An Ohio federal judge has officially approved a $30,000 settlement in the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) overtime lawsuit against a Zoup restaurant franchisee. The decision comes after U.S. District Judge Sarah D. Morrison initially rejected the agreement, later determining that the revised terms were fair and reasonable.

Judge Morrison granted final approval on Tuesday, noting that the updated consent judgment clearly outlines how much compensation each affected employee will receive from James D. Weaver, the operator of several Zoup franchises. The lawsuit stemmed from allegations that Weaver violated the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) by failing to pay workers the required overtime wages.

Judge’s Concerns Addressed in Revised Agreement

The court had initially denied approval due to a lack of information regarding the potential range of employee recovery. Additionally, Judge Morrison expressed concerns over the franchisee’s lack of legal representation. However, in her final decision, she acknowledged that Weaver had since consulted an attorney before moving forward with the agreement.

Weaver managed the Zoup locations under J&T Weaver Inc., J D Weaver LLC, and MBM Weaver Enterprises Inc., operating in Columbus and Westerville, Ohio. According to the DOL’s complaint, the businesses did not properly compensate employees for overtime hours worked beyond the standard 40-hour workweek.

Case Details

The case, titled U.S. Department of Labor v. J&T Weaver Inc. et al., is filed under case number 2:24-cv-04225 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio. With the DOL Zoup wage deal approved, affected employees can now expect their rightful compensation.