Michigan Supervisors' Union v. Michigan

826 F. Supp. 1084, 1 Wage & Hour Cas.2d (BNA) 1618, 1993 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 7339, 1993 WL 285806
CourtDistrict Court, W.D. Michigan
DecidedMarch 4, 1993
DocketNo. 5:91:CV:47
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 826 F. Supp. 1084 (Michigan Supervisors' Union v. Michigan) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, W.D. Michigan primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Michigan Supervisors' Union v. Michigan, 826 F. Supp. 1084, 1 Wage & Hour Cas.2d (BNA) 1618, 1993 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 7339, 1993 WL 285806 (W.D. Mich. 1993).

Opinion

OPINION

ENSLEN, District Judge.

This case is before the Court on the parties’ cross-motions for partial summary judgment under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56. Specifically, each side believes that it is entitled to judgment on count V of plaintiffs’ second amended complaint. The underlying dispute is an action for recovery of unpaid overtime compensation pursuant to the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”), 29 U.S.C. § 201 et seq. This case is brought as a class action under section 16 of the FLSA, 29 U.S.C. § 216.

The facts of this dispute are well-known by the parties and need not be recited at this time.

[1086]*1086 Standard

In reviewing a motion for summary judgment pursuant to Rule 56, this Court should only consider the narrow questions of whether there are “genuine issues as to any material fact and [whether] the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c). On a Rule 56 motion, the Court cannot resolve issues of fact, but is empowered to determine only whether there are issues in dispute to be decided in a trial on the merits. Gutierrez v. Lynch, 826 F.2d 1534, 1536 (6th Cir.1987); In re Atlas Concrete Pipe, Inc., 668 F.2d 905, 908 (6th Cir.1982). The crux of the motion is “whether the evidence presents a sufficient disagreement to require submission to a jury or whether it is so one-sided that one party must prevail as a matter of law.” Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 251-52, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 2511-12, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986); Booker v. Brown & Williamson Tobacco Co., Inc., 879 F.2d 1304, 1310 (6th Cir.1989).

A motion for summary judgment requires this Court to view “ ‘inferences to be drawn from the underlying facts ... in the light most favorable to the party opposing the motion.’ ” Matsushita Electric Ind. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 587, 106 S.Ct. 1348, 1356, 89 L.Ed.2d 538 (1986) (quoting United States v. Diebold, Inc., 369 U.S. 654, 655, 82 S.Ct. 993, 993, 8 L.Ed.2d 176 (1962)), quoted in Historic Preservation Guild v. Burnley, 896 F.2d 985, 993 (6th Cir.1989). On the other hand, the opponent has the burden to show that a “rational trier of fact [could] find for the non-moving party [or] that there is a ‘genuine issue for trial.’ ” Historic Preservation, 896 F.2d at 993 (quoting Matsushita, 475 U.S. at 587, 106 S.Ct. at 1356).

As the Sixth Circuit has recognized and consistently emphasized, recent Supreme Court decisions encourage the granting of summary judgments where there are no material facts in dispute. Historic Preservation, 896 F.2d at 993 (citing Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986); Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986)). The courts have noted that the summary judgment motion may be an “appropriate avenue for the ‘just, speedy and inexpensive determination’ of a matter.” Cloverdale Equipment Co. v. Simon Aerials, Inc., 869 F.2d 934, 937 (6th Cir.1989) (quoting Celotex, 477 U.S. at 327, 106 S.Ct. at 2554). Consistent with the concern for judicial economy, “the mere existence of a scintilla of evidence in support of the [non-moving party’s] positions will be insufficient.” Anderson, 477 U.S. at 252, 106 S.Ct. at 2512. “Mere allegations do not suffice.” Cloverdale, 869 F.2d at 937. “[T]he party with the burden of proof at trial is obligated to provide concrete evidence supporting its claims and establishing the existence of a genuine issue of fact.” Id.

Discussion

Plaintiffs assert in count V of their amended complaint that, if this Court determines that they are paid “on a salary basis” under 29 C.F.R. § 541.118(a), then, as a matter of law, they are entitled to compensation for wages lost due to a four day, mandatory layoff in August 1991 (the “Furlough”). Defendants do not dispute that plaintiffs were laid off, without pay, for a period of less than one full workweek, in August 1991. See Defendants’ Answer to Second Amended Complaint at ¶ 35. It is also undisputed that plaintiffs were “ready, willing and able” to work at the time of the Furlough. See Plaintiffs’ Brief at Exhibit C. The plaintiffs performed work during a portion of the workweek which they were laid off. Id.

Under 29 C.F.R. § 541.118(a), plaintiffs argue that an employer is prohibited from reducing the wages of a salaried employee in any workweek in which the employee performs work. Specifically, this section provides, in relevant part:

(a) An employee will be considered to be paid “on salary basis” within the meaning of the regulations if under his employment agreement he regularly receives each pay period on a weekly, or less frequent basis, a predetermined amount constituting all or part of his compensation, which amount is not subject to reduction because of variations in the quality or quantity of the work [1087]*1087performed. Subject to the exceptions provided below, the employee must receive his full salary for any week in which he performs any work without regard to the number of days or hours worked. This policy is also subject to the general rule that an employee need not be paid for any workweek in which he performs no work.

Id. (emphasis added).

As plaintiffs correctly point out, on its face, this regulation stands for the proposition that, if a salaried employee works at all in a workweek—one minute, one hour or one day, s/he is entitled to receive his or her full salary for that week. The only exception to this rule appears in 29 C.F.R. § 541.-118(a)(2):

(2) Deductions may be made, however, when the employee absents himself for work for a day or more for personal reasons, other than sickness or accident.

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826 F. Supp. 1084, 1 Wage & Hour Cas.2d (BNA) 1618, 1993 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 7339, 1993 WL 285806, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/michigan-supervisors-union-v-michigan-miwd-1993.