Kinder Morgan overtime $3.56M collective action settlement

Kinder Morgan agreed to a $3.56 million class action lawsuit settlement to resolve claims that it failed to pay inspectors for overtime hours they worked while on Kinder Morgan projects.

The settlement benefits current and former inspectors who were provided to work on Kinder Morgan projects and paid a day rate by one or more of the following vendor companies: 3B Inspection LLC, International Inspecting Inc. doing business as 3I, FIS Operations LLC doing business as Frontier Integrity Solutions, Table Rock Survey LLC doing business as Integrated Consulting & Inspection LLC, Natural Energy Field Services LLC, NV5 LLC, Onshore Quality Control Specialists LLC, Platte River Inspection Services and Kestrel Field Services Inc. The class period for the Kinder Morgan overtime settlement is three years plus 87 days that preceded the earlier of either the date the class member filed or otherwise opted-in to the collective action or May 31, 2021. 

According to the class action lawsuit, Kinder Morgan violated the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) by failing to pay inspectors overtime. Although inspectors were paid a day rate, plaintiffs argue that they were owed overtime wages for hours worked over 40 hours in a workweek.

Kinder Morgan is an energy infrastructure company.

Kinder Morgan hasn’t admitted wrongdoing but agreed to a $3.56 million settlement to resolve the FLSA class action lawsuit.

Under the terms of the settlement, class members can receive a proportional share of the net settlement fund based on the number of valid workweeks they worked during the class period. According to the settlement notice, claimants are estimated to receive $54.52 per workweek. However, actual payments may be higher or lower depending on participation rates.

The objection deadline is March 18, 2024. There is no exclusion deadline for the settlement.

The final approval hearing for the Kinder Morgan overtime settlement is scheduled for June 25, 2024.

In order to receive settlement benefits, class members must submit a valid claim form by April 22, 2024.

Who’s Eligible

Current and former inspectors who were provided to work on Kinder Morgan projects and paid a day rate by one or more of the following vendor companies: 3B Inspection LLC, International Inspecting Inc. doing business as 3I, FIS Operations LLC doing business as Frontier Integrity Solutions, Table Rock Survey LLC doing business as Integrated Consulting & Inspection LLC, Natural Energy Field Services LLC, NV5 LLC, Onshore Quality Control Specialists LLC, Platte River Inspection Services and Kestrel Field Services Inc. The class period for this settlement is three years plus 87 days that preceded the earlier of either the date the class member filed or otherwise opted-in to the collective action or May 31, 2021.

Potential Award

Varies

Proof of Purchase

N/A

Claim Form

NOTE: If you do not qualify for this settlement do NOT file a claim.

Remember: you are submitting your claim under penalty of perjury. You are also harming other eligible Class Members by submitting a fraudulent claim. If you’re unsure if you qualify, please read the FAQ section of the Settlement Administrator’s website to ensure you meet all standards (Top Class Actions is not a Settlement Administrator). If you don’t qualify for this settlement, check out our database of other open class action settlements you may be eligible for.

Claim Form Deadline

04/22/2024

Case Name

Oates v. Kinder Morgan Energy Partners LP, Case No. 5:19-cv-01171-SLP, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma

Final Hearing

06/25/2024

Settlement Website

OatesKMSettlement.com

Claims Administrator

David M. Oates v. Kinder Morgan Energy Partners LP
c/o CPT Group, Inc.
50 Corporate Park
Irvine, CA 92606
OatesKMSettlement@cptgroup.com
888-602-3304

Class Counsel

Michael A Josephson
Andrew W Dunlap
JOSEPHSON DUNLAP LLP

Richard J (Rex) Burch
BRUCKNER BURCH PLLC

Michael Burrage
WHITTEN BURRAGE

Defense Counsel

LITTLER MENDELSON PC 

GABLE GOTWALS