DiSalvo, Zachary v. CRM US, Inc.

**What Happened** Zachary DiSalvo sued his former employer, Cleveland County Emergency Medical Services in North Carolina, claiming they violated federal wage laws. DiSalvo argued that the county owed him money under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), which sets rules for minimum wage and overtime pay. **What the Court Decided** The court dismissed DiSalvo's case, ruling that his complaint wasn't actually about federal wage violations. Instead, the judge determined this was a dispute about how his regular pay should be calculated under his specific employment contract with the county. Since the issue involved interpreting a state employment agreement rather than violations of federal minimum wage or overtime requirements, the federal court said it didn't have the right type of case to handle. **Why This Matters for Workers** This case shows that not every pay dispute qualifies as a federal wage violation. Workers need to understand the difference between contract disagreements about how pay is calculated and actual violations of minimum wage or overtime laws. If you believe your employer isn't paying you correctly, it's important to determine whether you have a federal wage claim or a state contract dispute, as this affects which court can help you.