McMaster v. Eastern Armored Servs., Inc

McMaster worked for Eastern, an armored courier company, as a driver or guard. Her assignment changed daily. McMaster spent 51% of her total days working on vehicles rated heavier than 10,000 pounds, and 49% of her total days working on lighter vehicles. She was paid by the hour and frequently worked more than 40 hours per week. She was not paid overtime. After McMaster left Eastern, she filed a purported class action claiming that the Fair Labor Standards Act required Eastern to pay overtime wages , 29 U.S.C. 216(b). The dispute centered on the Act’s the Motor Carrier Act Exemption. According to McMaster, she fell within an exception to the exemption, enacted prior to her employment. The Corrections Act waives the exemption for motor carrier employees who, in whole or in part, drive vehicles weighing less than 10,000 pounds and states: “Section 7 of the Fair Labor Standards Act . . . appl[ies] to a covered employee notwithstanding section 13(b)(1) of that Act.” The district court held that McMaster was eligible for overtime for all hours she worked over 40 in a workweek. The Third Circuit affirmed. McMaster met the criteria of a “covered employee” and was entitled to overtime. View "McMaster v. Eastern Armored Servs., Inc" on Justia Law