National Labor Relations Board v. McDermott

# Summary of National Labor Relations Board v. McDermott **What Happened** The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), a government agency that protects workers' rights, had won a wage theft case against I.W.G., Inc. and its owner Laura McDermott. After winning, the NLRB needed information to collect money owed to workers. McDermott refused to comply with subpoenas—formal legal requests—for details about asset transfers and her husband's location, which the NLRB needed to enforce the judgment. **What the Court Decided** The court sided with the NLRB and ordered McDermott to comply with the subpoenas. She must provide the requested information about asset transfers and her husband's whereabouts to help satisfy the judgment against her. **Why This Matters for Workers** This ruling strengthens workers' ability to recover wages owed to them. It shows that courts will enforce tools used to collect unpaid wages, even when employers try to hide assets or avoid cooperating. When employers cannot simply refuse to provide information, workers are more likely to actually receive the money a court has ordered paid to them.