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HomeMy WebLinkAbout96-04768 II !, , " ... " ~ , , .'1 , ,i , " , !iil j ,', , II L Ii, I , (:1 :' 'I! " " , I'" ;'1 If II,' I " r " L .1 ::.t'l I 1\ " " I V i! 'I , ! ,., I; " i , ~ ,/ 'I " , " f Ii it!, , I , , i! " I. , !\ "'1 " ~ I , I' Ii ~: I "I.t II , , I it " I " ,. , , , J I. 'I I' " I , " " ,,' I: " , , , p I' n ',' 1,1 ~ 1'1 II I, " I I" 'I " "I " , 'I I l! : I' I I I " I " 'I ..... " " , ~ , I, , , I 'I I II: " I , ., ~" ' I. , " 1/11' ,I , , I: , " , ,I " , 'I i, I , , r I I, '" \ " " , ., I, " " 1" J" , ,I. " I , I , " , " , 1.1 I' , " I' " , , i , , , ., , , , ,I , " " , il ~ 'I , 'I " , , il , --.s I, ~ '. " I " 1 " 1'1 " ." ;1,1 , , ,I \ " , " I" , I , , , ~ I 1 :' , , " '1 I" " 1.1, ,I,.\i I: , , '111'.ii, " ,',I .. ~' , " WIISLIIY R, WOL'J'Itl, Plaint: itr v. 11'1 'l'HII COUR'l' Ol' COMMOI'I Pr.JU\s 011 COMDIIRLAHP COUN'I'Y, PIII'INSYJNN'/IA 1'10, 915-47158 CIVIL 'I'IIRM I'IIIWVILLII nOROUGH WATIIR and SIIWIIR AU'l'HORI'I'Y and NBWVILLII aOROUGH, 4 WIIS'J' S'rRIE R'l', NIEWVILLIE, PA CIVIl, AC'I'ION-l,AW JURY TRIAL DIlMANDRP '~RB'J' ~.J] CI,)HIIl1AIlfT i. Plaintiff is Wesley Wolt~, an adult individual who ourrently resides at 17 Walnut Street, Newville, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. 2. Defendants are the Sorough of Newville and/or Newville Borough Wat~r and Sawer Authority with offices at .. West Street, Newville, Cun~erland County, Pennsylvania. 3, Plaintiff was employed by the Defendants 6S an assistant plants operator in the Borough Water and S~wer Department. 4. The Plaintiff was paid an hourly wage for a forty hour work week scheduled from Monday to Friday, Plaintiff was requ!.red during this forty hour work week to be fully engaged .in activities for the Borough Water and Sewer Department. S, In addition to his regular forty hour worlt week, the Plaintiff was required by the Defendants to conduct tests on alternate weekends and holidays, 6. Due to the requirement of oonduoting the t.Qt. the Plaintiff wa. not free to enjoy hie alternate weekend. and holiday. aB he waB engaged thoQe days in the furtheranoe of the Defendant employers bUBiness. 7. The Plaintiff was not oompellBated or otherwise paid by the Defendants for theBe required activities on alternate weekends alld holidaya. COUNT I O. The Plaintiff inoorporetQB paragraphs one (1) throulj/h seven (7) herein by referenoe. 9. Tbe failure to pay the P leJ.ntiff for hiB work on alternate weekends and holidaYB waB a violation of the "Fair Labor Standards" 29 uses S 201 et Beq. 10. Pursuant to the aforementioned statute the Plaintiff makes olaim against the Dsfendants for unpaid wageB for all days worked. plaintiff makes claim for hiB regular hourly wage rate for eight hourn each day he waB required to conduct teBtB on his daYB off and overtime at time and a half for all weeks in whioh his hours exceeded forty(40). ~Lll 11. The Plaintiff JncorporateB paragraphs one (1) through ten (10) herein by reference. 12. Pursuant to 29 uses S 201 et aeq. the Plaintiff make. claim against the Defendents for liquidated damageB equal to the amount of the wages due. aotllf'l' % :u: 13. The Plainti~~ incorporatea paragrapha one (1) through twelve (12) h$rein by reference. 14. PUI:auant to 29 uses ~ 201 et lieq" PlaintH f maklllll cJ,aim against the Defendants for payment of rl'lasonablf9 attorney f~ea and costs. Plaintiff haa engaged the Law 'i~n of O'Srien, 13aric, ,. Scherer pllrsuant to an agreement, a copy o~ which il'l attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference. WIIBRBFORS, Plaint.iff requests that the Court award him damages for unpaid wages, liquidated damages, reftaonable attorney fees and costs. COUNT IV 15. Plaintiff incorporat~s paragraphs one (1) through fourteen (14) herein by reference. 16. Pursuant to Plaintiff's employment, the employer provided a written contract, A copy of that contract is attached to this Complaint and incorporate" herein by reference. 17. During the years that Plaintiff was employed by Defendants, his hourly wages were as follows: 19891 $6.50 19911 $8.28 19931 $8.79 1995: $9,41 19901 1992: 19941 19961 $6.84 $8.53 $9,05 $9.41 18, Pursuant to the applicable statute of limitations the Plaintiff makes claim for unpaid wages for all days worked for six years prior to the date of filing. Plaintiff makes claim for CONTX~QmN~ flm ^OPI~ l'\NOW ~L Mmf IY 'rBJlU JilNlISZN'1'1S I ., 'I'I! if " '?" '.'t4 ~ '!: ~ ,. ... ~ ., .\1' . 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'::'.~ 't:~~":5r, -::r.:er.': ... rl .....,..".... ...... II'.' ........ ~I\:'': ii,,:,::ri,v'.', NOW, 'rlDlP.III'ONl I :..r. .:cr.3 :'.,1ers. ': ~ ;rf ... . . ':rt~ ,ft!rt/~~ts . . .~ l:e sc =~rl'Ja='3,j Cl/ ';nl,'.':":,: ::]a:.i l~~'::'rl'tl/ ~':, ".~:! ~t:'.:~te::!~'~r.l':' 'J"t:''',''~'':':! ":"~~~.... .('~. t=19:':en': ,;~ ','ir..!':l!?tit' :!I~rr. ~.:! ;ta'.~~'ltfrtf'J .a:! a t"4i:!U':'!: .:~ ;!~':'::~men': ',"~':hct~': ::!'Ji':.l ~:' ~'"r''''' ''''''I ~lfr':'er\~ ~" ~hoa II'/IIU\': ~U~~ ~~ ~~:~O :r ~::..a: :.~ ~e:J' p:us ~a~~s~4'~ ~Xp~~~~5 ~n~urre~ ~n '::--,~ -. .... ..~ ...."".. ':':'.'~r.,: lir.... :'i':':"~ ": I AND NOW, ... '..... of " -. ...... ..: ........ .'1r:': ~ ::", '. .~ ~... I ~.l'.' ~~~ 1~~~. :~nt~n~.n~ :':1.. ,:'..;::-Q'ir.1e:r.': ~,a.! ::~"rf ::"i~Ll, l~p t:':tf.~ : t....... ,'f... ;r.l::~':~C:J ~.. ~ i :na.. ';s ;n'.1 -:;.l:i .J =o:J:a~1= ': : .:P'/ ': :".t.;~"..~ ,:' i ...,Fo) ~~rm:! '!4:': ~or'::-, 'p.:.:r,,".'I. ':"~}~'1, . ~ . ~...-: l~=~\!al:.!.e. I t () :.JJ1/ l -g'11 ~ _ (.1&. . ~ /1).1--' -' ~.... " JOB IJt::.SCIU1'l'lON I. &cl~ourd I Name Pepllrtmont ~ Llorough 1~lIter /lnd SO\oXlr J}Jpllrtn~nt PositLon - MNLatllllt !'lllnts Operator Job Cluss ~ WlltOl' /llld Sl!\oXIr S)lstfilll6 Opel'lltllr II. OefLlI/ltlonl 'lhis posLt1oll re'lu1n.ls Ilss1stJ.ng 1.11 tho flIllJ.nten.onco Ilnd opol."IIt1011 of ' tho Wotor 1111<1 Sowr 'I'nmLlIIunt I'lullts. 'lhl.s posl.tLon J.nvolWl/l tOlltingl nVl1ntoluII1ce, nnd record IIl.!epLIlM lllsks with1n the pl.llnts. lMintonnncll of the wator nnd SOWOl' llr)~B t1l1:oughout tho system, Bt~J IIlllO IIlnlnton/lnco of the grOUlwJS /Ill /ll'OUIlO Lho ,;oWlIl' plnnt. [rr. IT.l<IJlllpJ,es o( \oJork l'el:(Ol1l1ed: A. SeI\'Or: L. Tests Wilstowlltl'r per10dlcnlly throughout tl'O/ltlllOl1t I'roCli/l/l. T'i!sts 11lc111de tul<illg the I'll of inl'Luont, offlul1llt, the COl1tllct tUl~<, the reaorntioll tank, al1d digesters 1 /ll1d :1; tlll{lllg IJ dLssol,ved oxygen rending on the sOllie t/ll1l(1; i r\1I11l1ng IJ sett/lbJe flOl1dB test on 1nfluent, effluent, contact tnn],. IIlId n?IIQI'ot10I1 tanl, dotly, Hnd 011 d1gestcr 1 /111<1 2 weeklYI l:Ctt1l1ing II Bus{x'I)lcd soUds l'Qst 011 the conCoct and rellernt1ol1 tOI1Iu; \J1on ochQ(llIll'd; IJnd ont:e pl!r wl'el, un 1.nfluollt nnd effluent I rUl1nl.ng u fl!cnl t:olHOl1l1 ll'st onco {XlI: weill Bl1d nll1J11.ng II 5-<lay biochanicnL oxygen del1wlt~1 te~t rUICl! I"n' woul<. 2. Jlecords the l'eslIlts of t'1sls Oil vnri"-'5 fOlll1S 1.n lugibLe wrl.ting l\1\11ch nru ruviuwod bv the Chi ef PLllnt Opernt(l(" 1\~1O furwardn the forms to Stote rQg\lLntOl:y offidllls, \"hcl1 rClI<Hng l1l?tl!l'B out- side the lob, toke nlong n 511111l 1 tobLut or IJ1m:e IJl' paper to Ivrite down the rendings IIno trnnsfer IllDnbcr5 to t 1e flHl110, l'Leaso be vory accurate in rucording those l'clldings. 3. HelpB l1uni tor vnLves, gouges, !.ndiclltors. nnd swJ.tcheu which control the low of WOlter through the plants. 4. Helps reconl gnuge IIl1d indicntor readings. 5. Helps feed chlorine nlld other chcmicllls 1nto t;rented water nnd monitor level of IIdd!.tives. 6. Helps perform I1Ull1lllll lnbar tasl{s sllL:l1 as digging (tried sludge, cLean1ng sewer lines, nm l'epair!.ng broken sewer I.lnes using pick and shovel, 7. Drives dunp trucl< find 11lluL s nway 5 ludgo. B. Helps loointuin sewage plllnt LulLdings, pnint pipes and machinery, lMintllin the fence surn:lllllding the facility. t-bws grass on sewer and water pl.ants property. MIlY bo asked to assist 1n mowing grass 6nN1ere in the Borough. 9. Removes snow from sewllge plant ronds, llnd reports any repairs needed to roads to Chici' Plant qJerutor. Also, assista with snow removal in the Borough. 10. PreEn"", otho,.. rolate<.! task" 110 U""LBTle<.l. U. Inspe'.:t fac1l.i tles with the Ollef Plants OperatOl: daily to detennine efficiency of operation, cleanliness, and I\Illintennnce requJ. rement s. 12. Helps detenn1ne remedial action necessllry during emergencies. 13. />lIst learn lInd have good ~rking knowledge of all. phases of seWIIge treatnK!nt. l4. />lIst ~rI< [or ~ertJ.fication in sewer plant operations. VI" n. Waterr L, lIeLps I1rmltul.' III~ recurd wnter Level IlI1tl preSllure in Hnes UIlU>,. 