Washington Supreme Court Denies Appeal in Wage Case (HKM Employment Attorneys PLLC)

SEATTLE, Dec. 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- On December 6, 2012, the Washington Supreme Court denied an appeal in a closely watched overtime lawsuit.  The ruling marks the end of a three-year legal battle that resulted in a judgment for $24,406 in overtime pay and a $700,000 bill to the company for the employee's legal fees. 

Andrew Fiore was a territory manager for PPG Industries.  He worked at Lowe's hardware stores maintaining "chip racks" and sales displays for Olympic Paint and Stains.  In December 2009, Fiore sued for overtime pay contending that PPG intentionally violated Washington wage and hour laws.  When the dust settled in the hotly contested case, a King County Superior Court Judge awarded Fiore $24,406 in wages and nearly $600,000 in attorneys' fees and costs.

Things grew worse for PPG.  On July 2, 2012, the Washington Court of Appeals upheld the case and attached an additional $78,000 in attorneys' fees.  On December 6, the Washington Supreme Court denied PPG's appeal and approved Fiore's request for additional fees for the Supreme Court appeal.  This ruling effectively ends the litigation, which will result in a judgment against PPG for Fiore's overtime wages, plus a bill for more than $700,000 in Fiore's legal fees.

"This case should not have dragged on for so long," stated Andrew Fiore.  "We really did try to be reasonable from the beginning, but for three years the company kept bringing in more lawyers instead of just paying me the overtime I worked.  Our only choice was to fold under the pressure or to fight back.  I am thankful that the courts recognized the position PPG put us in."

"This is an important victory for every employee in Washington," said Fiore's attorney, Patrick L. McGuigan of HKM Employment Attorneys PLLC.  "This case shows why workers are awarded their attorneys' fees in court.  An employer cannot violate employee rights and get away with it by making litigation so expensive that workers can't afford to recover their wages.  Employers are on notice that these tactics will not pay." 

HKM Employment Attorneys PLLC represents employers and employees in employment disputes.  Documents regarding Fiore v. PPG Industries, Inc. can be found at www.waemploymentlaw.com.  For more information, contact Patrick L. McGuigan at HKM Employment Attorneys PLLC. 

CONTACT:

HKM Employment Attorneys PLLC
www.waemploymentlaw.com

Patrick L. McGuigan
(206) 826-5374
[email protected]

SOURCE HKM Employment Attorneys PLLC