Scott诉Centick Enterprises等案

Plaintiff Myesha Scott filed this lawsuit against Defendants Enos Ngetich and Centick Enterprises, LLC, alleging violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”), 29 U.S.C. § 207, for failing to pay her overtime wages.Scott began working for Centick as manager of two gas stations in September 2021, earning $10 per hour and averaging sixty hours per week.Despite requests for overtime pay, she never received premium overtime rate for hours worked over forty per week.She worked until March 2022 and filed suit on November 15, 2022.Defendants were served on May 3, 2023, but failed to plead or respond.The clerk entered default, and Scott moved for default judgment seeking $9,000 in damages plus costs and attorney's fees.

On November 2, 2023, Judge Annemarie Carney Axon granted the motion for default judgment in favor of Ms. Scott and against Mr. Ngetich and Centick in the amount of $9,000.The court granted the filing fee request, denied the postage request, and denied without prejudice the process server cost request.The motion for attorney's fees was denied without prejudice, with leave to refile with adequate support by November 16, 2023.

Whether Myesha Scott was entitled to a default judgment and associated damages, costs, and attorney's fees after defendants failed to respond to the complaint.The court also examined whether Scott's allegations established a valid claim under the FLSA and whether the requested costs and fees were adequately supported.

This case highlights the enforceability of the FLSA's overtime provisions and the consequences for employers who fail to respond to wage claims.The default judgment demonstrates that courts will accept well-pleaded allegations as true when defendants default, streamlining recovery for employees.The case also underscores the importance of properly documenting costs and attorney's fees to obtain full recovery.It serves as a cautionary tale for employers regarding compliance with federal wage laws and the risks of ignoring litigation.