SHERMAN - A technician for an oilfield services company has filed a lawsuit that claims he lost his job when he complained about not being properly compensated for his time.
Claiming violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act, Dale Little filed suit against Technical Specialty Products, Keith Lear and Donna Lear on Oct. 31 in the Eastern District of Texas, Sherman Division.
According to the allegations, the defendants initiated a new policy as of Sept. 23 in which they did not pay overtime for drive time to the work site.
Little was working as a service technician and compensated on an hourly basis. He claims the defendants did not pay him any overtime pay for hours worked in excess of 40 hours in a week as required by FLSA. During his employment, Little alleges he worked approximately 55 hours per work week and was not compensated for any overtime hours after Sept. 23, the suit states.
According to the complaint, Little alleges he was terminated on Oct. 20 when he questioned the policy of not paying overtime for drive time.
The plaintiff is seeking damages for unpaid overtime compensation, liquidated damages for unpaid overtime, lost wages, interest, punitive damages, attorney's fees and courts. A jury trial is requested.
Little is represented by David Watkins and Jason Windford of Jenkins & Watkins in Dallas.
U.S. District Judge Michael H. Schneider is assigned to the case.
Case No. 4:11-cv-00717