Christine Hines; Mary A. O'connor v. State Room, Inc.; Longwood Events, Inc

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Before

Howard, Ripple,*fn1 and Selya, Circuit Judges.

Christine Hines originally brought this action in Massachusetts state court against the State Room, Inc., where she formerly was employed.*fn2 In the amended complaint, which was before the district court following removal, Ms. Hines and her coplaintiffs sought unpaid overtime wages that they claimed were due under the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”), 29 U.S.C. §§ 201-219, and related state statutes. In addition to the State Room, Longwood Events, Inc., Belle Mer, Inc. and James Apteker were named as defendants. After various further amendments, including the addition of counterclaims, and following discovery, the defendants sought summary judgment on the wage claims. The defendants asserted that the plaintiffs were exempt from the overtime requirement because they were administrative employees under the FLSA, 29 U.S.C. § 213(a)(1). The plaintiffs countered that their work did not involve sufficient discretion to satisfy the exemption. The district court determined that the duties of the employees did involve substantial discretion and, under our precedent, the exemption was applicable; accordingly, partial summary judgment was entered for the defendants. The plaintiffs now appeal. They continue to contend that their employers have failed to demonstrate that they acted with any meaningful discretion and, therefore, to carry the burden of demonstrating the applicability of the exemption. Because the district court correctly applied governing legal principles, we affirm the judgment of the district court.

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