The Missouri Department of Corrections (MDOC) overtime lawsuit was a class-action lawsuit filed by corrections officers who alleged that the MDOC was not paying them for all of their overtime hours. The lawsuit began in 2012 and went all the way to the Missouri Supreme Court. In 2021, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the corrections officers and remanded the case back to the trial court for a new trial.

The corrections officers alleged that the MDOC was not paying them for certain pre- and post-shift activities, such as going through security, getting their gear, and reporting to their duty station. They also alleged that the MDOC was not paying them for overtime hours worked during mandatory training and other work-related events.

In 2018, a jury awarded the corrections officers $113.7 million in damages. The MDOC appealed the verdict, but the Missouri Supreme Court upheld it in 2021. In 2022, the MDOC and the corrections officers reached a settlement agreement for $49.5 million.

The settlement agreement includes back pay for the corrections officers, as well as changes to the MDOC’s timekeeping system to ensure that corrections officers are paid for all of their overtime hours.

FAQs:

Q: What was the Missouri Department of Corrections overtime lawsuit about?

A: The Missouri Department of Corrections overtime lawsuit was a class-action lawsuit filed by corrections officers who alleged that the MDOC was not paying them for all of their overtime hours. The lawsuit began in 2012 and went all the way to the Missouri Supreme Court. In 2021, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the corrections officers and remanded the case back to the trial court for a new trial.

Q: What did the corrections officers allege?

A: The corrections officers alleged that the MDOC was not paying them for certain pre- and post-shift activities, such as going through security, getting their gear, and reporting to their duty station. They also alleged that the MDOC was not paying them for overtime hours worked during mandatory training and other work-related events.

Q: What was the outcome of the lawsuit?

A: In 2018, a jury awarded the corrections officers $113.7 million in damages. The MDOC appealed the verdict, but the Missouri Supreme Court upheld it in 2021. In 2022, the MDOC and the corrections officers reached a settlement agreement for $49.5 million.

Q: What does the settlement agreement include?

A: The settlement agreement includes back pay for the corrections officers, as well as changes to the MDOC’s timekeeping system to ensure that corrections officers are paid for all of their overtime hours.

Q: Who was eligible for the settlement?

A: All current and former MDOC corrections officers who worked for the department between October 11, 2012 and April 22, 2022 were eligible for the settlement.

Q: How much money did each corrections officer receive?

A: The amount of money that each corrections officer received varied depending on how many overtime hours they worked and their pay rate. However, the average payout was around $900.

Conclusion

The Missouri Department of Corrections overtime lawsuit was a significant victory for corrections officers in the state. The settlement agreement ensures that corrections officers will be paid for all of their overtime hours, and it also makes changes to the MDOC’s timekeeping system to prevent future problems.

References:

• Missouri Supreme Court Ruling in Hootselle v. Missouri Department of Corrections: https://www.courts.mo.gov/page.jsp?id=171834&year=2020&month=04&day=22&splitdocket=No
• Missouri Independent Article on MDOC Overtime Settlement: https://missouriindependent.com/2022/04/20/missouri-offering-49-5m-to-settle-overtime-claims-for-corrections-officers/
• STL Today Article on MDOC Overtime Settlement: https://www.stltoday.com/print/a-section/settlement-checks-are-in-the-mail-to-thousands-of-missouri-prison-workers/article_c3587e9e-ae6e-5fbe-8681-0d7c3dde76e9.html