2. Ilolptl 11~ll.lItlllll prolXlr chlurlllll level In B<ll:ough Wllter suppLy, tllll tll chlodne leVllI II t 1:" 'UN wlltur sIiJl~)les, IInd reauil1{\S. J. Helps 11~I1l1tllln wlitln' HlJppl y "'~il 1'.110111:. 4, llelptl 11~1IiJ.l:u.. 11111.1 l-eOJrr.! rendlnl!s of sules of WIIter to t~'\Icl(S I 5, Halps 11V1ll1tllln wntol' plollt bulld1l1gll. 6. 010ckll thl! l'<XII SpdllH nrl!/I u/lrly uVlJry dny. Hands glll'ile to dllter111ll1e ! f WlIl ".. I H I uw ur I,. it uvurflowa. chocks if any animaLs are clIlJghl: thurn 1lIl<1 1't'IIUVI.! thellll or if the f01lce or gate Mil beun brul,oll 1)1' tllllll'nn~1 Illl h, n'pnir 1 1:, /lnd report it to the thief t).J<lrator, 7. lllecl<..q 11/1"1,((1 UI) h~lt'H' Lnlll(l; 1,lQ<'Id.y. Keup ,the gallRl!S wurl(ing. r(lIport /IllY I)W" L..I l'l'I"ll.r5 or HU/?,gUHtl.'1rI5 to tho c11.l11f Operator. 8. qlOcI~ 011 1IV11l10le ,'nynrs w,),II<1y. 9. Perf 011115 othUl' rel.nted tlllllUl all /lHlligned. IV. C, /i:l11ctrlclll War!, I l. ('1ocl~ olld 11101.ntolllll !!.!l:. ulectrLQl equipl1enc lit aU BorouF)l propertles. . 2. Repnh's and/or instlllls el,l!ctrlcnl lIquipOOl1t AS needed. J. R1!ports to chief Operator any cMllgos or- needed eLectrical H>ttures, e'lHiflllllnL, otc. Cor ialllediate attantl.on, or- to be included in the bJdget. ReoquJ.rlld Knowledge, SId-lis, /Il~ AbiHtil!sl 1. 51ull to p(!rfOnl1l1~lilltellJmCe on motors, pUllpS, valves, aLectJ:"icnl ~rl,. and l'lIorf\ellcy po~r. systems. 2. Skill to perfor111 the provio..llsy mentioned tusts. 3. AbiUty to keep /lccurate records of tests and gauge readings. 4. AbU1ty to perfonn monlllll lnbor tasks involving digging with plck and shovel, elellning floors, rOIll.lving snow, and Ilpwlng grass. 5, Knowledge of basic chemistry, biology, and 11~lth. Minil1/Jl11 Training aOO E><perience 1 1. High School EduclIiton wl.th COlJrses in biology. chemhtry, and math. V. E:qu!.pnent Used I 1. Vnnous types of laboratory equi~nt used to perfonn the assorted tests necessary for the proper operation of the plants. 2. Pick~up truck with attached snow r61Pvn1 blade. :3. I>tlwers and trilll1lors. 4. D-Jr'Vl tt'tlcl<. VII. Licenses Requi red I 1. Valid l'erulsylvania Oriver's License. L1celllm I')OW. 2. License to operate Sewer an:! Water Plants in future. VIII. Worl<.J.ng (bOOLtions: l. Varied conditions SOllCtil11es involving IIlAnUlll labor in aU types of woather. 2. Wark curl involve lb1pleasllnt conditiollB while shoveHng sludge, repairing Wtlstewl\ter drul.lls, and clearing clogged sewage lines. WESLEY R. WOLTZ Plainf.iff IN 'rHJJ: COUR'r Of' COMMON I?LEAS OF CUMaERLANO COUN~Y, PENNSYLVANIA NO, 96-4768 CIVIL TERM v. NEWVILLE BOROUGH WA~E~ and SEWER AUTHORITY and NEWVn,LE BOROUGH, 4 WIEST STREIET, NEWVILLIE, PA CIVIL ACTION-~^W JURY TRIAL DEMANPlEn CERTIFICATE OF SERVIC~ I hillreby oertify th/Jt on .1uly 17, 1997, I, Jennifer S. Cal/Jm/Jn, slloretary /Jt O'Brien, B/Jrio & Soherer, dld serVll It copy of the First Amended Compl/Jint, by f.irst olaes U,S, mail, postage prep/Jid, to the parties listed below, /JS followSI Rioh/Jr.d L. Webbor, Jr., Esquire 366 Green Spring RO/Jd P,O. Box 40 Newville, Pennsylv/Jni/J 17241 Attorney/Solioitor for Pefend/Jnt, Borough of Newville end G, BrY/Jn Salzmann, Esquire Salzmann & Depaulis, P,C, P,O, Box 276 1580 G/Jbler RO/Jd Chambersburg, Pennsylvania 17201-0276 Attorney for Defendant, Newville Borou~h Water and Sewer Authority " i' " " !~ ,"" ','.! Ii , " II " I " , ' " !I , i',. , ~ . ,II,~ n m~ eI . j , , . ~ i~ .~ ,jl ~ r4 .-l III .1 , , I I "q " ,; " , , i!, ',01 '~, I . ~ ~ :i~~ ~lEI~ ~~til1li ~Illl"'" .... I m~8 hie , " " Ii' I. , " I/J t I II, , " I, , I f.l I E~f.l ~ii ~~I:l UH oolJ~ lD lClH ..... ~~ 1'H lDl>l>t ~tl~ li f< Ul el lu " , d' , ,P , " , II I 'I III " " I I " [ L, , " , ! , I . , I" , " II 1.', f ...1,; ., I " " :' ,. , " !; ,'I' "I , " 'I , I, I ill " " " I , ' I ',,'" .. I" I , ,;.;' " " II 'I;' , ' ~ ~ e ~ ~ ~ i ~ ! ~ ~ ~ ~ o ~ " " , " r', 'il 'I , "I ',I ;;/' t, , ' j' )., ,I I', , I' , " ., " , ' " I' , , , Ii' , "1 " , , , I, i I ,I 'I 1..'1 I.,' " ,.j " " , I . , . '1 1-,', j' "1 ., , "111 , . J, I. 'I, I' ~.... ~Il ., If: ~~ r;. " "1/; ..'~ , ~., ,I., " , Ii /.1.: I,! , "1 , I",. " q .... , I, h ),; I ., ~.. "'1/.' .. ~f I I/IJ.. 1\ m {1 .,J , I II " I, " I ., 'I' ", III I , i . ~, , 'I , , I I I I I I I I I I \ i ,. , , 111 ~~ '~El Iilr-: vr8~~ ~ ,I !(.f~ frj~; (f)O ~:i '" . I. a ~ , I. iil I~i I dit I, , , I " . fAR i I . " , I I , jl~ I , , I ' I i ,J I .1 IJ , I lIU I .1 eI , ~ <J oR 1 ~ .~ I ~ Ii ~ 11 V)EJ ~x , , , . ~ ~ ~~ I , [., ~;1(,': ~ ',~ I t~ N! ' , ~, il ~I. ..... .,J j 1/; hJI; .- i'eij I . kJ I' il..iI I>~ :;yp I I ~! . '. ~j m ~ " " , , " ,I ! I !I I ~ ~ r.~ ' .. II; 1('1 f: I'tf,ti' Jjti t~ ")~~' I'" 1.;r;J , r/ 'lh' In ') ell \'\J eLl: "':', ~U1 it'.~ It . r-: II; I!.s m '; J " ,I' \! " " ,I v, I I I I I I I I IN THB COURT O~ COMMON P~BAS OF CUMaBR~ANP COUNTY, PBNNBY~VhNIA CIVI~ AC'l'ION - LAW Wl!llLBY Xl, WOL'1'2, plaintiff NBWVIL~B BOROUGH WATER AND SBWBR AUTHORITY Defendant NO. 96-4760 CIVIL TI!:RM llLRBI PLAIN'l'II!'~"'S Mo'r~ON '1'0 AMEND COMPLAIN'1' BEFORE SIIEELY. l'.J.. 1I0FFllR and OLER. JJ. OPINION and ORDER OF COURT At iuua in this oivil. oaso is PLAintiff's motion to amend the complaint. D'lIfllndant has opposed the IRotion on the gr.ounds that (a) the proposed claimll are barred by the applicable IItatutes of limitation, (b) allowanoe of the amendment would be prejudioial to Dllfondallt, and (c) the proposed olaiIRII are not oogniuble for jurisdiotional or other reallonll. Oral ar9ument was held on Plaintiff' II motion on Wednosday, May 28, 1997. ror the reallons stated in thill opinion, the motion to amend will be granted. S'rA'l'EMENT OF FAC'I'S I PROCEDURAL lIIS'I'ORY Plaintiff Wellley R. WoltiE oommenced thb aotion, for the oolleotion of unpaid wagElll, againllt Defendant Newville Borough Water and Sewer Authority by praeoipe for a writ of aummonll, I In rellponlle to Defendant's rule to file a oomplaint, plaintiff filed 400mplaint. Tho oomplaint alleged that Defendant, 411 Plaintiff's former employer, failed to oompensate Plaintiff for overtime hours worked, it lIought relief under the PennBylvsnia Wage Payment I A 1I000nd defendant, the Borough of Newville, hAB been withdrawn from the caBe purBuant to a Btipulation of oounsel. StipUlation, filed February 18, 1997. NO, 96~4760 CXVIL TURK Collection LaW,' Vlaint:.if f maintlll.,", that he Wal amploYld by Defendant until about Augult 27, 1996,' Plaintiff apparently oonoluded during dlloovery that, all a former munioipal employee, he Will bllrred fr.om reoovery under the Wage Payment and Colleotion Law, and on April 21, 1997, lought leave to amend the oomplaint to lubltitute claiml for unpaid wagel under the fllderal l"air Labor Standardl Aot Bnd undQr Vennlylvania conunon law for breach of contraql;, Plaintiff' I propolled amended complaint oontllinl olaiml againllt the Defend~nt for unpaid wagel allegedly owed him by Defendant for hourI worked on daYI off in aooordanoe with IIn alle'iJed employment oontract lignQd by Plaintiff on Hay 15, 1909, overtimo wagel for houra worked per weak over forty, liquidated dama'iJel equal to wagel due, and r.,BIIonable attorney' III fees, DISCU66IOtj A party, undsr Pennsylvllnia Rule of Civil Prooedure 1.033, "by leave of oourt, may lit any time chang" the form of the aotion, correot the name of II party or amend hil pleadin'iJ' The amended pleading may aver transactions or occurrence I which have happened before or after thQ fllin'iJ of the original pleading, oven though they givo riso to a new caUDe of Qction or defenlo, An amondmont , Act of July 14, 1961, P,L, 637, air amended, 43 Pa, C.B, 88260,1 et /loq. (1997 Bupp,). See Plaintiff's complaint, paragraph 10, 2 NO. 96~4760 CIVIL TB~ may be made to oClnfo~m thu pluding to the tvide.loo offered or admitted." Penneylvania oourte "have established ae parameter a polioy that amendments to EllOlldinoas will be llberally allowlild to noun 11 determination of a48f111 on their me..-itll." a"uo v. Y"ma/,,, Hotor Corp" 335 Pa, Super, 311/ 313/ 404 1\.2d 140/ 150 (1984), "I\n amendment will not be allOWlId ... whet'e it IItates II new oauee at. aotion afte~ the IItlltuto of limital:iollll haa run, at' whe~e it will aut'pdae ot' prej udioe the oppoBing pat'ty." Somerllet Hospital v, Mitohell & Assooi"teD/ Pa. Bupet'. ___, ___I 605 A.2d 141, 147 (19961. J\lnendmenh llhould a1ll0 be diullowed "when thGt'e ie no ponibility that [an) apparont dlllfeot oould be oU~od." Spain v. Vioente, 315 Pa, Buper. 135/ 144, 461 1\.2d 033, 1138 (1983), Statute II of limitatiollJLjlB /I p'lr. 1\ oout'1: llhould deny leave to amend a oomplaint if tho oomplaint, aB amended, ill paned by the lltatute of limitationll. SOlllorDot 1I0IJpital v. MitO/IOll & AssociateD, _ Pa, Bupn. _, _, 685 1\.2d 141, 147 (1996). In thie oa8O, the proposed amonded oomplaint aue..