Dollar Tree Employees File Unpaid Overtime Class Action Lawsuit

A group of current and former Dollar Tree employees filed an unpaid overtime class action lawsuit against Dollar Tree, claiming that the company violated overtime rules in 48 states.

The lead plaintiffs in the unpaid overtime lawsuit, Theresa Croy, Kimberly Cruz, and Dee Crouch, claim that Dollar Tree both required and permitted their employees to work overtime and off-the-clock hours without proper compensation.

There are 4,209 other plaintiffs involved in this unpaid overtime lawsuit as well, all of which are current or former Dollar Tree Hourly Associates or Assistant Store Managers.

According to the Dollar Tree unpaid overtime lawsuit, hourly Associates and Assistant Store Managers are forced to work off-the-clock when performing certain duties for their job.

These duties include making bank deposits, working during meal periods, and performing jobs like unloading trucks, stocking inventory and cleaning, among others.

The Dollar Tree lawsuit claims that this was unpaid overtime, violating both federal and state wage and hour laws.

This unpaid overtime lawsuit was filed on November 28, 2011 in Illinois, and it was later transferred to Virginia. The case was conditionally certified as an unpaid overtime class action on October 2, 2012.

The Court had denied the first two motions for approval of a possible settlement, citing inadequate evidence for the amount requested for attorneys’ fees and expenses.

However, the two parties’ Third Joint Motion for Approval of Settlement for $600,000 was recently approved. The accompanying Petition for Approval of Attorneys’ Fees and Expenses was only partially granted.

While the petition asked for approval of $1,575,000 in fees, the Court reduced this fee request to $1,000,000, which they approved.

Unpaid Overtime Class Action Lawsuits

There are a series of both federal and state wage and hour laws put in place to protect workers and ensure they are treated fairly.

However, many workers across the country do not know the protections that the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) offers, which can lead to employers taking advantage of them, in some cases requiring unpaid overtime work despite the illegality of doing so.

Some workers may find themselves unable to file wage and hour complaints like unpaid overtime lawsuits because they are not aware of FLSA rules. Other workers may be afraid that their employers will retaliate if they speak up about FLSA violations like unpaid overtime.

However, to protect workers who help to enforce FLSA rules, laws also exist to protect workers from discrimination based on wage and hour complaints.

If you have worked for an employer like Dollar Tree that has failed to adequately follow the Fair Labor Standards Act or state labor laws, such as unpaid overtime requirements, you may be able to either join a wage and hour class action lawsuit or file a suit of your own.

The Dollar Tree Unpaid Overtime Class Action Lawsuit is LaFleur v. Dollar Tree Stores, inc., et al., Case No. 2:12-cv-363, in the U.S. District Court for the Norfolk Division of the Eastern District of Virginia.

Join a Free Wage & Hour Class Action Lawsuit Investigation

If you were forced to work off the clock or without overtime pay within the past 3 years, you have rights – and you don’t have to take on the company alone.

Get a Free Case Evaluation Now