Legal Document

358 U.S. 207 79 Supreme Court Reporter 260 3 United States Reports Lawyer’s Edition 2d Series KF101.8 U54 243 James Pacific KF135 P2 MITCHELL, Secretary of Labor, Department Petitioner,v.LUBLIN, McGAUGHY & ASSOCIATES et al. Number 37. Argued Oct. 21, 1958. Decided Jan. 12, 1959. Miss Bessie Margolin, Washington, D.C., for the petitioner. Mr. Alan Judge Hofheimer, Norfolk, Va., respondents. Chief Justice WARREN delivered opinion Court. 1 Petitioner, brought this action under § 17 Fair Labor Standards Act, 29 Code KF62 217, Annotated KF65 U5 217,1 to restrain respondent2 from violating record-keeping and overtime provisions Act. §§ 206, 207, 211, 211. The complaint was dismissed basically on lower court's conclusion that activities respondent, an architectural consulting engineering firm, were local in nature not within Act's coverage. 250 Federal Reporter, 2nd 253. We granted certiorari 356 917, 78 704, 2 713, resolve apparent conflict with a decision another Appeals similar case.3 Respondent is hired design public, industrial residential projects prepare plans specifications necessary their construction. It has offices both Virginia, it employs some sixty-five or seventy persons. does considerable work armed services. District estimated approximately 60% Norfolk office been done Army Engineers Navy while 85% Washington performed agencies subdivisions governments nearby States. Many respondent's clients are located outside Virginia Columbia. A typical project undertaken past standard mobile warehouse attendant preparation detailed specifications. In addition, respondent designed various construction including widening streets at naval operating base, extension paving airplane taxiways parking aprons air station, sewerage system Maryland, alteration hangar facilities military bases, relocation radio television facilities, improvement state roads turnpikes, repair government buildings shipyards. balance activity consisted preparing private such as homes, commercial buildings, bus terminals, shopping centers like. certain supervisory functions connection but almost none where governmental involved. contracts required produce specifications, copies which sent by sovernmental prospective bidders, many whom These drawings designs supplemented explanatory contained information estimating cost guiding contractors bidding They prepared supervision professional members associates draftsmen employed respondent. cases, gathered site fieldmen included surveyors, transitmen chainmen who often traveled across lines get projects. On one project, went daily Maryland gather data project. addition fieldmen, clerks stenographers participated mechanical these 4 parties agreed employees—architects engineers—are exempted coverage Act 13(a)(1), 213(a)(1), 213(a)(1).4 Therefore, Secretary's injunction directed fifty employees mentioned above: draftsmen, stenographers. stenographers, manned phone wire connecting offices, typed substantial numbers letters concerning described mailed persons places other than Columbia, payrolls locations. 5 question issue whether non-professional 'engaged commerce' term used 6 7 207.5 To determine answer question, we focus business employer. Kirschbaum company versus Walling, 316 517, 62 1116, 86 L.Ed. 1638; Walling Jacksonville Paper Co., 317 564, 63 332, 87 460; Mitchell C. W. Vollmer 349 427, 75 860, 99 1196. start premise Congress, excluding whose merely 'affect commerce,' indicated its intent make scope coextensive power regulate commerce.6 supra; McLeod Threlkeld, 319 491, 1248, 1538. However, tests fashioned construed liberally apply furthest reaches consistent congressional direction. Thus stated Overstreet North Shore Corp., 318 125, 128, 494, 496, 656, '* * policy Congressional abnegation respect occupations affecting commerce no reason narrowly circumscribing phrase commerce."7 Where employees' have related interstate instrumentalities bridges, canals roads, practical test they commerce.' 'whether so directly vitally functioning instrumentality facility be, effect, part it, rather isolated activity.' supra, page 429, 862.8 Coverage instant case must be determined for, stipulated below, all worked intimately installations. our view, because, without guidance, could effected function planned. modern technologically oriented society, elements combine final product diffuse variegated. Deciding any element end considered vital sometimes difficult problem. But plans, taken greater importance complexities increased. Under circumstances present here, hesitancy concluding products urges bases commerce, war, and, involved new hence cannot existing commerce. first point, sufficient note Court's reasoning Powell Cartridge 339 497, 70 755, 94 1017, war may also See Haw. Hawai‘i KFH45 A2 baron Zachry 127 F.Supp. 377. Here admittedly relating bases. And disputed least extent flights land take off them, men, materials, mail move through them distant points. Respondent's second objection rejected also. Whatever vitality 'new construction' doctrine retains after Southern Gileo, 351 493, 500, 76 952, 957, 100 1357, applicable here record shows, repair, extension, facilities. contends essentially nature. stated, Congress deemed individual employees, those employer, controlling factor determining proper application show clearly thus eligible protections afforded 8 Although below matter disagreement between before Court, doubt arisen injunctive relief case. Examination reveals controversy admitted during period appear ever urged would improper if, law, Its position seems correct light specific statutory provision, 17, gives Courts jurisdiction violations numerous suits section attest fact commencement action, doubt, unusual. See, e.g., Raines, Cir., 238 186; Feinberg, 236 9; Chambers Construction Mitchell, 233 717. 9 sets up four means enforcement. Section 16(a), 216(a), provides criminal prosecution willful violators. 16(b), 216(b), rights actions civil recover unpaid minimum wages, compensation liquidated damages. 16(c), 216(c), allows bring behalf provided suit involve 'an law settled finally courts.' course, injunctions. Even cursory examination shows only effective device available when he wishes establish availability theretofore protections. 10 fail see what undue burden will placed issuance especially view suggestion acquiesced, if premised established, should trouble deciding covered. event, upon proceedings remand, still discretion injunction. If, instance, discloses records, enters stipulation covered, agrees violate future, might conclude unnecessary. Compare Bland, 241 808, 810, 725. 11 judgment reversed remanded inconsistent opinion. ordered. 12 Reversed remanded. 13 WHITTAKER, dissenting. 14 While N Dec. Immigration Nationality Decisions am evidence respondents' times—namely, traveling gathering needed supervisors actually supervising repairing remodeling structures commerce—are meaning 7(a) amended, 207(a), nevertheless persuaded sufficient, conduct sufficiently continuous category justify entry general against respondents from, 'violating law,' requiring live pain contempt citation violation decree, others land. further knowledge can particular time rendered complete legal remedy 16(b) plus additional equal amount, attorneys' fees costs. As read opinion, factors affirm denial prayed injunction, 253, 260—261, reasons judgment. 15 STEWART, 16 With principles there dispute. Their facts case, however, lead me reached Believing did err side shadowy line decisions 1538, 460, falls, 'The district courts shall jurisdiction, cause shown, title *.' 15, 215, makes unlawful violate, inter alia, 6, 7, 11(c) 11(d), 211(c) 211(d), 211(c, d). commenced Lublin, McGaughy Associates, copartnership, Alfred M. John McGaughy, William T. McMillan Marshall, Jr., doing each individually. Throughout defendants treated single entity refer herein Brown Engineering 224 359, denied 350 875, 119, 773. provides: sections 206 (1) employee bona fide executive, administrative, professional, retailing capacity, capacity salesman (as terms defined delimited regulations Administrator). *' '(a) Every employer pay his engaged production goods wages following rates Except otherwise section, employ workweek longer forty hours, unless receives employment excess hours above specified rate less one-half times regular employed.' limitations 3(j), 203(j), Alstate Durkin, 345 13, 73 565, 97 745; 567, 335. Fitzgerald Const. Pedersen, 324 720, 65 892, 89 1316; MeLeod supra.

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