The United States Supreme Court announced today it will let stand a $35.6 million ruling against Family Dollar Stores Inc. (Morgan et al. v. Family Dollar Stores, Inc.), saying the chain denied employees overtime pay by classifying them as store managers. With interest the judgment is over $41,000,000.

In 2008, a three-judge panel in the 11th circuit agreed with a 2006 Tuscaloosa, AL jury that found the Matthews, N.C.-based company in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act and awarded back pay to 1,424 employees who routinely worked 60 to 70 hours a week. Their duties often included mopping floors, unloading trucks, stocking shelves and running cash registers.

“The jury reasonably determined that Family Dollar failed to meet its burden of proving that Plaintiff store managers' primary duty was management,” said Judge Frank M. Hull in her written opinion. She was joined by Judges Joel F. Dubina and Peter T. Fay.

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