They'll Talk About It

Both sides in the Federal Labor Standards Act (FLSA) lawsuit filed by Patrick Perry and 85 others could come to a resolution December 12-15 as they will attend mediation in Jackson.

The FLSA is a federal labor law that establishes a minimum wage, regulates overtime pay, and sets limits on child labor.

Attending the mediation will be Hardeman County Mayor Todd Pulse and County Commissioner Bobby Wright. Wright was voted to represent the county commission during the regular meeting of the commission on November 21. Later in the meeting, Wright seconded the motion by Commissioner Johnny Lanier  to have the county decline mediation, but that move was voted down by a 10-2 margin.

In May of 2019, Hardeman County Sheriff’s Investigator Patrick Perry was joined by 85 others suing the county for failure to pay overtime properly and failure to compute benefits. The plaintiff sought damages for overtime violations, liquidated damages, failure to pay accrued benefits (comp time, vacation and holiday hours) at the end of employment, and the payment of plaintiff’s attorney fees.

Two more lawsuits were brought in June of 2021, alleging pushback for the original suit, saying the county and mayor retaliated against the plaintiffs for asking that their FLSA rights be considered.

In March of 2023, the motion to pass a settlement of $2.999 million came up one vote short of the nine votes needed to approve it. Also in March, it was offered by the plaintiff’s lawyer, William Sessions, to accept an attorney’s fee of $2.9 million.

On April 18, the Hardeman County Commission countered the $2.99 million offer made by Sessions with $1.2 million.

Sessions responded by increasing the settlement offer to $3.35 million and accused the county of negotiating in “bad faith.”