In the case of Marlin v. Cross County, Clint Marlin filed a lawsuit against Cross County for not providing overtime compensation for all overtime hours he worked. Marlin’s job responsibilities included dispensing medication and other items to prisoners, as well as booking them into the system.
Marlin alleged that his hourly wage, when accounting for unpaid overtime, fell below the minimum required by federal and Arkansas law. Cross County filed a motion for summary judgment. They argued that there was no genuine issue of material fact and that Marlin’s claims should be decided on legal grounds. The County also contended that Marlin was fully compensated for the hours he worked, and there was no evidence to support his claim of unpaid overtime.
The court determined that summary judgment was appropriate if there was no genuine issue of material fact. The court found that Marlin’s testimony and timesheets supported the county’s position that he was compensated for the hours he worked, including extra hours he claimed he worked. The court also considered the issue of constructive knowledge which meant whether the County should have known about the overtime. It found that Marlin did not complain about the county’s failure to pay adequate overtime until after he was terminated.
Ultimately, the court dismissed Marlin’s claims as he was not entitled to overtime pay.
Key lessons from this case:
- Constructive knowledge of overtime work would be sufficient to establish liability under the FLSA.
- Employees need to raise concerns about unpaid overtime promptly rather than waiting until termination or later.
- Inadequate evidence and failure to support allegations may result in the dismissal of overtime claims.
Learn more about Arkansas Labor Laws through our detailed guide.
