Sanford Heisler, LLP Files $50 Million Nationwide Class Action Lawsuit Against MetLife For Failing To Pay Overtime
NEW YORK, Feb. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- MetLife, Inc., the nation's largest insurance company, knowingly failed to pay their employees over $50 million over the last three years. That's the allegation at the heart of a nationwide class action lawsuit filed today in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut by the law firms of Sanford Heisler, LLP and Schneider Law Firm, LLC.
The lawsuit seeks unpaid overtime wages for Claim Specialists who worked on long term disability insurance claims ("LTD Claim Specialists") for MetLife and two of its subsidiaries, Metropolitan Life Insurance Company and MetLife Insurance Company USA.
According to the Complaint, LTD Claim Specialists principally gather information from disability claimants, collect medical data, and compile other information required to process disability claims. Lead Plaintiff Stephanie McKinney, a former LTD Claim Specialist, alleges that she and others often had to perform this work outside of office hours. "LTD claim specialists regularly work between 45 and 60 hours per week," says the Complaint. Yet, Ms. McKinney alleges, for over three years MetLife hasn't compensated her and other LTD Claim specialists for these overtime hours.
"Claim Specialists are the foot soldiers of MetLife's long term disability insurance business," explains Michael Palmer, Co-Chair of Sanford Heisler's Wage & Hour Practice Group. "Working long hours, Claim Specialists perform their duties under the tight control of a company which refuses to pay them for their many hours of overtime. Through this class action lawsuit, Ms. McKinney seeks to recover wages which rightfully belong to her and other Claim Specialists."
According to the Complaint, MetLife used to pay its LTD Claim Specialists hourly wages and overtime pay. But in November of 2013, MetLife "reclassified" LTD Claim Specialists and stopped paying them overtime, without any change in LTD Claim Specialists' job duties. According to the Complaint, MetLife made the change as a "cost-cutting measure."
"This is impermissible," says Jeremy Heisler, Managing Partner of Sanford Heisler's New York Office. "Employers can't shirk their overtime obligations by simply 'reclassifying' hourly employees."
Ms. McKinney seeks to recover damages, including unpaid wages, on behalf of herself and a class of LTD Claim Specialists. She also seeks an injunction against MetLife to require the Company to change its wage practices going forward.
"There are important public interests at stake in this lawsuit," explains Mr. Heisler. "Overtime laws help to prevent companies from gaining a competitive advantage by underpaying and overworking their employees. These protections are profoundly important, especially in today's difficult economic climate."
About Sanford Heisler, LLP
Sanford Heisler, LLP is a public interest class-action litigation law firm with offices in New York, Washington, D.C, San Francisco and San Diego. Our attorneys have graduated from the nation's top law schools, clerked for judges throughout the United States, and amassed extensive experience litigating cases that have earned over one billion dollars for our clients.
The Firm specializes in civil rights and general public interest cases, representing plaintiffs with employment discrimination, labor and wage violations, employee benefits, predatory lending, whistleblower, consumer fraud, and other claims. Along with a focus on class actions, the firm also represents individuals and has achieved particular success in the representation of executives in employment disputes. For more information go to sanfordheisler.com or call 202 499-5200 or email [email protected]. For the latest news, visit our newsroom or follow us on Twitter at @sanfordheisler
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SOURCE Sanford Heisler, LLP
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