Thompson v. Federal Bureau of Investigation

**What This Case Was About** This case involved a dispute over unpaid wages on a public construction project. Lion Construction, LLC was accused of violating Tennessee's Prevailing Wage Act, which requires contractors working on government projects to pay workers specific wage rates and fringe benefits. The construction company argued they didn't have to follow the state wage law because it conflicted with federal ERISA rules (which govern employee benefit plans). A lower court initially dismissed the case, agreeing with the company's argument. **What the Court Decided** The appellate court reversed that decision and sent the case back to the lower court for a full hearing. The court ruled that federal ERISA laws do not override Tennessee's requirement that contractors pay proper wages and benefits on public works projects. This means the state can enforce its prevailing wage law even when federal benefit rules are involved. **Why This Matters for Workers** This ruling protects construction workers on government projects by ensuring they can still pursue wage theft claims under state prevailing wage laws. Workers don't lose these important protections just because their employer also has federal benefit obligations. The decision strengthens enforcement of wage standards on taxpayer-funded construction projects.