TYLER - A field engineer has filed a $10 million lawsuit against an oil and gas well company for misclassifying the engineers as an exempt employees and not paying overtime wages.
Joseph Gauthier, individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated, filed suit against Trican Well Service Ltd. on Jan. 9 in the Eastern District of Texas, Tyler Division.
The lawsuit is brought on behalf of salaried field engineers who worked for Trican and were allegedly denied their rights under applicable federal wage and hour laws.
Gauthier was employed by the defendant out of its facility in Longview. He was classified as an exempt employee and was not paid overtime wages, according to the suit.
The defendants are accused of violating the Fair Labor Standards Act by misclassifying employees as exempt.
On behalf of the class members, Gauthier is asking for an award of more than $10 million in damages for unpaid overtime compensation, liquidated damages, civil penalties, interest, attorney’s fees and court costs.
The plaintiff is represented by Josh Sandford of Sandford Law Firm PLLC in Little Rock, Ark.
Case No. 6:13-cv-00046
Class action against oil company seeks $10M for not paying overtime
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