PENSACOLA — A former financial analyst for the Escambia County School District is suing the school board, alleging that she is owed unpaid minimum wages and overtime compensation under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
A lawsuit was filed on Aug. 28 in a U.S. District Court against the School Board of Escambia County claiming violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
Plaintiff Christi Long, a former technician and financial analyst for the school district, alleged that she worked over 40 hours per week, but was not paid overtime at the proper overtime rate.
The plaintiff also alleged that the defendant was “aware at all times” that she had worked more than 40 hours per week.
Long worked for the school district from August 2016-November 2017 as an IT technician, according to the complaint. Her duties included integration of administrative and instructional systems, service support, skills training and needs assessments.
Long then served as a financial analyst from November 2017 until she left her job on July 31. Her duties included processing worker’s compensation payments and assisting the District Risk Management Department.
Long alleged that although she was classified improperly as an “exempt employee” at certain times during her employment, she should have been “a non-exempt employee at all times and should have been paid overtime.
The 12-page document was filed on behalf of the plaintiff by Pensacola attorney Jeremiah J. Talbott. The complaint alleges that the defendant's actions were willful and a failure to act in good faith. Further, the document states that the defendant knew “or showed reckless disregard for the fact, that its failure to pay the plaintiff as alleged herein was in violation of the FLSA.”
The filing states that because the record that document how many hours were worked by Ms. Long are in possession of the defendant, she is “unable to determine and state the exact amount of damages due.”
The lawsuit states two counts, including failure to pay minimum wage under the FLSA and failure to pay overtime under the FLSA.
The FLSA, according to the filing, “mandates an employer pay its employees at least the federal minimum wage for each hour worked.” Additionally, it requires that eligible employees are entitled to be paid a rate of one and one-half times their regular hourly rate “for each hour worked in excess of forty (40) in a work week.”
Long is seeking actual and compensatory damages and an equal amount in liquidated damages, as well as reasonable attorney’s fees and costs of suit.
U.S. District Court Northern District of Florida Pensacola Division, case number 3:18-cv-02052