PNC Bank Overtime Lawsuit Settled for $6 Million

An Illinois federal judge has granted approval for a $6 million settlement that brings an end to a PNC Bank overtime lawsuit brought by a group of assistant bank branch managers who were allegedly denied overtime pay.

U.S. District Judge Amy J. St. Eve signed off on the deal between defendants Pittsburgh-based PNC Bank and PNC Financial Services Group, and a collection of more than 600 class action plaintiffs.

The parties had presented the settlement agreement one day earlier, on Nov. 28.

“The settlement in this case easily meets the standard for approval,” the request said. “The settlement was the result of pre­suit investigation, extensive discovery, motion practice, and substantial arm’s-­length negotiations.”

About the PNC Bank Overtime Lawsuit

In November 2015, named plaintiffs Domonique Natasha Briggs and Samar Hassan filed the putative PNC Bank overtime lawsuit. Both Briggs and Hassan had worked as assistant branch managers at PNC locations in Chicago between 2011-2013.

Each said they had routinely worked more than 40 hours per week and sometimes as much as 60 hours per week, but were only paid for 40 hours of weekly work.

According to the PNC Bank overtime lawsuit, the pair, along with other assistant managers were classified as salaried employees, exempt from the overtime pay requirements specified in the federal Fair Labor Standards Act and the Illinois Minimum Wage Law.

However, the plaintiffs alleged this classification violated those laws, as their primary duties were more akin to those performed by tellers and other hourly employees who would be owed overtime pay under the federal and state wage laws.

PNC had challenged their assertions, and had attempted to prevent the PNC Bank overtime lawsuit from becoming a class action.

In March, however, Judge St. Eve certified classes of additional plaintiffs, eligible to join the PNC Bank overtime lawsuit nationally under the FLSA and within Illinois under the state wage law.

Within weeks, about 620 additional plaintiffs had signed on to join the class action, court documents said.

Under the terms of the PNC Bank overtime lawsuit settlement, Briggs and Hassan will receive $12,500 as incentive awards for their part in bringing the class action. Additionally, the settlement provides $2 million (or one-third) for plaintiffs’ attorneys fees.

Eligible Class members will receive a payment dependent on their length of service and other conditions. On average, class members could expect to receive about $2,011 each.

Should You File an Overtime Lawsuit?

Under the law, when a company is found to be in violations of overtime pay laws, they are generally required to pay the employee double the amount of overtime wages as a penalty for violating the law.

Not only does filing a overtime pay lawsuit allow you the opportunity to stand up for your rights, it can help you recover valuable overtime wages that you are owed by law.

The Settled PNC Bank Overtime Lawsuit is Briggs et al. v. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. et al, Case No. 1:15-cv-10447, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

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