Date: January 18, 2017
Law360 interviewed TELG principal Nicholas Woodfield about a $1.1 million settlement that was reached between a group of sheet-metal workers — whom he represented — and two aircraft maintenance and repair companies that had been accused of underpaying them. Nick said the favorable result should serve as an example in similar disputes.
Quoteworthy:
“The facts supported our claims, and we believe that we secured the best result for the employees who worked on the project."
Nicholas Woodfield
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[EXCERPT]
Lufthansa Unit, Aircraft Co. Reach $1.1M Deal In OT Row
A Deutsche Lufthansa AG unit and an aircraft services company agreed to pay a combined $1.1 million in a deal with a class of sheet metal workers who claimed they were misclassified as independent contractors and denied overtime, according to papers filed in Maine federal court on Wednesday.
Lufthansa Technik North America Holding Corp. and co-defendant Global Aircraft Service Inc. will shell out the sum to cover workers’ unpaid wages and their attorneys’ fees, which come in at about 28 percent of the total deal, according to a proposed deal posted Wednesday.
The parties had informed the court after a settlement conference in early November that they had reached a deal, but they didn’t elaborate on the terms until Wednesday’s submission, court records show.
“The settlement provides relief to plaintiffs and eliminates the inherent risks both sides would bear if this case were to continue,” the workers said in the proposed deal. “Given these circumstances, a presumption of fairness should attach to the proposed settlement.”
Sheet metal worker Christopher Venegas filed the lawsuit in June 2014, alleging that Lufthansa Technik and Global Aircraft acted as his joint employers and violated the Fair Labor Standards Act by failing to pay overtime.
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