Chelan County Public Utility District Class Action Lawsuit

Plaintiffs have filed this action against Chelan County PUD on behalf of past and present employees who worked unpaid shift-turnover time. Plaintiffs claim Chelan County PUD owes wages to them and other similarly situated employees under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act ("FLSA") and Washington State law.

Plaintiffs' Allegations

Plaintiffs assert that Chelan County PUD has violated the FLSA and Washington State law with regard to them and other employees based on the following allegations: For years, Chelan County PUD has required employees working 12-hour shifts to arrive early for their shifts in order to complete shift turnovers. During these shift turnovers, the arriving employees get necessary, job-related information from the departing employees, information the arriving employees need to know in order to safely and properly perform their job duties. Though shift-turnover time has been a requirement of the job, Chelan County PUD has not paid for this time. By failing to pay employees for all hours worked, Chelan County PUD has violated the FLSA and various Washington State laws.

Plaintiffs allege that they and all other similarly situated employees are entitled to recover damages in the form of lost wages for unpaid shift-turnover time, as well as prejudgment interest, attorneys' fees and the costs associated with bringing this lawsuit. Plaintiffs also allege that they and all other similarly situated employees are entitled to an award of double damages on the ground that Chelan County PUD's actions were willful.

Status of Case

On August 10, 2007, the Court certified the case as a class action on behalf of the following group of employees:

All current and former employees of the Chelan County Public Utility District who worked unpaid shift-turnover time from July 18, 2003 through the date judgment is entered in this action.

Right to Participate in the Suit for Purposes of the Fair Labor Standards Act ("FLSA")

If you are one of the employees in the above-stated Class definition, you may join this suit for purposes of the FLSA (that is, you may "opt in") by mailing the attached "Consent to Join" form to Class counsel at the following address:

If your "Consent to Join" form is returned to Class counsel after September 10, 2007, you may not be able to participate in this lawsuit with respect to those claims brought under the FLSA.

If you returned the "Consent to Join" form to Class counsel before September 10, 2007, your continued right to participate in this suit for purposes of the FLSA may depend upon a later decision by the Court that you and the named Plaintiffs are "similarly situated" in accordance with federal law.

FLSA Notice and Consent to Join Form

Your Rights with Respect to the State Law Claims

Class counsel mailed a separate notice to employees on December 5, 2007 explaining their rights with respect to the claims brought under Washington State law. The deadline to opt out of the class with respect to the state law claims was January 4, 2008.

Case Documents

Please click on a document below to download. PDF documents can be read using the free product Adobe Reader available here.

Fair Labor Standards Act ("FLSA") Notice and Consent to Join Form
Acrobat Reader Document (PDF)

Plaintiffs' First Amended Complaint
Acrobat Reader Document (PDF)

Order Granting Class Certification and Approval of Notice
Acrobat Reader Document (PDF)

Second Notice of Lawsuit Against Chelan PUD
Acrobat Reader Document (PDF)

DISCLAIMER

Options

Printable Version