SOUTHEAST TEXAS RECORD

SHERMAN - After being told she was fired for posting a video of her boss on YouTube, a dispatcher has filed a lawsuit which claims she actually lost her job for threatening to file a claim to obtain five years' worth of unpaid overtime.

Claiming violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act, Angelia Kay Hall filed suit against Amon Brian Roper and Roper's LLC wrecker service on Aug. 11 in the Eastern District of Texas, Sherman Division.

Roper's has a contract with the city of McKinney and with Collin County to tow cars from auto accident sites. The defendant also performs private towing services.

Hall was hired by the defendants in April 2006 as a dispatcher until her termination in June. She states that she was required to work more than 40 hours each week but, except for a six-month period during 2007 and from this January to June, she was not paid overtime wages.

According to the lawsuit, she averaged 40 to 54 hours per week, until she began working extra days to cover the time left open by a lack of another dispatcher, then she averaged 70 to 90 hours per week.

Hall was terminated on June 23 for "adverse publicity" to the company, after she posted a video of Roper on YouTube. Hall argues that the reason given for her termination was invalid and that she was actually terminated because one of the drivers told the defendant she was going to contact the Labor Board over the lack of proper overtime pay.

The plaintiff is seeking damages for physical pain, mental anguish, emotional anguish, all unpaid overtime compensation, plus interest, attorney's fees and court costs, lost wages and benefits, liquidated damages and punitive damages.

Hall is represented by Gregory B. Fell and Robert J. Wood Jr. of Fell & Wood in Richardson.

Case No. 4:11-cv-00503