Hergenreter v. City of Fort Dodge

987 F. Supp. 1141, 4 Wage & Hour Cas.2d (BNA) 1759, 1997 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 20103, 1997 WL 778349
CourtDistrict Court, N.D. Iowa
DecidedDecember 11, 1997
DocketNo. C96-3145-MWB
StatusPublished

This text of 987 F. Supp. 1141 (Hergenreter v. City of Fort Dodge) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, N.D. Iowa primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Hergenreter v. City of Fort Dodge, 987 F. Supp. 1141, 4 Wage & Hour Cas.2d (BNA) 1759, 1997 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 20103, 1997 WL 778349 (N.D. Iowa 1997).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER REGARDING CROSS-MOTIONS FOR PARTIAL SUMMARY JUDGMENT

BENNETT, District Judge.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

' I. INTRODUCTION.'.... 1142

A. Procedural Background.1142

B. Factual Background.1143

II. LEGAL ANALYSIS. 1144

A. Standards For Summary Judgment.1144
B. Overtime Pay Requirements Under The FLSA.1145
C. The “Regular Rate” Of Pay.1146
1. Computing “regular rate” of pay.1146
2. The Firefíghters’ “regular rate” of pay.1147

III. CONCLUSION.1150

Although an old adage states that figures never lie, precisely what they prove is often uncertain. Here, plaintiff firefighters contend that figures prove the defendant city has been improperly paying them for regular and overtime hours since July 25, 1995, in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), 29 U.S.C. §§ 201-219. Looking at the same computations, the defendant city asserts that it has been paying its firefighters regular and overtime pay in compliance with the FLSA. Each side has moved for partial summary judgment on this issue, leaving some figuring,- and a good deal of contemplation of precisely what all the figures prove or leave open to further proof, to the court.

I. INTRODUCTION
A. Procedural Background

This action, filed on October 4, 1996, was brought by thirty-four firefighters employed or formerly employed by the defendant City of Fort Dodge, Iowa, seeking damages, attorneys fees, and declaratory and injunctive relief from allegedly willful violations of provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), 29 U.S.C. § 215(a). The complaint, in six counts, alleges the following violations of the FLSA: (1) failure to pay proper regular and overtime wages for regular duties in violation of 29 U.S.C. §§ 207(a)(1), 207(k), and 215(a)(2); (2) failure to pay regular and overtime wages for extra personal holidays in violation of 29 U.S.C. §§ 207(a)(1), 207(k), and 215(a)(2); (3) failure to pay regular and overtime wages for time spent at the state firefighters’ convention and the annual state AFL — CIO convention for representatives of [1143]*1143the union local in violation of 29 U.S.C. §§ 207(a)(1), 207(k), and 215(a)(2); (4) retaliation for assertion through the union local of rights under the FLSA concerning pay for time at conventions in violation of 29 U.S.C. § 215(a)(3); (5) retaliation for assertion through the union local of rights under the FLSA concerning pay for regular duties in violation of 29 U.S.C. § 215(a)(3); and (6) retaliation for assertion through the union local of rights under the FLSA concerning extra personal holidays in violation of 29 U.S.C. § 215(a)(3). Most, but not all, of the claims stem from the City’s unilateral change in the manner in which it would pay regular and overtime pay as of July 25, 1995, announced in a notice dated July 11, 1995.

On October 2, 1997, the City moved for summary judgment on the issue of whether it had paid regular and overtime hours for regular duties in compliance with the FLSA.1 The Firefighters responded with a resistance and cross-motion for partial summary judgment on October 10, 1997. They contend that there is no genuine issue of material fact as to the City’s liability on Counts I through V of their complaint. However, they have asserted no argument, and have presented the court with no facts, concerning pay for extra personal holidays or convention time. Thus, the court concludes that the only issues properly before it on cross-motions for partial summary judgment concern regular and overtime pay for regular duties.

Both parties requested oral arguments on the motions. However, the court’s schedule has not permitted the scheduling of oral arguments and the time until trial, which is scheduled to begin on January 12, 1998, is now short.

B. Factual Background

The court will not attempt here an exhaustive statement of the undisputed and disputed facts of the case. Instead, the court will discuss disputed and undisputed facts to the extent necessary to resolve the cross-motions for partial summary judgment in its legal analysis. However, a brief statement of the factual backdrop for the Firefighters’ claims in this action is provided here to place the court’s legal analysis in context.

From at least August 1, 1985, pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement, the City paid its Firefighters a base salary based on a fifty-six hour workweek. The Firefighters worked a twenty-seven day pay period, which translates into 216 hours per pay period. The Firefighters are actually divided into three shifts, each of which works one twenty-four hour shift followed by forty-eight hours off. Again, that means that, in every pay period, each Firefighter was scheduled for nine twenty-four hour shifts, totaling 216 hours.

In an effort to comply with the regular and overtime pay requirements of the FLSA, beginning August 1, 1985, the City announced that it would allow each Firefighter twelve hours of paid time off during each pay period to reduce their hours worked to the 204 hours permitted as regular time under the FLSA, and would pay time-and-a-half for hours worked in excess of 204. Under the FLSA, the parties agree that firefighters who work a twenty-seven day pay period are entitled to overtime pay for hours worked in excess of 204. The Firefighters’ union local accepted these pay conditions and the Firefighters contend that they became part of each successive collective bargaining agreement. None of the Firefighters’ FLSA claims are based on any improper payment pursuant to this agreement from August 1, 1985, through July 25,1995.

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Bluebook (online)
987 F. Supp. 1141, 4 Wage & Hour Cas.2d (BNA) 1759, 1997 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 20103, 1997 WL 778349, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/hergenreter-v-city-of-fort-dodge-iand-1997.