-tll groundll fat' ~elief unde..- the fedet'al Fair Labor Btandards Aat and under Pllnnllylvania's common law of oontraots. The statute of 1imitationa for a alaim under tho Fair Labor standardll 1\ot is two yoarll.. Tho goneral IItatute of limitations 29 U.S.C.S. 5255(al (Law,Co-op. 19971. 3 NO. 96.4768 CIVIL TBRH for a broaoh of oontraot ill four yellrll. I "Overtimll Ollmplln/llltion dUe all employee under FLSA ill due ,,"d pllyablll Ilt tho nllKt regulllr pAyday following tho period ill whioh overtime IIBrvioe/l Were r.endered, and an omployell' II olaim for overtime compenllAtioll AoorUe" on eaoh IIUClh pAydAY." Reid v. Solar Corp., 69 l!'. Supp. 626, 629 (N,P. Iowa 1946). A oaUlle of Aotion for breAClh of oontraot generAlly lit isea under tho oommon law when the oontrltot ilf breAohlld - in thill OAlfe, when wagell Were not properly paid, PlAintiff's proposed Amended oomplaint makell several olAimlf undor the federal PAir LAbor StandArds Aot, PLAintiff seekll all u.npaid wagelf for hourB worked during h10 daYII off., li.quidAtlld dsmages equal to the amount due, and reasonable attorneY'1I fees, BVen utilizing the dAte mOllt dirladvantAgeoull to Plaintiff, that of the motion to amend, PLAintiff's olaims AS IlBserted Are not entirely timo~barred. Plaintiff's proposed complaint alllo seeks unpaid wages, under a breaoh of contraot theory, for all daye worked for lIix yearll prior to the date of filing. Again, even if the dAte of the motion to amend is used for purposes of an applioation of tho statuto of limitations, the claim 1111 asserted ill not entirely time-barred,' · Aot of July 9, 1976, P.L. 586, a5 amended, 42 Po. C.S. 55527(9) (1997 SUPp.l. , Tho applioable statute of limitations may aotuallr be four yoars, but this ohange does not affeot the outcome of th II issue, 42 1'a, C.S. 55527(81. 4 NO, 96~4760 CIVIL TSRM Pro~udicCl or,.JJlltair lJurpriso 1:.0 advllrBs parl:.y q/l 11 bar. By their natura, propolled ahlelldmolll:ll to a Qomplaint are of tor ad lIublllequent to the initial tiling and wl11 alWIlYII, at leut in theory, plaoe the advoreo party in a worlle legal position. G~llo v, Y~m~hll Motor Corl", 335 l'a. Super. 311, 313, 404 1\.2d 148, 150 (1984). 1I0wever, the faot that a propooed amondment may be legally di,~advantageoulJ to the adverse party 10 not, in itself, lIuff. ioiont to lllQtablioh prejudioe of a type that will foreoloaEl the arnondment, Timelinan of an amendment is, of oourlle, a hotor to be oonsidered in reviewing 11 motion to amend, but only inaofar ao it preaentll a queation of prejudico in the nature of 10aa of witnellllell or oleventh hour aurpr1oe. Pllottl v. Mobll 011 Corp., 308 Pa. Super. 514, 519, 565 1\.2d 1227, 1229 (1909). "'rhe pOllllible prejudioe mUlIt litem from the faot that thll new a11egationll are offered late, rather than in the original pleading, and not from the faot that the opponent may 10lle hill or her CallEl on the meritll if the pleading ia allowed." Gallo v. Yamaha Motor Corp., 335 Pa. Super. 311, 313, 484 1\.2d 148, 150 (1984) (emphall1o in original). Neither a loall of witnellllee nor an eleventh hour lIurprille ill dilloernibie in the prellent oalle, The 1I01e ballill for dill advantage would appear to bc the paeeage of time, whioh ill inoufficient to conlJtitute prejudioe of the type required. In fact, Pennllylvania courtll have IItated that "the denial of a petition to amend, balled on nothing more than unreallonable delay, ill an abulIe of 5 NO. 96~47CjO CIVIL 'l'BIUoI thu liability praaoribed in either of the preoeding aQntenc'a' [to) be maintained a~ainat any emplQYer (including a public agency) in any Federal o/: 6tate oou/:t of oompetent ju/:hdiction," ~9 U.S.C.6, S~16(bl (Law. Co~ol;l. 1997). Defendant fu/:the/: a/:guell that a wage/employment netion 0/1I1I\ot be b/:ought againllt a lnuniaipal oc/:po/:ation. 'I.'hu Fair I,abor. Standudll 1\ot inoludu a "public agency'" in ite definition of "omployer." 29 U.s.C.S. S~1)3(d) (Law.Co~op, 1997). 'I.'he d/:aftorll of the Fair Labor standardll /\elt clearly intended tho F/li/: Labor Standat'dll 1I0t to /lpply to municipal co/:porationll, Oefend/lnt /llllO appe/lrll to /I/:gue that a munioip/ll oorporAtion oannot be lIued unde/: a oonunon law contraot theory. With oertain exoeptiona, municipal oorpo/:aHonll /I/:e immune from tort /lctionll . The "preoeding lIentonoOIl" lltatel (bl oama1elll right of /lctionr attornoy'o feell and oOlite 1 terminat on of right of /lction, I\ny employer who violatell the provillione of Bection 6 or section 7 of thill 1I0t [29 U.S.C.S. SS 206 or 207] Bhall be liable to the employee or employeos affllcted in the amount of their unpaid minimum wages, or their unpaid oVllrt~ne aompenBation, all the case may be, and in IIn additional uqual amount /IS liquidated d/lmageB. IIny employer who violat:oll the provioiono of BectLon 15(al(J) of thio act [29 U.B.C.S. S 215(a) (31] Bhall be lillble for lIuch legal or equitable relief aB may be appropriate to offectuate the purpollos of section 15(a) (3) [29 lI.S.C.S. 515 (a) (3) J, including without lind,tation employment, reinetatement, promotion, and the paymont of wagoo loot and an additional equal amount as liquidated dall1ageB. , "Public 1\gency" iLl defined, in relevant part, /III government of /I otate, or a political subdivillion of a statu ~9 U.S.C.S. S203(x) (Law.Co~op. 1997 Supp.). 7 "the " . .... NO, 96~4760 CIVIL T~~M Ul'lder thlt volitiolll aubdivitliol'l 'rort Clllimtl Act, Aat ot October 6, 1900, v.L. 1\93, /III /Jmended, 42 PIl. c,a. 11110641 et uq (1997 aUf]p.), 'rhh iIIununity, howltvltr, dolltl not olltenllibly lI)ttel'ld to llotionll in contrllot, Ol;hor VltllnBylvllnill oommon plllu OOUJ:tll havlt oontlidllUd thh iuuo, In /JernlltI/l111 V. Sllllpiro, 4~ Lehi\lh L.J. 404,407, 50 Pll, p, , C.3d 649, 6~~ (1900), the oourt lltatod that "plaintitf llttltmpttl to reoover not on a theory of tOJ:t liability but J:athor on the bllBie of either a broaoh of contract or conetruotive trullt. Thoreforo, the protection afforded by the Political subdivillion Tort ClaimB I\r.Jt ill inapplicable to tho iUlltant matter, and the clerk of oourtB ill not llntitted to eummary judgment on the buill ot govllrnmllntal immunity." 'l'ha court in Gordr.m v. Redevelopment Authority of W/I/!h1ngton, 72 Wuh. cty. Rap. 04, 07, 13 J?a, P. , c .4th 300, 304 (199~), etated that "nowhere in the etatutell ie there any reference to contract olaim/!. aee 42 Pa.e.a. 550522(a) and 854 2( a). Clear and unambiguoull etatutor.y language mUllt be given ite obvioUII meaning,,'. We hold that the etatutee do not bar oontraotual olaime," Thill court findB the reaooning in theBe opinione to be ($ound and dilloernB no reaeon why a plaintiff cannot maintain a contract olaim against a municipal oorporation. ~OtleLUSIOtl The olaime in Plaintiff'lI propoaed amended oomplaint are not totally barrod by the applicable BtatuteB of limitationB, the B 6, Dcnh:d, Al\er reu~olluble 1II\'II~IIUUllolI, l>eli!lIdulIlls Wlthlllll knowledlle 01' Inli.mllullon ~Um~lllIIllo ,i.mll U bell~f u~ I,) Ih\1lrUlh of the UWI'llI~lIt~ of thl~ purullrul)h, ulld prullflheNofl~ delllullded, 7, Denied, Plulllllll' wn~ ~llI1lIMI~UI~d 1i.1I' UII)' Ulld ulI \W~kelld work r~ljulrcd U$ pUll of Plulnllfl'~ Nllulnr Job .tull~~. COUNT I 8, TheuwrlllclIl~ ~elli.lI'lh III purnurnphs Ilhruullh 7 ur~ III~oI111.lI'ul~d herelllund Illude u pnrl hc:reofu~ If fully ~el forlh, 9, Dellled, The ullellntlolls ofptll'uUl'uph 9 s~l forlh ICllul cOII~lu~loIISIO which no ulIswer Is l'IIljulred, To Ihe extentlhuluuunsw~r Is required. Ills denied lhul AIl~w~rllllll>eli!lldulllln ullY wuy \lloluled th~ Full' I.ubor Slundurds Acl. 10. Denied, The ulleuullons of purnllruph 10 selli.lrlh lellal ~on~lu~lolls 10 whleh no ull~wer 15 Icqull'ed. To the eXlellt thulullunswer I~ requlr~d, Itl~ d~nled thut Plulnlll\'ls enlltled to uny uddltlollul wUIl~S frolllthe Answel'inl! Peli!lIdullt, To tbe cOlllrury, Plullltln'wu~ cUll1pen~uted for nil work perlorllled, COUNT II II, TheuVllnllellt~ ~el forth In purul!ruph~ Ithroullh 10 UN Incotporuted heNllIlInd Illude n purt hereof us If fully set forth, 12. Denied, The ullel!lItlons of purul!rnph 12 sellorth lel!ul concluslolls to which no ullswer Is required, To tbe extenlthlltullunswer I~ required, It Is dcnled lhut Pln1l1l111' I~ enlltled 10 uuy lIddltionlll wUlles frollllhe An~wcrlnl! Defeudunl, Furtbermore, It Is denied thall1llllnllll' Is cUlltled 10 IIquldulcd dUllIul!es Ihlllllhe Ans\\lerlllll [)~Ii!lldunt, U).LJJITJJJ 13, Th~ llWl'IllelltN Nul fill'lh III Pllrulll'lll'h~ Ilhl'lluUh 12 lire III~llI'(lorlllull hl/rl/llIllIIlllllllllu llllutt h~I'CufllN Ifl\JlI~ K~t liltth, (4, Delll~d, Thc llllellllllullN uf 11111'1I "I'Ullh I ,I ~Ullill'lh IUYIII uUlluhl~hlll~ hI \\hkh Ilu ulI~\\'ur IN l'e4ulr~d. Tu Ih~ cXlellllhulllllulI~wer I~ I'uqullud, Illh delllud Ihlllllllllllllll'l~ ullllllud lllllllornll~'~ ICUN lllld CONls. CllllJ'fUY. IS, ThllllwrlllelltN Nellill'lh 1IIIIIIrU""U(lhN I Ihl'lluyh I" IIIU IlIuur(lll/'uled hl//'ullllllld IIlllllu U putt hcrlluf UN If I\JII~ NlIllimh. 