Lazer Spot Drivers’ Overtime Suit Moves to Mediation

0
50

Massive Collective Action Certified

In January 2024, Judge Cohen conditionally certified the collective, stating that the yard spotters were “similarly situated.” Since then, more than 650 drivers who worked for Lazer Spot in Georgia within the past three years have joined the lawsuit.

Lazer Spot pushed back, claiming there was no statewide pay policy affecting all the plaintiffs and that each case would need an individualized review of whether the MCA exemption applied. But Judge Cohen disagreed, citing employee testimony that all had missed out on overtime at some point, and called the company’s legal arguments premature at this stage.

A Legal Chess Match Nears a Turning Point

Co-plaintiff Cornelius Johnson, who worked for Lazer Spot from 2019 to 2022, withdrew his claims in November 2023, leaving Strickland to lead the charge. His own tenure spanned from May 2021 to September 2022.

Signup for the USA Herald exclusive Newsletter

The FLSA mandates overtime pay for hours exceeding 40 per week, except where valid exemptions apply. The MCA exemption carves out certain drivers whose hours are governed by the DOT, but Strickland argues yard spotters don’t qualify since they don’t travel public roads and aren’t bound by those regulations.