MARSHALL - An employee of an East Texas oil field equipment company has filed a lawsuit which claims he was terminated for complaining about being improperly classified as a salaried employee.
Claiming violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act, Marcus Peugh filed suit against Lufkin Industries Inc. on Aug. 8 in the Eastern District of Texas.
Peugh worked for the defendant as a parts master scheduler. He states he was misclassified as a salary/exempt employee and was not compensated for overtime wages.
According to court documents, Peugh questioned whether his position and job duties met the requirements of the FLSA for an exempt employee and met with human resources in March. A few days after his meeting, he was terminated.
Peugh states his termination was in retaliation for his complaints of the wage violations.
The plaintiff is asking for an award of damages for unpaid wages, liquidated damages, front pay, lost wages, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, loss of earning capacity, punitive damages, and attorney's fees and costs.
Peugh is represented by Tyler attorney William S. Hommel Jr. A jury trial is requested.
U.S. District Judge T. John Ward is assigned to the case.
Case No. 2:11-cv-00352