdman, 607 P.2d 78 (Kan.App.). The case of Benjamin v. Manpower, Inc., 600 P.2d 148 (Kan.App.), does not lead to a different conclusion. It also holds as to the penalty portions of the Act that undisputed evidence will support a conclusion as a matter of law. The Plaintiff presented no evidence on the knowingly issue. 26 As mentioned, Mr. Goodrich was president and director of the corporation (Lakoduk Broadcasting Corporation) which employed Plaintiff. We agree with the trial court which concluded that Mr. Goodrich certainly knew of the employment of Plaintiff, but considering his knowledge of the reasons for the firing of Plaintiff, and that he had the advice of his attorney that the termination was for cause, Mr. Goodrich did not knowingly permit the violation of the Act and was not personally liable for the wage claims based on accrued vacation time, a bonus, and notice pay. Thus under the tentative agreement no wages of the type here claimed would be due. Plaintiff does not urge that Defendant Capital has any liability under the Kansas Wage Payment Act.