Usery v. Fort Payne Motels, Inc.

432 F. Supp. 1079, 1976 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 11777
CourtDistrict Court, N.D. Alabama
DecidedDecember 17, 1976
DocketCiv. A. No. 75-M-1350
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 432 F. Supp. 1079 (Usery v. Fort Payne Motels, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, N.D. Alabama primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Usery v. Fort Payne Motels, Inc., 432 F. Supp. 1079, 1976 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 11777 (N.D. Ala. 1976).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION

McFADDEN, Chief Judge.

This is an action by the Secretary of Labor under 29 U.S.C. § 217 seeking to enjoin defendants from violating §§ 15(a)(2) and 15(a)(5) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 as amended (29 U.S.C. § 201 et seq.), and to restrain defendants from withholding payment of minimum wages and overtime compensation alleged to be due defendants’ employees under the Act. The Court has jurisdiction of the parties and of the subject matter of this cause of action. Venue is proper.

This cause was before the Court on the sole question of whether the defendants constitute an enterprise within the meaning of Section 3(r) of the Fair Labor Standards Act, as amended [29 U.S.C. § 203(r)J, the remaining issues being held in abeyance. Plaintiff contends that Fort Payne Motels, Inc. (Fort Payne), doing business as Holiday Inn, near Fort Payne, Alabama, and J. B. Williams, doing business as Holiday Inn Restaurant in the said Holiday Inn Motel, constitute an “enterprise” within the meaning of 29 U.S.C. § 203(r). Plaintiff’s contention is based on the premise that the defendants’ operations are related activities performed through unified operation and common control. Defendants maintain that they are separate legal entities and as such each does not constitute an “enterprise” within the meaning of the Act, and therefore not subject to the provisions of the Act respecting “enterprise.”

The parties stipulate that if the defendants are separate legal entities, neither is subject to the enterprise provisions of the Act since, considered separately, each had less than the requisite business volume during the period in question. The parties further stipulate that if defendants are considered a single enterprise they are subject to the enterprise provisions and plaintiff would be entitled to some of the relief requested.

Fort Payne has operated at all pertinent times under a License Agreement with Holiday Inns, Inc., in Memphis, Tennessee (“Inns”), which requires Fort Payne to operate a “standardized uniform inn service identified with the words ‘Holiday Inn’ and [1081]*1081with the other distinguishing features, trade marks, and service marks of the Holiday Inns System.” It must assure the public of a “uniform, efficient, courteous, high quality service on a standardized international basis” which is more specifically defined in the “Rules of Operation of the System as set forth in the Operating Manual” furnished, from time to time, by Inns, and which must be observed strictly. Certain key employees must be trained in accordance with the methods of the System and the Holiday Inn must provide the public with food service. To assure that Fort Payne and other licensees comply with the Inns System, an inspector from Inns comes to the motel/restaurant operation around four times a year and grades almost every aspect of the motel operation. These standards are less stringent than those of the Alabama State Health Department and less than those imposed by Williams.

J. B. Williams has been associated with Fort Payne in the operation of the restaurant facilities at the motel since it was built; for the first few months under oral agreement and then under a written “Lease Agreement.” Under the lease, Williams operates the “dining room, coffee shop, kitchen areas and meeting rooms,” pays as rent 10% of gross receipts and pays for utilities; Fort Payne initially provided most of the restaurant equipment (including small appliances, silverware, and napkins) and furnishes Williams with laundry service at half the bid price of any commercial laundry. Williams must operate the premises only as a “restaurant in accordance with the minimum standards and operating procedures of the International Association of Holiday Inns and Holiday Inns, Inc.” The minimum hours of operation of Williams are specified and he must and does give a discount to Fort Payne employees.

The original oral agreement was between Mr. Barron, principal stockholder of Fort Payne, and Mr. Williams during the construction of the motel. According to their testimony, Williams was to have complete control of the restaurant, dining room and conference rooms being constructed and his operation was to be entirely independent and separate from the motel. They also testified that the later written lease, while containing certain standard provisions of “Holiday Inn” leases, was different from such standard leases in several major material respects: if Fort Payne’s franchise with Inns was cancelled, Williams’ lease would not thereby by terminated; Williams was to have complete control over the renting of the conference rooms, the making of reservations for all restaurant facilities, and exclusive control over banquet rooms; Williams had complete control in selecting, planning and publishing menus. “Owner’s Reports” of inspection of the restaurant by Inns were left with Williams rather than the Innkeeper of the motel as is generally the case in other Holiday Inn operations. These reports showed Williams as Lessee. Williams and Fort Payne had separate tax numbers; separate telephone listings; separate bank accounts; separate addresses; and separate post office box numbers. The books and records of the motel and Williams were kept separate, by different accountants. There was no intermingling of funds. Williams and Fort Payne had separate city, State and county licenses. Williams and Fort Payne maintained separate fire and extended coverage insurance policies; separate workmen’s compensation insurance and separate general liability insurance coverage. Williams testified that it would have been cheaper for both Fort Payne and Williams if one policy covering general liability could have been issued to both, but that the insurance underwriters had refused to issue one policy since they were separate entities. Williams is not an officer, employee, agent nor stockholder in Fort Payne. Williams’ business is separated from Fort Payne operations by an iron gate which is kept locked when the restaurant is closed with the key under the exclusive control of Williams.

Williams and Fort Payne share the same roof and walls; the restaurant is called the motel’s “dining room”; Williams provides substantial room service and/or meal service to guests of Fort Payne; the entrance to the restaurant is through the lobby and [1082]*1082down a common hall; public rest rooms are in the motel lobby and not the restaurant; the two operations use the same credit cards and all credit charges are handled by Fort Payne employees; the lights for the front sign of Fort Payne are controlled from the kitchen area; they share the same piped-in music system and intra-motel telephone system controlled by the front desk; they advertise on the same signs and together; and there is a room service menu in each room within the motel. Williams and some of his staff and Fort Payne staff handle the same dishes for room service customers; his parking facilities are in common with Fort Payne’s parking facilities.

None of Williams’ employees are under the control of the Innkeeper or other agents of Fort Payne, and none of Fort Payne’s employees are under the jurisdiction or control of Williams.

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Bluebook (online)
432 F. Supp. 1079, 1976 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 11777, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/usery-v-fort-payne-motels-inc-alnd-1976.