SAYLOR, C.J.
This case involves claims by current and former tournament directors for American Contract Bridge League, Inc. ("ACBL") for violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act ("FLSA"), 29 U.S.C. §§ 201-219. Section 207 of the FLSA requires employers to compensate all non-overtime-exempt employees at not less than one-and-one-half times their regular rate for each hour worked in excess of 40 hours per workweek. Those who work in bona fide executive, administrative, or professional capacities are exempt from that requirement. Plaintiffs contend that ACBL improperly classified all tournament directors as exempt and thus denied them overtime compensation to which they were entitled. On September 28, 2018, the Court conditionally certified a collective action.
The parties have cross-moved for summary judgment as to plaintiffs' claims for unpaid overtime and related issues concerning the limitations period and damages. ACBL has also moved to strike an affidavit and two exhibits that plaintiffs have submitted in support of their motion. It has further moved to decertify the conditionally certified class.
In addition, one named plaintiff, Peter Marcus, contends that ACBL also violated the FLSA by retaliating against him after he filed a complaint with the Department of Labor seeking unpaid overtime. ACBL has moved for summary judgment as to Marcus's individual claim of retaliation.
For the reasons set forth below, the Court concludes that Tournament Directors are not exempt under the FLSA, but National Tournament Directors, Associate National Tournament Directors, Field Supervisors, Area Managers, and Mentors are subject to the administrative exemption. It does reach the issue of whether the STaC Coordinator is subject to an exemption. The Court further concludes that plaintiffs' claims, to the extent that plaintiffs worked in a non-exempt position and were wrongly denied overtime pay, are subject to a two-year limitations period.
Accordingly, as to liability under Count 1, the Court will grant plaintiffs' motion for summary judgment to the extent that it seeks to recover unpaid overtime for plaintiffs who worked as salaried Tournament Directors since April 24, 2017 (and will otherwise deny the motion). It will deny defendant's motions to the same extent (and otherwise grant them).1 As to damages under Count 1, the Court will grant defendant's motion for summary judgment as to the method of calculating plaintiffs' overtime damages and deny plaintiffs' motion for summaryjudgment as to liquidated damages. In light of the disposition of the motions for summary judgment related to Count 1, the Court will deny as moot defendant's motion to decertify the collective action. Finally, the Court will grant defendant's motion for summary judgment as to the claim of retaliation by Marcus.
I. Background ............................................................................................................................. 6
A. Factual Background ............................................................................................................ 6
1. American Contract Bridge League ............................................................................... 6
2. Relevant ACBL Job Positions ...................................................................................... 6
a. Tournament Director ................................................................................................ 7
b. Field Supervisor ....................................................................................................... 8
c. Area Manager ........................................................................................................... 9
d. Mentor .................................................................................................................... 10
e. National Tournament Director and Associate National Tournament Director ...... 10
f. STaC Coordinator ................................................................................................... 11
3. Tournament Director Compensation .......................................................................... 12
4. Marcus's Retaliation Claim ........................................................................................ 17
B. Procedural Background ..................................................................................................... 19II. Legal Standard ...................................................................................................................... 21
III. Analysis ............................................................................................................................. 22
A. Defendant's Motion to Strike ............................................................................................ 22
1. Affidavit of Plaintiff Peter Marcus ............................................................................. 23
2. Exhibits 5 and 6 to Plaintiffs' Statement of Material Facts ........................................ 26
B. FLSA Exemption of Defendant's Job Positions ............................................................... 27
1. Overtime Generally .................................................................................................... 28
2. The Administrative Exemption .................................................................................. 29
3. Analysis ...................................................................................................................... 31
a. Tournament Directors ............................................................................................. 31
b. National Tournament Directors, Associate National Tournament Directors, Field Supervisors, Area Managers, and Mentors ....................................................................... 37
c. STaC Coordinator ................................................................................................... 42
C. Cross-Motions for Summary Judgment as to the Limitations Period Under Count 1 ...... 43
D. Cross-Motions for Summary Judgment as to Liability Under Count 1 ............................ 50
1. Dianne Barton-Paine ................................................................................................... 51
2. Eric Bell ...................................................................................................................... 51
3. Jennifer Carmichael .................................................................................................... 52
4. Susan Doe and Terry Lavender .................................................................................. 53
5. Harry Falk ................................................................................................................... 546. John Gram ................................................................................................................... 55
7. Arleen Harvey ............................................................................................................. 56
8. Jeffery Jacob ............................................................................................................... 57
9. Matt Koltnow .............................................................................................................. 58
10. Candace Kuschner ...................................................................................................... 58
11. Peter Marcus ............................................................................................................... 59
12. Karl Miller .................................................................................................................. 59
13. McKenzie Myers ........................................................................................................ 60
14. Joan Paradeis .............................................................................................................. 61
15. Nancy Watkins ........................................................................................................... 61
16. Marilyn Wells ............................................................................................................. 62
17. Lynn Yokel ................................................................................................................. 63
E. Defendant's Motion to Dismiss and Motion for Summary Judgment as to Plaintiff Kenneth Van Cleve ................................................................................................................... 63
F. Motions for Summary Judgment as to Damages .............................................................. 64
1. Fluctuating Workweek ............................................................................................... 65
2. Liquidated Damages ................................................................................................... 69
G. Defendant's Motion to Decertify the Collective Action ................................................... 70
H. Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment as to Count 2 ............................................. 71IV. Conclusion ........................................................................................................................ 75
I. Background
The following facts are as set forth in the record and are undisputed except as noted.
1. American Contract Bridge League American Contract Bridge League is the governing body for contract bridge in North America. (Def. SMF ¶ 1)....
