Suit claims workers not paid for time traveling to work site

A Southeast Texas company is being sued for allegedly violating federal statutes by not paying its employees for time they spent in transit to a work site.

Claiming violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act, Justin Griffin filed suit against S&B Engineers and Constructors on Feb. 3 in the Eastern District of Texas, Beaumont Division.

Griffin worked for the defendant from approximately December 2010 to January 2011. During that time, he states he was assigned to work at the Motiva Port Arthur Crude Expansion Project.

According to court documents, the employees were required to report to work at a certain location and then be transported to the Motiva facility. After work, the employees would be taken by bus back to the original point of departure.

Griffin states that the time spent in transit each day was approximately 30 minutes.

S&B is accused of negligently and willfully failing to pay Griffin and other workers for their time in transit and for failing to keep adequate records of hours worked.

The lawsuit will represent all employees from Feb. 2, 2008, to present who have been required to report early and complete the day late.

The plaintiff is seeking damages for the wages not properly paid and an additional amount as liquidate damages, plus attorney's fees, court costs and interest.

Griffin is represented by John Werner of Reaud, Morgan & Quinn in Beaumont.

Case No. 1:11-cv-00060