No specific laws identified for this ruling.
Employee settled FLSA wage-and-hour claim against employer Hickory Foods for $16,000 total ($5,688.90 in unpaid wages, equal liquidated damages, and $4,622.20 in attorney's fees and costs). Court approved settlement after parties agreed to resolve dispute over overtime compensation.
Burkett v. Hickory Foods, Inc. Settlement
What Happened
An employee named Burkett filed a lawsuit against Hickory Foods, Inc., claiming the company failed to pay overtime compensation owed under federal wage laws. The worker alleged the employer violated rules requiring proper payment for extra hours worked.
What the Court Decided
The case was settled in October 2019. Hickory Foods agreed to pay Burkett $16,000 total. This included $5,688.90 in unpaid wages that the worker should have received, an equal amount in additional damages, and $4,622.20 to cover the employee's legal fees and court costs. A judge approved the settlement after both sides agreed to resolve the dispute.
Why This Matters for Workers
This case shows that employers cannot ignore overtime pay requirements without facing consequences. When workers pursue wage theft claims, courts can award not only the missing paychecks but also extra damages and legal fees. This makes it financially risky for employers to shortchange employees, and it demonstrates that workers have legal options when they believe they've been underpaid for overtime work.
This summary was generated to explain the ruling in plain English and is not legal advice.
Other orders and opinions in Burkett from the same court.
Court rulings like this one are useful, but every situation is different. Take 3 minutes to see which laws may protect you — it's free, private, and no account is required to start.
This ruling information is sourced from public court records via CourtListener.com. Case outcomes, claim types, and summaries are extracted using AI analysis and may be incomplete or inaccurate. It is provided for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
See something wrong, or named in this ruling and want it corrected or redacted? Request a correction.