16. DUlllud. Thll ulluulwll \\'rllln" I~ II Juh Ju~url(lllulIl\lJlIIII ull1(llll~uu UIltIll'J1UI. 17, Allul' l'ulI~ullublu IIIVUMIYllllulI. AII~\\'uI'IIIU I )ulimdllnll~ II'llhlllll kllllwlullyu III' Inlill'lllullon NulllclulIllll "Irfllu hulluf U~ IOlhu Il'ulh Ill' Ihe U\'UI'IIWIII~ ul' Ihl~ 1I11111"I'III,h IIlld (lmul' Ihuruof IN dUfllUlldud, I g, DUllllld, The UIlUl!UIIIIII~ uf IIU/'UYI'U(lh I H ~ullilrlh luyul Ul)lIuhIHlulI~ hI whldlllll UIISWlIr is requlrlld, TOlhllllXIUlIl1 UII ulI~\\'ur I~ ruqull'ud. i11~ dunlud Ihul I'lullllllr I~ ullllllull hI UII~ uddhlollul WUl!U~ Ihllll Allh\\'lIrlllU DufulldulIl. FUl'lhul'IllUrU, AII~lI'urlll" lluli.ollllulIl 111I1l1u~ Ihullhll applicuhlll hlnlUle of IIl11hullulI~ IN Nix ~uur~, WIIEltEI;()JlE, Allh\Wrln" Dul\!lldulll rUN(luclI\Jlly r~llue~l~ Ihlll JUdYfllCIII hu UIlIl/l'UIIIII Ilh litvor ulld U"UhIN11'lulllllll', ... ,"'1 ". it: u', 1-- n- , (~, I III'. I" , l' " , ,-, Ii' ." - , ~\i ~. I' ~ -:t 1-'- I - - ' . Ih {' .,. 1,1 ',I f .,. 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'J" I': ~, .... \ I' ~ .n .1 o!J'l I,) " , , , , ' , , , /' . i i ,,) , I I! , I ~ 1 tl . ~ 11 . ~~ .S ti If ~ ~ :! lat J ! SU V)004 ~ 004 o;~~~ ~ I ~ i ~ ~ i ~ ~ ~ , /lIl ,jol J.~ oi ~ " jd u ~:t~~ N T to t ~ ... III 004 J. ~~ 5 ~ 0\ i . O'"'~ - I ' I Ii 'I i i "' v, I I I I I I I I IN 'rHR COUR'r Ol." COMMON PLRAB Ol." CUMDBIlLAND COUNTY, PRNNBYrNIUIIA CIVIL Ac'rION - LAW WRSLBY R. WOLTZ, PlAi.ntif f NBWVILLR BOROUGH WATER AND SBWBIl AU~HOIlITY Dehndllnt NO. 91\-476B CIVIL 'rBRM IN REI PLAINTIFF'B MOTION TO AMEND~9MPLAINT j3E11'ORB BHI!BLY. P. J.. HOFf:.IID...and OLER,. JJ. OPINION and OIlDER OF COUR'r At iuue in this oivil oue ill PJ,41nt1.ff's motion to Ilmend the oomplaint. Defendllnt hlle opposed the motion on ths grounds that (a) the propoeed claims are barred by the Ilpplioable .tatutel of limitation, (b) allowllnoe of the amendment would be prl;ljudioilll to Defendant, and (0 I the proposed ol41ms Ilre not oogni zable for jurisdiotional or other realons. Oral argument was held on Plaintiff' e motion on Wednesday, Hay 28, 1997. For the reasons etated in this opinion, the motion to amend will be granted. B'rATEMENT OF ~"ACTB r PROCEDURAL llI5TORY Plaintiff Weeley R. Walt? oommenoed this 1I0tion, for the ool1oo1.:1on of unpllid wagee, against Defendant Newville Borough Water and Sewer Authority by praeoipe for a writ of lummons, I In responee to Defendant's rule to file a oomplaint, Plaintiff filed a oomplaint. Th~ oomplaint alleged thet Defendant, ae Plaintiff's former employer, failed to oOlOpensllte Plaintiff for overtime hours worked, it sought relil;lf under the Pennsylvania Wage Payment I A seoond defendant, the Borough of Newville, haa been withdrawn from the oaee pursullnt to a stipulation of oounsel, StipUlation, filed February lB, 1997. NO. 96~476a CIVI~ TERM Colleotion ~aw.' Plaintiff mllintllin. that he wu employed by Defendent until about Augu.t 27, 1996,' Plaintiff apparently oonoluded during dilsoovery that, III a former munioipal employee, he wae barred from reoovery under the Wage Payment and Colleotion ~aw, and on April 21, 1997, Bought leave to amend the oomplaint to .ub.titute olaim. for unpaid wage. under the federal Fair ~abor Standard. Aot and under Penneylvani4 aommon law for br~aah of oontraat. Plaintiff'. propo.ed amended aomplaint oontain. olaim. again.t the Defendant for unpaid wage. allegedly owed him by Defendant for hour. worked on day. oft in aaaordanae with an alleged employment oontraot .igned by Plaintiff on Hay US, 1989, overtime wage. for hout'Ll worked per week over forty, liquidated damage. equal to wageB due, and relllonable attorney'. fee.. DISCUSS ION A party, under PennBylvania Rule of civil Prooedure 1033, "by leave of oourt, may at any time ohange the form of the aotion, oorreot the name of a party or amend hi. pleading, The amended pleading may aver traneaotionB or oaaurrenaeB whiah have happened betore or after the filing of the original pleading, even though they give rieu to a new oaUBe of aotion or defenBe. An amendment , Act of July 14, 1961, P.~, 637, 4B amended, 43 Pa, c.s, 55260.1 et eeq, (1997 SupP.I. See Plaintiff's complaint, paragraph 10, 2 NO, Y6~476B CIVIL TERM may be made to oonform the pleadinv to the evidenoe offered 01: admitted, " Pennsylvania oourts "have e.tablished a. pal:ameter a polioy that amendments to ple.dinqs will be liberally allowed to secure a determination of oues 011 their merit!S." Gllllo v. Yllmaha Motor corp., 335 Pa, Super. 311, 313,484 A,2d 140,150 (19841. "An amendment will not be allowed ... where j,t .tates a new oause of aotion after the statute of limitations has run, or where it will surprise or prejudice the oppoainq party." Somerset Hospitsl v, Mitahell & Assoaiates, ___ Pa. Super. ___, ___, 685 A.2d 141, 147 (1996) . Amendments !Should alBo be dhallowed "where there h no ponibility that [an] apparent defeat oould be aured," Spain v. Viaent", 315 Pa. Super. 135, 144, 461 A,2d 033, 838 (1983). Statutes of limitations as a bar. A oourt should deny leave to amend a oomplaint if the oomplaint, ae amended, is barred by the statute of limitations. Somerset HOlSpital v. Mitohell & Auociates, ___ Pa. Super. ___, ___, 605 A.2d 141, 147 (1996). In this oase, the propoeed amended oomplaint asserts qrounds for relief under the federal Fair Labor Standards Aot and under Penneylvania's common law of oontraots. The statute of limitations for a olaim under the Fair Labor Standards Aot is two years. 4 The general statute of limitations 4 29 U.S.C.S. 5255(a) (Law,Co-op. 1997). 3 tlo. 915-4768 CIVIL 'l'ltRM for a breaoh of oontraot i. four Y.8r.,& ~Ov.rtim. oompen..tion due an employ.. under Ii'UA 11 dl~. and payabl. at the next regull1r payday fOllowlng the periad in whioh av.rtime .ervi..,.. were rendered, and an emplayee' II olaim for overtime oompenllatian aoorue. on eaoh lIuoh payday. ~ Reid v. Sol/lr Corp., 69 11'. Supp. 6211, 629 (tI.D. Iawa 1946). A OIlUIl8 of 1I0Uon for brelloh af oontraot generally ar lies under the oommon law when the oantraot is breaohed . in thi. oalle, when wagell were nat praperly paid. Plaintiff'lI propalled amended oomplaint makell lIeveral olaim. under the federal Fair Labor Standardll Aot. Plaintiff lIeekll all unpaid wag811 far hours worked during hie daYII aff, liquidated damaqell equal ta the amaunt due, and reasonable attorney's fee., Even utilizing the date most disadvantageaulI ta Plaintiff, that of the mation to amend, PlainUf f' s olaimll 811 aBllerted are nat entirely time-barred. Plaintiff's propased oomplaint. alsa seeks unpaid wages, under a breaoh af oantraot theory, far all daya warked far six yeare priar to the date of filing. Again, even if the date af the motian ta amend is uaed for purpollell of an applioation af the IItatute af limitationll, the olaim all aSllerted ill nat entirely time-barred.' & Aot af July 9, 1976, P.L. 586, liB amended, 42 Pa. C.S. 85527(8) (1997 Supp.). , The applioable statute of limitations mllY aotuallr be faur years, but this ohange does not affeot the outoome af th s issue. 42 Pa, C,S. 85527(8). 4 NO. 96-4768 CIVIL TBRM Prejudice or ,untair lurpril' to adverle party al a bar. By the!r nature, propolld amendment II to " complaint arlt oUered lIublllllJuent to the initiAl Hling and will AlwaYII, I;t lltut in theory, place the IIdvltrlle party in II worle legal po"ition. Gallo v. Yamaha Motor Corp., 335 Pa. Super. 311, 313, 484 A.2d 148, 150 ( 1984). However, the fact I:hllt n propolled amondlllent mllY be legally disadvantageo"" ta the adverse party is not, in itself, lIuffioient to IIItablhh prejudice of a type that will foreclosl1 the amendment. Timeliness of an amendment ie, of coul:le, a factor to be considered in reviewing a mo~iQn to amend, but only insofar ae 1t presents a question of prejudioe in tho naturo of lOlls af witnessos or eleventh hour surprhe. Pllottl v. Mobll oll Corp., 388 PI. Super. IH4, 519, 565 A.~.d 1227, 1229 (19891. "'l'he p08llible prejudice must stem from the hat that the new alleglltione are offered late, rather than in the original pleading, ~nd not from the fact that the opponent may lose his or her oase on the merits if thll pleading is allowed." Gallo v. Yamaha Motor Corp., 335 Pat Super. 