Court Opinion

ID: 9419961
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-02 22:52:20.038361+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:22:21.334750
License: Public Domain

Me. Justice Rutledge,
dissenting.
In my opinion the Circuit Court of Appeals correctly found that the evidence is not sufficient to sustain the findings upon which the District Court concluded that *551the operating engineers are exempt under § 13 (a) (1) of the Fair Labor Standards Act. It said, unanimously:
“The District Court found as a fact that Stegman, Page and Spooner were employed as foremen or supervisors of the department, with power to supervise the work of firemen and coal-passers in the boiler-room; that they customarily and regularly directed the work of other employees in the department, and customarily exercised discretionary powers. We think these findings are not sustained by the evidence. The work done by the engineers was highly skilled mechanical work. While the machinery was vital to the plant, dangerous and complicated, its operation involved no exercise of discretion, but merely the proper application of the skilled engineering training which these men had received. Although the three engineers were responsible for the proper operation of the machinery during their shifts, and, as the factory manager testifies, ‘in charge of management of the property/ none of them could fire or hire or give orders to any man in the boiler-room. Latteman, the chief engineer, who was present at the plant during one shift and on call 24 hours a day and seven days a week, was in full charge of the department. While Latteman might act on information from Stegman, Page, or Spooner, during the period involved, orders emanated only from him. It is not shown that Stegman, Page or Spooner ever made any recommendation concerning the change in status of the boiler-men. It was essential to have proper steam pressure in the boiler-room, but if the three engineers desired in this connection to secure action from the firemen and coal-passers, they had to secure an order from Latteman. This evidence is not contradicted.” 155 F. 2d 711, 714.
*552An independent examination of the record confirms the Court of Appeals’ conclusions. It discloses that on one or two occasions an operating engineer tried to give orders to firemen or coal passers in the boiler room, but in each instance those men refused to follow them and took their orders solely from Latteman. This falls far short at least of the regular and customary supervision required by §§ 541.1 (a) and (b) of the controlling regulations to make the exemption operative.
Since the Court does not reach other questions presented on the record, I express no opinion concerning them.
Mr. Justice Black and Mr. Justice Murphy join in this dissent.