Sterling Savings Bank Sued for Alleged Labor Law Violations, According to Mortgage Bankers' Legal Team
MEDFORD, Ore., Sept. 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Sterling Savings Bank systematically violated federal and state labor laws by denying overtime pay to mortgage loan officers and other mortgage origination employees, the Rowdy Meeks Legal Group LLC and Johnson Johnson Larson & Schaller, PC allege in a lawsuit filed in Oregon federal court.
The lawsuit alleges Sterling Savings Bank and Golf Savings Bank which merged with Sterling in 2010 violated the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), Oregon Wage and Hour Laws, and other state labor laws nationwide, and deliberately misclassified mortgage loan officers as exempt from the overtime requirements.
According to the Complaint, the Banks denied earned wages, including overtime pay, to mortgage loan officers and other mortgage origination employees. Employees allegedly were required to work substantially more than 40 hours per week without overtime pay and were illegally classified as ineligible for overtime pay. The Banks also are accused of deducting from employee wages the Banks' costs of conducting business including such items as credit report fees, appraisal fees, and other fees and items.
The named plaintiffs are mortgage loan officers Micah DuBeau and David DuBeau, both of Medford, Ore. They worked for the banks between 2010 and 2012. They are represented by Rowdy B. Meeks, of the Rowdy Meeks Legal Group LLC, in Kansas City, Mo., and Derek C. Johnson and Jennifer Middleton, of Johnson Johnson Larson & Schaller, PC, in Eugene, Ore.
The law firms will seek to have the lawsuit certified as a class and collective action to recover unpaid overtime wages, the illegal wage deductions, liquidated damages, attorneys' fees, and other litigation costs for overtime-eligible mortgage loan officers who have worked for the banks in Oregon during the past six years.
Rowdy B. Meeks, of Rowdy Meeks Legal Group LLC, said, "FLSA violations have been pervasive throughout the mortgage industry. We allege Sterling Savings Bank willfully violated the FLSA and hope this case and others will convince the mortgage banking industry to comply with labor laws."
The case is "Micah DuBeau and David DuBeau, et al., v. Sterling Savings Bank and Golf Savings Bank," Case No. 1:12-cv-01602-CL in the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon, Medford Division.
Attorney Contact: Rowdy B. Meeks, Rowdy Meeks Legal Group LLC, Kansas City, Mo., 816.977.2741, www.rmlegalgroup.com.
SOURCE Rowdy Meeks Legal Group LLC
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