Levitt Ends Fair Labor Standards Act Case

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Levitt Ends Fair Labor Standards Act Case

In a legal showdown that kept the courtroom on the edge of its seat, a New York law firm, Levitt LLP, has agreed to a groundbreaking settlement in the high-stakes Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) case. The case, brought by former paralegal Debra DePietro, alleged egregious violations spanning nearly eight years of employment.

Tense Negotiations Culminate in a $40,000 Triumph

In a dramatic twist on Friday, DePietro and Levitt LLP presented a jaw-dropping proposal to a federal judge, putting an end to the protracted legal battle. The proposed $40,000 settlement, a colossal win for DePietro, encompasses not only FLSA grievances but also a faithless servant counterclaim that could have amounted to a staggering $500,000 against her.

“This settlement eclipses what I could have hoped for in a trial under the FLSA,” asserted DePietro before the court. “It shields me from the looming threat of Levitt’s counterclaim and spares both parties from the burdensome and costly ordeal of prolonged legal proceedings.”

Wage and Hour Violations Unveiled

DePietro’s initial lawsuit, filed in May, exposed a web of wage and hour law violations allegedly perpetrated by Levitt LLP and its senior partners, Steven L. Levitt and Karen L. Weiss. The former legal assistant claimed she toiled without compensation for additional hours before and after her official shifts, estimating around three and a half hours per week.