San Luis Obispo FLSA Settlement Calls For $3k In Damages $54k in Attorney’s Fees

The City of San Luis Obispo has reached an agreement to settle a Fair Labor Standards Act overtime lawsuit filed by its firefighters. The suit filed in 2016 alleged the city failed to include certain payments in the overtime. The payments reportedly involved compensation paid to the firefighters in lieu of taking health care benefits under a cafeteria plan.

The settlement reported calls for the firefighters to share $3,000 in damages, with the city paying an estimated $54,000 in attorney’s fees and costs.

About Curt Varone

Curt Varone has over 40 years of fire service experience and 30 as a practicing attorney licensed in both Rhode Island and Maine. His background includes 29 years as a career firefighter in Providence (retiring as a Deputy Assistant Chief), as well as volunteer and paid on call experience. He is the author of two books: Legal Considerations for Fire and Emergency Services, (2006, 2nd ed. 2011, 3rd ed. 2014) and Fire Officer's Legal Handbook (2007), and is a contributing editor for Firehouse Magazine writing the Fire Law column.
x

Check Also

Fired Minnesota Assistant Chief Alleges Whistleblower Retaliation

An assistant chief with a Minnesota fire department who was fired earlier this year has filed suit claiming his removal was retaliation for a protected whistleblower report he made. Shea Chwialkowski served as the Assistant Chief of Training & Operations for the Richfield Fire Department until he was terminated on March 29, 2023.

Fire Law Roundup for May 22, 2023

In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for May 22, 2023, Brad ...