Contrera v. Langer

314 F. Supp. 3d 562
District Court, S.D. Illinois·Decided June 4, 2018·No. 16 Civ. 3851 (LTS) (GWG)·Published·Cited by 30 cases

Opinion

GABRIEL W. GORENSTEIN, UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Plaintiffs Usvaldo Contrera, Francisco Lopez, Pedro Batista, Fabian Herrera, and *565Antonio Reyes-former superintendents, handymen, and a porter at residential buildings in Upper Manhattan and the Bronx-filed this action against various individuals and entities that plaintiffs collectively refer to as "the E & M Enterprise" alleging that this enterprise employed them and it violated the Fair Labor Standards Act, 29 U.S.C. § 201 et seq. ("FLSA"), and various provisions of the New York Labor Law. Plaintiffs now move to amend their complaint.1 For the reasons set forth below, this motion is granted in part and denied in part.

I. BACKGROUND

Contrera and Lopez filed the original complaint in this action on May 23, 2016. See Class Action Complaint, filed May 23, 2016 (Docket # 1). It alleged claims against business entities that owned, controlled, or managed more than 3,000 rental apartments in approximately 262 buildings in New York City, as well as against individuals who controlled these entities. See id. ¶¶ 2, 10, 45-250. The complaint alleged that the defendants maintained an unlawful policy of encouraging superintendents and porters to work in excess of 40 hours per week, but failed to pay these individuals at the appropriate minimum wage or overtime rates. See id. ¶ 17. Contrera and Lopez worked for defendants as superintendents in two of their apartment buildings. See id. ¶¶ 29-31, 37-39. Contrera and Lopez claimed that they were required to remain on call "at virtually all times" and routinely worked more than 80 hours per week, but were paid less than the minimum hourly wage set in the FLSA, and were not paid overtime rates for hours worked in excess of 40, as required by the FLSA. Id. ¶¶ 32-35, 40-43, 310-20. The complaint also included so-called "Class Action Allegations," by which plaintiffs asserted that defendants deprived all porters and superintendents employed in their apartment buildings of the minimum hourly wage and overtime rates. See id. ¶¶ 251-62.

On September 23, 2016, defendants moved to dismiss the complaint, or in the alternative, for summary judgment. See Notice of Motion, filed Sept. 23, 2016 (Docket # 40). On July 27, 2017, before the Court ruled on that motion, plaintiffs filed their first amended complaint. See Amended Class Action Complaint, filed July 27, 2017 (Docket # 156) ("FAC"). The FAC added three new plaintiffs: Pedro Batista, who worked for the E & M Enterprise as both a handyman and a superintendent; Fabian Herrera, who worked for the E & M Enterprise as a porter and superintendent; and Antonio Reyes, who worked for the E & M Enterprise as a handyman. See id. ¶¶ 5-6, 53-64. In the FAC, plaintiffs alleged, among other claims, that Batista, Herrera, and Reyes were not paid the appropriate minimum wage or overtime rates for hours worked in excess of 40. See id. ¶¶ 380-412. The FAC also added a claim on behalf of all plaintiffs for overtime wages under the New York Labor Law. See id. ¶¶ 430-36. Finally, the FAC added that the defendants designated in writing that Contrera and Lopez were hourly employees, with Contrera's hourly rate set at *566$10.00 per hour with an overtime rate of $15.00 per hour, and Lopez's hourly rate set at $9.17 per hour. See id. ¶¶ 43, 52. In support of this allegation, the FAC cited to "Employee Enrollment Applications" for Contrera and Lopez indicating that these employees were to be paid hourly. See id. ¶ 43 (citing Contrera's Staffpro Employee Enrollment Application, dated Nov. 18, 2013 (annexed as Ex. A to the Declaration of Scott Katz, dated Sept. 19, 2016 (annexed as Ex. D to the Declaration of Larry R. Martinez, filed Sept. 23, 2016 (Docket # 42) ) ("Katz Decl.") ) ("Contrera EEA") ); id. ¶ 52 (citing Lopez's Staffpro Employee Enrollment Application, undated (annexed as Ex. C to Katz Decl.) ("Lopez EEA") ). Another document cited in the FAC is signed by Contrera and indicates that he was to be paid at a rate of $10 per hour. See FAC ¶ 52 (citing Notice and Acknowledgment of Pay Rate and Payday Under Section 195.1 of the New York State Labor Law Notice for Hourly Rate Employees, dated Nov. 26, 2013 (annexed as Ex. B to Katz Decl.) ("Contrera Section 195.1 Wage Notice") ). Plaintiffs also allege that Batista was designated as an hourly employee, though they fail to indicate the form of this designation or Batista's hourly rate. See id. ¶ 384.

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Contrera v. Langer, 314 F. Supp. 3d 562 (S.D. Ill. 2018).

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