311, 313, 484 A.2d 14B, 150 (19B41 (emphuis in originall. Neither a loss of witneoses nor an eleventh hour surprise is discernible in the pressnt oase. The sole basio for disadvantage would appear to be the passage of timo, whiah is insuffioiBnt to aonstitute prejudioe of the type required. In faat, Pennsylvania aourts have stated that "the denial of a petition to amend, based on nothing more than unreauonable delay, is an abuse of 5 , NO. 96-4760 CIVIL TERM the liability presoribed ill either of the preceding ..nteno..' [tol be maintained against allY employer (including a publio agenoy) in any Fed.ral or Stete Qourt of oompetent jurisdiotion, " 29 U,S.C.S, S216(bl (Law. Co-op. 1997). Defendant further argues that A wage;',mploymllOt aotion oannot bit brought Ilgainst a munioipal oorporation. 'l'he Fair Labor Standards Aot inoludell a "publio agenoy"' in its defin.lt1on of "employer." 29 U.s.c.s, 5203(d) (Law.Co-op. 19971. The dratterlt of the Fair Labor Standardll Aot olearly illtlllnded the Fair Labor Standardll Aot to apply to munioipal oorporationll. Defendant alllo apP$arll to argue that a munioipal oorporation oannot be Ilued under a oommon law oontraot theory. With oertain elloeptionll, munioipal oorporationll are immune from tort aotione . The "preceding sentenoell" statel (b) ~amaqes, right of aotion, attorneY/II fees and c~lltlll termination of right of action, Any employer who violate II the provillions of. seotion 6 or seotion 7 of this Aot [29 U.S,C.S. 55 206 or 207] shall be liable to the employee or employeee IlHected in the amount of their unpaid minimum wages, or their unpaid overtime oompensation, as the oase may be, and in an additional equal amount as liquidated damageJ.l. Any employer who violatell the provisions of seotion 15(a) (3) of this aot [29 U.S.C.S. 5 2l5(a) (3)] shall be liable for such legal or equitable relief as may be appropriate to effeotuate the purposes of seotion 15(al(31 [29 U.S.c.S. 515 (a)(3)), including without limitation employment, reinetatement, promotion, and the. payment of wages loet and an additional equal amount as liquidated damages. , "Publio Agenoy" 10 defined, in relevont part, aB "the government of a state, or a political subdivision of a state ...." 29 U.S.c.S, 5203(1l1 (Law.Co-op. 1997 Supp.). 7 . - NO. 96~476a CIVIL TERM under the Political Subdivi.ion To~t Claim. Act, Act of October 5, 1980, P,L. 693, aa nmended, 42 Pa, C,8, 550641 et .eq (1997 Supp.), '1'h1. immunity, however, don not o.ten..ibly elttend to action. 1.n contract. Other Pennllylvania CClllunon plu. courte have considered th1. ie..ue, In Hernetein v, Shapirc, 42 Lehigh L.J. 404, 407, 60 Pa. p, & C.3d 649, 652 (1988), the court etated that "plaintiff attempt. to recover not on a theory of tort liability but rather on the bllsil of either a breach of contract or conetructive tru.t, Therefore, the proteotion afforded hy the Pol.ltical Subdivilion Tort Claims Act is in4pplio4ble to the inet4nt m4tter, and the clerk of courts ill not entitled to sUllunary judgment on the basie of governmental immunity." The court in Gordon v. Redevelopmont Authority of Wuhington, 72 Wuh. Cty. Rep. 84, 87, 13 Pa. p, & C.4th 300, 304 (J.992), lltated that "nowhere in the statutu ill there any referenoe to oontract olaim... See 42 Pa.C.S, 558622(a) and 8542 (a I . Clear Ilnd unambiguoue statutory language mUllt be given its obvious meaning. . .. We hold that the statutes do not bar contractual claims." This court finds the reasoning in these opinions to be eound and discerns no reason why a plaintiff oannot maintain a contract claim against a municipal corporation. CONCLUSION The claims in Plaintiff's proposed amended complaint are not totally barred by the applicabls IItatutell of limitations, the 8 , , WlStllY R. WALTZ PlaintUl! v. IN TKI COl1RT 0' COMMON Pl.DS 0' ClJNBlRl.ANP COUNTY, PIlfJfSYl.VA1fXA NO. 96-4748 CIVIL TIRN NlWVILLI DOROUGH WATIR and S!WIR AUTHORITY and NlWVILLI BOROUGH, 4 WlST STRIIT NlWVILLI, PA CIVIl. ACTION - LAW Jt1RY TRIAL OIlMANDIID Dehndant DI'IND~ BOROUGH WATIR AND SmwlR AUTHORITY'S RISPONSI TO PLAINTIF" S MOTION TO AMBND ANP NOW, Pefendant Newville Borough Water and Sewer Authority, by and through its attorneys, Salzmann & PeP.ulis, P.C., files this Response to Plaintiff's Motion to Amend as follows I ].. Mmitted. 2. Penied as stated. It is admitted that via a stipulation filed with the Court that Pefendant Newville Borough Water and Sewer Authority i6 potentially responsible for any judgment which may be rendered in f.avor of Plaintiff. However, it is denied that Defendsnt NWSA is the "responsible Pefendant" in reference to the question of employment at this point in the litigation and strict proof thereof is demanded at trial, 3, Admitted. 4, Admitted. More specifically, Plaintiff did previously seek damages solely under the Pennsylvania Wage Payment and Collection Act. S. Admitted. 6. Admitted, More specifically, the Pennsylvania Wage , . Payment and Collection Act doe~ not apply to municipal corporation~ and authoritie~, 7. Penied lit statQd, Plaintiff should not be permitted to amond his Complaint to sub~titutQ entirely new caU~e~ of action, See, SIIIl:lal v, Carson. MitclJell. Tomhave 6< McKinllly, MD' 8.. .lmu., _Pa, SUper_,665 A,2d 1198, 1200 (1995) I !;arrinoer v, 'railor, 402 Pa Super 197, 566 A,2d 928, appeal denied 1)33 pa 629 (1990), 6::11 A.;!d 576, Moreover, Plaintiff ia attempting to amend the complaint to set forth an action in Pennsylvania Contraot Law as a mQans of circumventing the PQnnsylvl1nia Wage Payment and Colleotion Act. The Pennsylvania Wage Payment and Colleotion Act was enaoted to provide Qlnployees with meana of enforcing employment contracts. The Pennsylvania Wage Payment and Colleotion Act sPQcifically does not ~pply to municipal corporations and authorities. See, /'Iuf fman v, Borol.loh of Melville, 139 Pa Cmwlth 349 (1991), 591 A,;!d 1137. Plaintiff should not be permitted to amend his Complaint to now substituto a RQW cause of action to circumvent the Pennsylvania Wage Payment and Collection Act. By way of further response, Defendant does not waive its rJ.ght to l:aise appropriate iaaues via preliminary objections if the Complaint should be amended, 8. Denied. Plaintiff should not be permitted to file the proposed Amended Complaint to substitute new causes of action. Amendments to pleading should not be permitted when an entirely new cause of action is presented. See, SeDal v, Carson. Mitchell. Tomhave & McKinley, MO's., Inc" _pa Super_, (1995) 665 A.2d 1198, 12001 Carrinoer v, Tailor, 402 Pa Super 197, 586 A.2d 920, appaal daniad 533 Pa 629 (1990), 621 A.2d 576. Moreover, Plaintiff i. attempting to amend the Complaint to .et forth an action in Pennsylvania Contract Law a. a mean. of aircumventing the Pennsylvania Wage Payment and collection Act. The Pennsylvania Wage Paym~nt and collection Act was enact~d to provide employeQIJ with moans of enforcing employment contracts. The Pennsylvania Wag~ PRyment and Col1~ction Act specifically does not apply to municipal corporation~ and authorities. See, Hufeman v. Borouqh of Melvil,a, 139 pa Cmwlth 349 (19911,591 A.2d 1137. Plaintiff should not be permitted to amend his Complaint to now substitute a new cause of action to circumvent ths Pennsylvania Wage Pa~nent and Collection Act, By way of furth~r response, Oefendant does not waive its right to raise appropriate isslles via preliminary obj ectionB if the Complaint should be amended. WHE~EFORE, Oefendant reBpectfully requests that Plaintiff be denied leave to file an Amended complaint substituting new causes of action. Respectfully Bubmitted, Datedl ~ \. l~1'1 an , EBqu re o. ~35 iB, E:Bquire Attorney ID No, 56106 1580 Gabler Road P.O. Box 276 Chambersburg, PA 17201-0276 (717) 263-2121 ~933 North Front Street HarriBburg, PA 17110 (717) 232-9420 AttorneYB for Defendant r! " , , 'I I, I I r' ..II' , I' ~~ , ..1 f' r:l~ )0". j . I I. ,', ,I" ! , , l~ , n" I I r.i I , I-'ll I " II I, ~, I I, I ~ ' I , l:i ,~ I " lJ" ',1 i ,I :' , , I, I , , )! I " " " II. IN 'l'II~~ COUIW Of' COMMON L>LIEI\B Of' CUMIJ~:r\J..ANP COUNTY, I'Ir.NNSYLVANIA NO, 96~476B CIVIL Tlr.P-M WI!:SLI!:Y p" WOL'r1., Plaintiff NICWVILLI!: BOI~OUGH \'IM'Im and BreWICR AUTHORITY and NIl:WVILLIr. BOROUGH, 4 WIJ:S'I' STREET, NE\'IVILLF., PA CIVIL AC'I'ION~l,AW ~OTION TO AMEND 11 Mov$nt is Robert L. O'Brien, F.squire/ attorney for the Plaintiff in the captioned action, 21 Respondent i8 the Newville Boroullh Water and Sewer Authority which by ISllrooment of the parties is tho responsible Defendant in reference to the question of employment. 3) This matter wss initiated by the tiling of s Writ of Sununons. 4) In a subsequent complaint, the Plainti ff raised a claim under Pennsylvania wage and hour provisions. 5) Defendant filed preliminary objectionl3 to thaI; complaint. 