Kennedy v. Critical Intervention Services, Inc.

**The Dispute** Kennedy, an employee at Critical Intervention Services, sued his employer for not paying him overtime wages he was legally owed. The company claimed Kennedy was exempt from overtime rules, meaning they didn't have to pay him extra for working more than 40 hours per week. **The Court's Decision** The court ruled in Kennedy's favor, finding that Critical Intervention Services had wrongfully denied him overtime pay. The judge awarded Kennedy $12,548.78 in unpaid overtime wages, plus an additional $12,548.78 in liquidated damages (a penalty that doubles the amount owed), for a total of $25,097.56. The court determined that the company could not prove it had a good faith belief that Kennedy was actually exempt from overtime requirements under federal law. **What This Means for Workers** This case shows that employers cannot simply declare workers "exempt" from overtime without proper justification. When companies wrongfully deny overtime pay, they may have to pay double damages—both the wages owed and an equal penalty amount. Workers who believe they're being improperly classified as exempt from overtime should know that courts take these violations seriously and that significant financial remedies are available.