Filed: Jun. 19, 2017
Latest Update: Jun. 19, 2017
Summary: ORDER SUSAN C. BUCKLEW , District Judge . This cause comes before the Court on Plaintiff's Motion for Default Judgment against Defendant Towing America, LLC. (Doc. No. 14). As explained below, the motion is granted. In Counts I and III of his complaint, Plaintiff asserts unpaid minimum wage and overtime claims against Defendants under the Fair Labor Standards Act ("FLSA"). Defendant Towing America, LLC failed to respond to the complaint, and the Clerk entered a default against it. (Doc. N
Summary: ORDER SUSAN C. BUCKLEW , District Judge . This cause comes before the Court on Plaintiff's Motion for Default Judgment against Defendant Towing America, LLC. (Doc. No. 14). As explained below, the motion is granted. In Counts I and III of his complaint, Plaintiff asserts unpaid minimum wage and overtime claims against Defendants under the Fair Labor Standards Act ("FLSA"). Defendant Towing America, LLC failed to respond to the complaint, and the Clerk entered a default against it. (Doc. No..
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ORDER
SUSAN C. BUCKLEW, District Judge.
This cause comes before the Court on Plaintiff's Motion for Default Judgment against Defendant Towing America, LLC. (Doc. No. 14). As explained below, the motion is granted.
In Counts I and III of his complaint, Plaintiff asserts unpaid minimum wage and overtime claims against Defendants under the Fair Labor Standards Act ("FLSA"). Defendant Towing America, LLC failed to respond to the complaint, and the Clerk entered a default against it. (Doc. No. 8). As a result, all of the well-pleaded allegations in Plaintiff's complaint are deemed admitted by Defendant Towing America, LLC.
Allegations that are deemed admitted include the following: Plaintiff was employed by Defendant Towing America, LLC as a tow truck driver. (Doc. No. 1, ¶ 4). Plaintiff was not an exempt employee under the FLSA. (Doc. No. 1, ¶ 11). Plaintiff regularly worked more than 40 hours per week and was not paid the overtime rate for hours worked in excess of 40. (Doc. No. 1, ¶ 12-15). During many weeks of his employment, Plaintiff was not paid the minimum wage for the hours that he had worked. (Doc. No. 1, ¶ 12). Plaintiff contends that Defendants' violations of the FLSA's minimum wage and overtime provisions was willful. (Doc. No. 1, ¶ 25, 40).
In support of his motion for default judgment, Plaintiff supplements his allegations by filing an affidavit detailing his damages. (Doc. No. 14-1). In his affidavit, Plaintiff states that he worked for Defendants from March 2014 through October 14, 2016. During that time, he worked 12 hours per day, six days per week (thus, he worked 72 hours each week). However, Plaintiff was only compensated as follows: $1,600 per week from March through September of 2014 (30 weeks); $1,000 per week from October 2014 through October 2015 (56 weeks); and $400 per week from November 2015 through October 14, 2016 (49 weeks1). As a result, Plaintiff seeks $8,784.72 in minimum wage damages and $29,439.04 in overtime damages, which totals $38,223.76. Additionally, Plaintiff seeks an equal amount in liquidated damages due to Defendant Towing America, LLC's willful violations of the FLSA.
The charts below set forth the damages that Plaintiff is entitled to be awarded under the FLSA. The amount of minimum wage damages awarded is lower than the amount Plaintiff requested, because the award is based on the federal minimum wage rate of $7.25 per hour, rather than Florida's minimum wage rate of $8.05 per hour.2
MINIMUM WAGE DAMAGES
Time Period Hours Hourly Minimum Wage Minimum Wage Owed
per week Wage Paid Make-up Rate
Nov 2015 — Oct 14, 2016 72 $400/72 $7.25 - $5.56 $1.69 × 72 hours = $121.68/week
hours $121.68 × 49 weeks
49 weeks $1.69 $5,962.32
$5.56/hour
OVERTIME DAMAGES
Time Period Weekly Pay and Overtime Overtime Owed
Regular Hourly Rate Rate Owed Overtime
Per Hour3 Hours4
Mar 2014 — Sept 2014 $1,600/72 hours $22.22 × .5 32 $11.11 × 32 hours =
30 weeks $22.22/hour $11.11/hour $355.52 per week
$355.52 × 30 weeks =
$10,665.60 for the period
Oct 2014 — Oct 2015 $1000/72 hours $13.89 × .5 32 $6.95 × 32 hours =
56 weeks $13.89/hour $6.95/hour $222.40 per week
$222.40 × 56 weeks =
$12,454.40 for the period
Nov 2015 — Oct 14, 2016 $400/72 hours $7.25 × .5 32 $3.63 × 32 hours =
49 weeks $5.56/hour $3.63/hour $116.16 per week
$116.16 × 49 weeks =
Federal minimum wage $5,691.84 for the period
= $7.25/hour*
$28,811.84
Based on the above, Plaintiff is awarded minimum wage damages of $5,962.32 and overtime damages of $28,811.84, for a total of $34,774.16. Plaintiff is also awarded liquidated damages in the same amount. Thus, his total award of FLSA damages is $69,548.32.
Accordingly, it is ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that:
(1) Plaintiff's Motion for Default Judgment against Defendant Towing America, LLC (Doc. No. 14) is GRANTED.
(2) Plaintiff is awarded $34,774.16 in overtime and minimum wage damages under the Fair Labor Standards Act, plus an equal amount in liquidated damages, for a total award of $69,548.32 against Defendant Towing America, LLC as to Counts I and III of the complaint.
(3) The Clerk is directed to enter judgment in favor of Plaintiff and against Defendant Towing America, LLC as to Counts I and III of the complaint, as set forth in this order.
DONE AND ORDERED.