6) In reviewinll the law in this ares, Movant hss discovered that the Pennaylvania walle and hour provisions do n~t apply, 7) Movant on behalf of Plaintiff seeks leave to Amend hill Complaint to allelle a violation pursuant to tho Federal walle and hour provisions as well as upon Pennsylvania contract law. , 8) Movant requests that pursuant to Pa, R,C.P. 1033 Plaintiff be permitted to file the attached Amended C?mplaint, Wn:BlJIIlY R. Wotm, ~laintJ.U v. tN ~HIIl COUR~ OF COMHON PLIIlAS or CUMBIIlRLAND COUN~Y, ~mNNBYLVANIA NO, 96-4768 CIVIL TIIlRM Nn:WV!LLn: BO~OUGH WATn:R and aIllWn:R AUTHORITY and Nn:WVILLE BOROUGH, 4 WEST STRn:ET, NEWVILLE, PA CIVIL ACTIONMLAW rUST AMIHDID COMPLAIHT 1. ~laintiff is Wesley Woltz, an adult individual who ourrently residss at 17 Walnut Street, Newville, cumberland County, ~ennsylvania. 2. Defendants are the Barough of Newville and/or Newville Borough Water and Sewer Authority with offices at 4 West Strest, Newville, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. 3. plaintiff was employed by the Defendants as an assistant plants operator in the Borough Water and Sewer Department. 4. The Plaintiff was paid an hourly wage for a forty hour work week scheduled from Monday to Friday. Plaintiff was required during this forty hour work week to be fully engaged in activities for the Borough Water and Sewer Department. 5. In addition to his J:"egu lar forty hour work week, the Plaintiff was required by the Defendants to conduct tests on alternate weekends and holidays. ft. Oue to the requirement of oonductin9 the tests the Plailltiff was not free to enjoy his alternate weekellds and holidays as he was en9aged tbose days in the furthe~ance of the Defendant employers business, 7, The Plaintiff was not compensated or otherwise paid by the Defendanta for these required activities on alternate weekends and holidays. COUNT I 8. The Plaintiff inoorporates paragraphs one (1) thl:ough seven (7) herein by reference, 9. The failure to pay the plaintiff fOI: his work on alternate weekends and holidays was a violation of the 'Fail: [,abor Standards" 29 uses ~ 201 cl ~cq. 10. Pursuant to the aforementioned statute the Plaintiff makes claim against the Defondants for unpaid wages for all days worked. Plaintiff makes claim for his regular hourly wage rate for eight hQurs each day he was required to conduct tests on his days off and overtime at time snd a half for all weeks in whioh his hours exceeded forty(40). COUNT II 11. The Plaintiff incorporates paragraphs one (1) through ten (10) herein by reference. 12. Pursuant to 29 uses S 201 at seq. the Plaintiff makes claim against thQ Defendants for liquidated damages equal to the amount of the wag"s due. ~OU"~...1.U 13, The Plalnti!! incorporatee paragrophs one (1) through twelve (12) herein by ref~renoe, 14. pureuant to 29 USCS ~ 201 lit seq., P laintif! makes olaim against the De!endants tor paymont o! reasonable attorney fees and costa. Plaintitf haa engaged tho wllW Firm o! O'Brien, Bario, & Scherer pursuant to an agreement, a copy of whioh ie attached hereto and incorporated heroin by reference. WHEREFORE, Plaintiff requeats that the Court award him damagee for unpaid wages, liquidated damages, reasonable attorney fees and costs. COUNT IV 15. Plaintiff inoorporateo paragraphs one (1) through four.teen (14) harein by referenoe. 16. purouant to Plaintiff I a employment" the employer provided a written contraot. A copy of that contract is attaohed to this Complaint and incorporatod herein by reference. 17. During the years that Plaintiff was ~mployed by Dafendants, his hourly wages were ae followSI 19891 $6.50 19911 $8.2B 19931 $8.79 19951 $9.41 19901 19921 19941 19961 $6. B4 $8.53 $9.05 $9.41 lB. Pursuant to the opplicftbl~ statute of limitations the Plaintiff makes claim for unpaid wages for all days worked tor slx yeBrs prior to the date of. filing. Plalnt:.lff milkeR lllaim for Jon I.l~CIUI'rION I , IlIIcl(grourd I N,UIltI l:lopartlllent - Iklrough Wator nlld Sl'!\<I(Ir llepartOlent POlSitinn - Msistllnt Plonts Ope('stor Job Clt\/lll - Wator IIlId flt...,el" Systellls Operlltur II. I)Jfllll1!:lon ~ 'lhis I>o~itlon requires Dssisting in the lI\llintennnco 8l~ opcr/ltl.on of . tho Wllter nnd /10\<1(1" 'l'rellUllunt 1'1,0111:8. '1lIis posl.t1on invoLvoR tusting, lI\!1lntunllnCEI, I1nd l'ecol'd IWllpinK tllsl(/I within thl'! plants, molnte11llllce of tl)l! water IIl1d se\<l(lr linea tlll'oughout the system, nnd also lIr1intenllnce of the gr.lJlJfY.ls oL 1 O('Oluld thl' seWnI.' plunt. Ill, /!'.xLlmpl.eR of \oklrk POl'Conned I A. Sewcl"l 1. Tests WIIatewntur perJ.,xUcnlLy thrOlll(hllllt trellt/ll:!nt procuas. Tests include toking the I'll III infllwnt, effluent, the contllct tlll~~, the relllll'lItlon tllnk, 11Ilt! digesters 1 IIlId II tlllting a dissolwd oxygen l"ellding on the some tnnlUl' nUlnl.ng II auttnbLe suL lds test on 1nflll1.'1lt:, effluent, <:ontact tnlll~, IIl1d rell<H'lItion tlll~~ dlllly, nnd on dl.gellter I. and l weokLYI nU1I1inR a R\ISlleI-':j,.'<' solids test on the contllct IInd renerntf,nn tOl~Ul \Jlen achL!dulnd I and Ollce per week UII illflwlIlt nr"1 effluent I l'lJ111l1ng u [eclIl cnlU'nnll test unce per woelq and J:\JlPlinll II 5-<lily biochaniclIl. oxygell dellI/lid test onco per week. 2. Heconla the reHlIltR of testa on vnriouR [onlls in legible w-1th18 whJ.ch III.''' l:"vle"",d by the Ollef PLnnt Oporntor \JIO [orwnrdll the fanlla to Stllte r(>glllntory off1cinls. When rending f1~terA ouL- sf.de the Lob, tllko alOllg II 1:i1l11111 tablet or piece of paper to write down the rendlngs IInd tnlllsfor l1lal~Jers to the fonlls. Please ho very aCClIl"IIte 1n rucol'<llng theso readl.ngR. 3. 1I!llps Ilpnltur vnlvcr:;, gauges, 1ndl.cators, lInd awitches which control the low of WIlter through tho pLants. I,. lIelps recoro gllllg,e IIncl indl.cator readings. 5. lIelpa feed chLor1ne nnd other chemf.cnls I.llto trented wator oncl lI1onItol" level of additivea. 6. lIelps perron" 'Mnllnl lnbor tasks such as digg1ng dr1ed sludge, clennlng sewer l1nes, orn repairing broken sewer ll.nl!s usl.ng pick and shovel. 7. Orivl!a dl111p trllck mv.! hauls away sludge. 8. !lalps IIl/lintain aewage pLlInt wildings, paint pipes and mach.1ll1lr)l, fMintain the fence Sllrl'U\D1dil18 the facility. Mows grRss on sewer and water plants property. May be BSked to Rssist in IOOwing gross anY\'A1ere l.n the Borough. 9. Ilemoves anew from sewage plant roads, and reports any repai rs needed to roads to lhief Plant Operator. Also, assists with SIlOW removal in Ul0 Borough. 1.0. PrL'fnnll!l other rolated toslUl lIa assigned. 11. Inspect facilities with the Olief Plants Operator daily to detenllillll efficiency of operu ti on , clennllneas, and Olllf,ntenance requi l"ement s . l2. !lalps dctenllll\c remediAl Action neCeSRal"Y during emergenciea. 13. M.JRt Lenm und have Rood Wtirklng kmw1edge of all phases of sewaRe tl"eabll:mt. 14. t>l.IHt IoXlrk [or certification l.n sewer plant operations. r"lltllo -2~ n, Wllten L. IIe!.pK IIPIlltlll' IIlId l'ul'lIl1.l 1~lllln' lOVlll IIlId pl'l/IiIlIWO III llllOIl dill. I)'. 2, Ilclpa II~IIIIIIIIII prllllOr <:hlol:'llIO Ilwu!. III I~lrlllll\h ~IIIH' Kl~)pl.y, tlllltll chl.nrl,l1o IQwlll, I'll </HI WIIlur KIIII~)I,IlK I IIlId I'lllldlllMlI. :1. IIl'1pK 1I~1l,1l11l11l WIlIol' 'Illi'pl Y "'1"1 jll~lIlt. 'I. 'kllpK 1I11111t1l1' /Il1d Il!CllI'tJ l'l!udIIlIlK of tl/lluK of WlItor to tl'\ld<s. 5. Holpn 1I~1l111'1111l \~/ltnl' pl/lllt IJlIUdiI1I-\K, 6. Clll'c\<1l thL! lhll, Spl'JlIg Iln!/l l!lldy uvory <IllY, HIIII<IIl gnuge to dotlll1l1l110 J.r WIII,'I' Iii III\~ III' I r It IlVliI'f1LJWIi. ChlldLIi If /IllY 11l1itml.t1 111'0 cIIlIght Ihlll'l' III~I n'llIIVU 1I1l11111 Ill' If Iho rl~'ll'e or /lllte haa 00011 hl'lIlu!Il or IIlIIII,,!!',,1 wi I h, ""1'111 I' It, IIlId I't!pnrl' I t III the Chlof OFGI'Il till'. '1, UIl!dtll 1l,1I11!\1I Oil "'ntol' tlllll<1i \"",'Id y. I('!I'I' tho /l,lIl1gl/ll Wl.llld.II/,1. Heport /IIIY 1Il'I'c1ud rUIl/ltl'n 1)1' 1i1l1lJ1,I'IiLJIlIlIi to 1111/ l:l1lol' l;l<!J'lItllr. 8, ChodLll OIlIJ~11I1011! <'IIVUI'Il ",,'Oldy, 9. PUrfnl'11lH nl:hllJ" relnted tlHil'.!l I1H IltiuJ~'{ld, C, J;;loctrl cnl \,I,wl<: J.. C11t1clIH /11'<.1 IIwilllllllllli !!.!.~ olU<:IJ."iC/ll t1CjIlt.f1I1Il11t lit 111.1. /lon~JMh propllrt: ill Ii . , 2. Hfll~llr6 lind/or lnstul.lli Ul,l'ddcul. uqUI.PlllrJl1t LIS I\(>e<lad. :1. IlJ!I>Jrtli to clilor l~l<Jl-utor iII1)' dll\nf\OS 01" lIeeded Ill.octrleul. flxtlll'eS, el~III.I"III', pI,', 1'01' tllll1(!<Itntll nt:tc!Ilt:JolI, or Iu be I.l1cludorl ! 11 tho budgut. IV. IleljUired I<Ullwlcrlge, Sldl Iii, /In.! AlJliit1.C!1i1 1. Sl<lll to Iltlr/'ulll1 "~lll\lenllllCe on "~)tllrs, l.ul1lm, VIII. Veil , el.eclrlclll "'Jrk, /l11t1 (~II('rgl'n('y 11<1"-'!l' systems. 2. ~ldll to perrlll1l1 Iho I'n'vjlAllliY ">'nUol1"d ["1!Iitll. 3. Al>J,lIty to Irelli' IICClIl'utll records of telltH III III !\lIlIge rendings. 4. AbiI.J ty to perftllll1 "~1I1LJLll lllbol" tClsl.s f.l1vulvillg digging wl,th pl.d< nnd shovel, d('lInlng floors, rOl1llVlng Hnow, ill ,I mowing gnllla. 