Barbers Denied Second Chance in Misclassification, OT Case

The Eleventh Circuit refused to allow Miami-area barbers to argue federal misclassification and overtime claims again, saying that a jury heard enough evidence to find against them the first time.

Barbers Rosa Romero and Luis Mateo alleged that Razzle Dazzle Barbershop and its owner Elena Linares misclassified them as independent contractors and failed to pay them overtime in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act. The case went to trial in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida in February 2018.

The barbers’ attorney asked for a mistrial after cross-examining Linares, who testified that a Florida state ...