Case: Wage & Hour/FLSA Settlement (S.D. Ohio)

An Ohio federal district court denied preliminary approval of a $183,680.73 settlement between Columbus Electric, Inc., and class members asserting claims of unpaid overtime in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act and state law. The court found the settlement’s provision releasing FLSA and state law claims of those plaintiffs who didn’t opt-out of a specific class directly contradicts their right to affirmatively opt into a lawsuit for FLSA collective actions. The parties are required to notify the court whether they wish to pursue litigation or whether they wish to attempt to negotiate a fair settlement that resolves the FLSA ...