5. I<Jl(Mledll,ll of 11lIlilc c!1PJlIf.stry, bl.ology, /Iud lI1/1th, 'V, Minl.lIl-111 'I'rnin.ing 11I1<1 r;;>lpul'll.!nc<!: 1. III gh School Fi-lw'lIllon with COlJl'BIlS 1.11 biology, chemistry, lInd lI1ulh. VI., Itt:JlIl.lllllltlt Ulled: 1. Var!.ouH types of laborlltory IlQu1llllent lIBed to peri'ol11l the BSllorted tosts 1)C:!ce6llary for the proper operation of. the plantll, 2. "l,clt-up tnlCk wI th attache<! Ilnow renl<lVlll blade. 3. tobwers ClrYl trllllllerll. 4. r.AQ1~) tnlck. VII. J..1censli's ROCju1redl 1. Vn1l.d I'l\'!nllsylvnnla Driver' a Ll.r.:ollse. LicrJl1lle I'lJW. 2. U.cenne to operate Sewllr and Wator !,Innts in future. VIII. WorkillR (lJo:li t i0l16 : 1. Vnrled cOlldltJOIIH sOllletl.mes In\lOlvlng manual lalxlr In aU lypes of weather. 2. Worl< Cilll InvllLvQ lUlpleusnnt cOrYll.tions whlle shoveling sl.udge, repal.rl.ng WElBtl'wnler drill II!; , rmd dell ring clop,god sewago lines. I, Ii " , , '!.! ff. :Jz Ai ~ ;,:lJI: Ii: )~ " ~ ,~ l"i~ !,~' ~ \1.112 "i \!:s rio' d I , , " /I ," I,' " . , , , , , , i lill" " 'a,: r"~ ,,~ ',~1,. ~'i',' ,~ '~ \~ I PI , ] ~~ '" " !I ~n !~ q t~ I ~~ i=! . I ~ . ~~ n I>' ~ ~ i I ; il~ ~~ ~ ~ ~ i " R ~ ." ;'1 , , I' , ;1' \, I,' I. 'I; , , 1 I' , , , " , ,I' I 1 ., " , " , ., " , , " " , "!i ,>I 1'1 ,'1\ , . " 'I ", I ,I Ij " i , " .i": ." i " ') , I" 1', I, , , , ' ~ I';,.',:; " !...~ " " ,':, ,; ~: " , ". If.;l~'< ',: ",\',.\ I 'j .., \, J ""~ " .; 1 . i,1 " . " ~ "BSLIY It. WOloT~, Phinl;Uf De hnd.nt,. I IN THR COURT or COMMON P~IAS I CUHURMND COIIN'l'Y, PIllNNBY~VAHIA I . . NO. 9G.471lQ CIVIL TIltM . . . . CIVI~ ACTION . ~AW . JURY TRI^~ PIMANPBIJ v. NeWVI~~. aOROUGH WATER and SeW.R AUTHORITY, NIllWVI~l,JII BOROUGH, S'l':tPU~^TION Plaintiff WeQley R, Woltz, Uefendant Newville Borough Water and Sewer Authorlty, and Pefendant Newvllle Borollgh, thl.'"ough their underQigned Counsel, enter into this Stipulation, Btating the following I WHIRmAS, Plaintiff initiated an action against Defendants on N'ovember 6, 19961 WHRRIAS, Defendants hav~ determined and agreed that, as between themselves, Defendant Newville Water and Sewer Authority shall be respolls.lble fol.'" any jUdgment rendered in favor of Plaint.lff I WHIBRlilAS, the r;:art.ies believe that the removal of Defendant Newville Borough wi 11 simplify the various issues in thh easel and WHBRJIlAS, for the above reasons, all parties have conaented to the removal of Newville Borough as a Defendant in this case. WHBRIlIFORIll, the partieD hereto, through th/!.lr undersigned . . ., counsel, do agree as folloWQI 1. Newville Borough I.Q he):aby ramovad as a Defendant in this mal:ter. 2. In th~ event that it is ultimately determined that Plaintiff is ontithd to judgment in hia favor, Defendant Newville Water IInd Sewer Authority shall be solely liable to Plalntiff. 3. Defendant Newville aOl:ough shall. .lncul: no :Liability to oither Plaintiff or Defendant Newville Water and Sowl!r Authority in thia proceeding. Datet ~/IO('ii ~ ~~~~~- --- Robot't 1.. 0' BrIeo- Attorney for Plaintiff O'IlRIIEN, BARIC, IInd SCHlllRmR 1'/ Want South Street Carlisle, PA 1'1013 (71'1) 249-6B73 Datel .z:.j <" I'L"'TI , , - . Bryan l\'.m. n Attorney/ Halt r for NEWVILLE ~OROUGH ATIER SEWER AUTHORI'L'Y 16BO Gabler Road P.O. Box :.176 Chambersburg, PA 17201-02'/6 (717) :.163-2121 Datel J I. ." I ~-~'::', .~ :~ ~, ~ "" ., 1 ) '!, I ~} I /, -,' ,- I ,.l ( , Richard L, Webber, Jr. Attorney/Solicitor. for Defendant NEWVILLIE BOROUOH 366 Oreen spring Road P .0. Box 40 Newville, PA 17241-0040 (717) 776-6566 .-..- \1 Ii .... /lfl I,.. i r, I, rl:~ l.:~ >.\ I,r. \1 H , 'I .'1 ~I : 1,. l.t tl ~i I ,'I /: I,:" '1:1 " !'i Ii)! ~'i..1 , , . . U.I' f 'I :";'1 I' ." ll.)~ "1 T " I , \";1 'I,: , t.J I " 'II . 1 it " , i' '. I,.j " " I I " WII\I~IY It. WO~T~, , IN 'l'HIII COUR'I.' or COMMON PLIAS I CUMBERLANP COUNTY, PINNBYLVANIA Plaintiff , , v. , NO. 96.47&8 CIVI~ 'l'IJ{M , NIWVIllLE BOROUGH WA'l'IlR Ind I nWIR AU'rHORl'l''i and NIWVIl:iLlIl , 80ROUr:m, I Uefendant. I CIVIL ACTION . loAW PRIlLIMINARY OaJICTIONS AND NOW IJomes the ijol~ou9h <1f l'Iewv1.11e, Cumberland COllnty, PennsylVAnia, IJY it,R I\ttunley/SoUcitol', l1.ichlll'd L, Webber, Jr" IInd f Ues theBe PJ:e UmlllR I:Y obj ect,icJIIs PUt'AU8I1t to PenllAyl WltJl8 Rule of COllrt Pl:ocedul:e 1028 (n) (3) RS follows I MOTION TO DISMISS rOR INSU,rICIIlNT SPIlCIPICITY 1. 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':'(',1 'I,;:,r,;l, " " I ~ ;'1 , , r'll,I..1 HI, ' '"d,- 11,; '1.1 "'1 ,'j''''!'' I' "i '1:1 ill " ," I I t ~ ,Ii ,I i '" 'Ii, " t I " 'i' ',It ,! :/1 ", f I i i 1'1 j '! II ~.f ,f 1'/ '.',''- ,1"1'11j'1j',jf " "Ii' 1:li:" 'J, J ,/, 'Ii. ~ 1 ' I ','. ,: , i," ,/ . ,~ I " :;; , ,'I "",1, ", 1'/ " 'I <i I'll I, I 'l(,!!:\;,,"i I, \', III j.,l'\" " " II' , ' I II:'I If' 1':1.1,.' I ,111.\ i;,' \11' I ~ 1,1/'/, t',)tl\,' ':'~ ,. ~ '. " '.', 'I'. i"'J,I. , 'f!, 'r ; ~, .'1: " 'Ii,'" " , Ii 'f' \ , , :;1\, 'j' ,",'. " I , ,I " " , . . , WIEEILItY R. WOLT2 Pl4l.nt.iff v. IN THIt COUR'l' OF COMMON PLItAS 01' CUMBItI\LAND COUN'l'Y, PIIlNNSYLVANIA NO. 96-4760 CIVIL TIIlRM NIIlWVILLF. DOROUOH WATER and SIIlWER AUTHORITY and NJJ:~VILLl!: BOROUGH, 4 WIEST STRIEET, N~WVILLE, PA C IV I L TlC'l'ION-LAW aOMP~m 1. Plaintiff is Wesley Wolt2, an adult individual who currently resides at 17 Walnut Street, Newville, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. 2. Defendants are the Borough of Newville and/or Newville Borough Water and Sewer Authority with offices at 4 West Street, Newville, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. 3. Plaintiff was employed by the Defendants as an assistant plants operator in the Borough Water and Sewer Department. 4. The Plaintiff was paid an hourly wage for a forty hour work week schedulod from Monday to Friday. Plaintiff was required during this forty hour work weok to be fully engaged in activities for the Borough Water and Sewer Department. B. In addition to his regular forty hour work week, the Plaintiff was required by the Defendants to conduct tests on alternate weekends and holidays. 15, pue to tho requirement of oonduotin\1 tho tests t;l'llt ~laintiff was not free to Qnjoy his alternate weokenda and holidays as he was ongaged those days in tho furtherance of the Defendant omployers busin$ss. 7, 'l'he Plllintiff was not cOll1p$nSollted or otherwise paid by the Defendants for these required activitios. COUNT I O. 'l'llll plaintH f incorporates paregraphs one (l) through seven (7) herein by reference. 9. 'l'he failure to PIlY tho Plaintiff for his work on alternate weekends and holidays was a violation of the "Wage Payment and Colleotion Law" 43 P,S. ~ 260.1 et. seq. 10. Pursuant to the aforementioned statute the plaintiff makes claim against the Defendants for unpsid wagee for all days worked within three (3) years prior to August 27, 1996. Plaintiff makes claim for his regular hourly wage rate for eight hours each day he waa required to conduct tests on his days off and overtime at time and a half for all weeks in which his hours exceeded forty(40). COUNT II 11. The Plaintiff incorporates paragraphs one (1) thr.ough ten (10) herein by reference. 12. Pursuant to 43 P.S.~260.10 the Plaintiff makes claim against the Defendants for liquidated damages of tWenty~five (25\) percent of the total amount of the wages due. , , " 1 " , ., ,! " 'Ii , , , -I' , , " i' ,i '.jf" , , , , " , \" " " " ,', I , m ~.. " 1'1 1 . " 1" 'I , " ~ , !I .LI, f~1 " 'Ii " =r.: 9~ 'I I , , ','I ! , ',I , I.)." ", , I , , " d "~'it i' \b " I' '; , " . .~ " " " , I I " I f,ii, " " I , " , ,I " ~ 'I , I' " ~ . 'll R ~~ III IOl '" ", Ii . e!a: ~ P- I ~ E~' ~~..,,.2~ IX i~ g ~ -i R o::l ,+I . o~g i t ~ R Co <Xl 01'01 to IOl " ~~ ~~~ -~ r- '! B ,. ,.2 I O<IJl~j:) H , to ~ Po II~t 01 0 . e~ g ~ = " :1 I, " 'I " " , " ':: I, II " , ' " '"" 1'1\ -I" ;" , " 1'1' , ',I " 1',1 " , , 'i , " , ('11'_\ ,t'i r,' ,I " , , " I, , , , , J: .' . . It' \ II BYI G, ryan ~ ~ nn, Esqu Attorney I No. 1935 Ann F, Depaulis, .squire Attorney 10 No, 56106 1580 Gebler Road P . O. Box 276 Chambersburg, P^ 17201.0276 (717) 263.2121 2933 North Front Street Harrisburg, P.A 17110 (717) 232.9420 Attorneys for Defendant, NEWVILLE BOROUGH WATER AND ~ SEWER AUTHORITY /. rlll Cs /i.O ~ (.1 Ut lh"C . ,,,..It'., )LIIJ ,;.'J"l f'"l'f, (Vt/bJlltl Ir;(~. {/I JJ. >l.. l" f.. I,\.. (t ( " d' ~t I' / f III (f /\... .V{/. (J.:t I" <. I t P , I I I, .J. J. ,ft lill'f'lfl I C:v/.1 (~~I) I~) ttx . )J N !- j'. PI t" ~ VlI'! r.IH(!}J" WBSUY R. WOllTlll, .1dnt:Uf IN TK. OOURT or OONNON llUAS or OUNI.RlIANP OOUNTY, '.HNSYlIVAKIA v. NO. 96.476~ OIVI~ TIRN lfIWVIllllI BOROUOH WAT.R AND S.".R AUTHORITY and NIWVIlILI BO.OUOK, Dlfendant:. CIVIL ACTION . LAW RULI TO FILE COMPLA~~ A Rule is issued upon Plaintiff to file a complaint against Defendant, NEWVILLE BOROUGH WATER AND SEWER AUTHORITY, wi~hin twenty (20) days of service of this Rule, after whioh, judgement of non pros will be enter~d against Plaintiff, Respactfully aubmitted, Salzmann & Depaulia, P.C. Datedl~' - '::---' 96.4766 CIVIL TERM Water and Sewer Authority as an assistant plant operator In the Borough Water and Sewer Department. The Plalnllff was paid an hourly wage for B forty hour work week schedullld from Monday to Friday, In addlllon to his regular forty hour work week, the Plaintiff was required by the Defendant to conduot te14ts In the plants on alternate weekends and holidays. The Plaintiff was not compensated or otherwise paid by the Defendant for these required aotlvllles. The Plalnllff was employed by the Defendant until May 15, 1996. Plaintiff oommenced this acllon, for the oolleotlon of unpaid wages, by praecipe for a writ of summons on August 27, 1996. Plaintiff flied a complaint against Defendant on November 22, 1996. The complaint alleged that Defendant, as Plalnllff's former employer, failed to compensate Plalnllff for overtime hours worked between May 1969 and May 1996. Plaintiff sought relief under the Pennsylvania Wage Payment Collection Law (43 P.S. seo. 260.1 et seq.) for unpaid wagee, liquidated damages, and reasonable attorneys flles and oosts, Plalnllff apparently concluded during dlsoovery that, as a former munlolpal employee, he was barred from recovery under the Pennsylvania Wage Payment and Colleollon Law. On April 21, 1997, Plaintiff flied a Molion To Amend the Initial Complaint to eliminate his claim pursuant to the Pennsylvania Wage Payment and Collection Law and to subslltute new claims for unpaid wages pursuant to the Fair 2 96-4768 CIVIL TERM Labor Standards Act, 29 U, S,C,A, 6201 let seq. ("FLSA") and common law theories for breach of contract, Leave to amend was granted pursuant to an order of court by J. Wesley Oler, J, and Plaintiff flied his amended complaint on July 18,1997. Cefendant fIIod a Motion for Partial Summary JUdgment on April 20, 1998 on the grounds that the Plaintiff's oommon law breach of contract claim Is pre- empted by the FLSA, Plaintiff falls to establish Ii common law breach of contraot claim, and Plaintiff falls to establish a willful violation of the FLSA. ~ A'~~L recovering overtime compensatm Plaintiff's common law breach of contract claim Is barred as preempted by the Fair Labor Standards Act, 29 U.S,C.A. sec, 201, et seq. Although the FLSA has no express language asserting Its pre-emption of state law, courts have consistently held that when an employer violates 29 U.S.C.A. seo. 206 or 207 that the statute Is the exclusive remedy for the enforolng of rights oreated under the FLSA, flatt ~urrouQhs Corp., 424 F.Supp. 1329,1340 (E,C,Pa,1976); ~.sx Corp. 763 F,Supp, 541 (N,D.Ala. 1991); ~ , 704 F.Supp. 95, 100 (D.S.C. 1988). The ~ court stated that "as a matter of law, plaintiff 3 . 96-4768 CIVIL TERM oannot olroumvent the exclusive remedy prescribed by Oongress by asserting equivalent state law claims In addition to the FLeA lllalm," 763 F.Supp. 541, 545 (N,D,Ala. 1991). In the present oase, Plaintiff has brought suit to olalm overtime oompensatlon under state common law contraot theories In addition to the FLSA. Since the FLSA Is the applloable law, and courts havQ Interpreted olalmfJ for wages and overtime oompensatlon to be exoluslvely remedied by the FLSA, Plaintiff's argumont for recovery under oommon law oontraot theories Is rejeoted. FLSA pro-empts common law contrallttheory recovery and Is, consequently, the exclusive remedy In the present case. In Plalntlff's amended complaint, he asserts that pursuant to Plaintiff's employment, the employer provided a written contraot. The dooument attached to the amended oomplalnt, enlltled "Job Desorlptlon," Is not an employment contract, but a job desorlptlon. The Plalnllff himself Idenllfles the document as a job descrlpllon In his deposition. (Deposlllon of Wesley Woltz, February 11, 199B, p. 19), The document describes In detail what Is entailed In the Plaintiff's job and the hours to be worked. There are no numbers on the job descrlpllon Indicating an amount of wages to be paid or the period In time during which Plaintiff would be employed. Plaintiff admits In his tesllmony that he was not told he would be 4 . 96-4766 CIVIL TERM working for any set period of time, (Deposition of Wesley Woltz, February 11, 1998, p. 19). For theBe reasons this job desorlptlon oannot be construed aa a contraot. Even If the dooument could be viewed as a oontract, the claims for wages made under common law contract theories are pre-ampted by the FLSA. B. EUilDlJ ' a an alternate theory of recovery and.1ll2t a new cauae of actl.Q!L. A cause of acllon 15 described as the facts which give a person a right to judicial relief, Black's Law Dlcllonary, 6th Ed, (1979). "Altarnatlve theories of recovery are different means for obtaining the same relief for the same harm caused by the same party," K!lny-y~esourn.eJ:illll~1llil.Jl~rnm:I.ml, 616 A,2d 423 (Pa.Super, 1992), Without new facts or parties, an amended complaint applying new law Is an alternate theory of recovery, If the law put forth In an alternate theory of recovery replaces Inapplicable law, this procedural defect Is viewed with tolerance, "Scarcely any procedural defect Is viewed with greater tolerance by modern courts than errors In the form of acllon," S!llL.IfJJ!mrume Co, of penns~'4-Balllmore~~" 38 A. 2d 732, 733, 156 Po, Super, 286 (1944). The function of a pleading Is to put the other party on notice of what the pleader Intends to prove In trial. ld.. at 734, Changing a form of action, for 5 96-4768 CIVIL TERM example, with an alternate theory of reoovery, does not ohange the faots of a 08se that are pleaded, The purpose of the pleading remains fulfilled. The subslltullon of the Fair Labor Standards Aot In Plalnllff's amended oomplalnt Is purported, by Defendant, to conalltute a new cause of acllon, The Plalnllff states that the amended complaint puts forth alternate theories of reoovery, In the present case, the facts haVen't changed; the parties are sllll the same and the alleged harm caused Plalnllff Is sllllthe same, The only thing that has changed from the original complaint to the amended complaint was the law under which relief Is sought. We view this change as a different means for obtaining the same relief for the same harm oaused by the same party, Plalnllff's substitution of the FLSA for the Pennsylvania Wage Payment and Colleollon Law Is an alternate theory of reoovery and not a new cause of acllon, Dlsllngulshlng between an alternate theory of recovery and a new cause of acllon Is relevant In determining the date from which damages are calculated. Beoause Plaintiff's substitution of the FLSA Is not considered a new cause of action but an alternate theory of recovary, damages are computed from the date that Plalnllff filed the original complaint. Since the FLSA provides for a Statute of Llmltallon period of two years, Plaintiff may recover overtime wages from two years prior to the November 22, 1996 filing of his complaint. Since the Plaintiff worked 6 . 96-4768 CIVIL TERM for the Cefendant until August 27, 1998, the Plalnllff may recov.r damag.s from November 22, 1994 until August 27, 1996, C. A willful violation of the FLSA requires '1hotthe employer knew or showed reokless disregard for the mailer of whether the oonduot WBS prohibited." ,Shoe CQ" 486 US 128, 100 LEd 2d 115, 10B S Ct, 1677 (1988), For example, a willful vlolallon of the FLSA would ocour when a olty Imposes a revised play plan which reduces an employee's regular rate of pay so that regular pay received, plus regularly scheduled overtime pay reoelved, as required by the FLSA, would equal the Individuals former annual wage, Craven"Y. ~ 730 F, Supp, 1511,1512 (C,N,C.19B9), In other words, a willful violation ooours when a municipality purposefully allempts to clroumvent FLSA regulallons, There are no facts In the present case to suggest that Cefendant willfully violated FLSA regulations, Defendant provided significant overllme pay to Plalnllff during his employment for Instances when Plaintiff was called In on an emergency basis, (Deposlllon of Wesley Woltz, February 11, 199B, p, 40-41). Cefendant believed that the tesllng completed by Plaintiff alter hours was done 7 . 98-476&' OIVIL TERM In the course of his regular employment, and not subleot to FLSA overtime, provisions. (Affidavit of Fred Potzer), Defendant had a good faith belief It was In oompllanoe wllh FLSA, Any alleged FLSA violations were not wllltul. I, , , I i , I' , ' 8 . IJoA~ - ~,~i,LtL,t,t~ Dt',ld\W.Mf - {,'(WI , ~tlS - "J11~~{~~1~ e .....~~ , I I " -,1r-{u~'V ~L(...e.,L 0' ~ {, "d-V ~/!.t;,L.,"I,o)/J " Ii , '