Black v. Wise Intervention Services, Inc. – Unpaid Overtime Settlement

Berger Montague served as co-lead counsel and obtained a $826,014.42 settlement in this wage and hour lawsuit against Wise Intervention Services, Inc. (“WISE”) on behalf of 47 individuals employed by WISE in Pennsylvania as Coiled-Tubing Spread Crew Members during the time period at issue. Led by Shanon J. Carson and Alexandra K. Piazza of Berger Montague, the plaintiff brought this unpaid overtime case alleging violations of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, 29 U.S.C. § 201, et seq. and the Pennsylvania Minimum Wage Act of 1968, 43 P.S. § 333.101, et seq. The case was litigated in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania and was captioned Black v. Wise Intervention Services, Inc., No. 2:15-cv-00453-MPK (W.D. Pa.).

The plaintiffs were Coiled-Tubing Spread Crew Members who traveled between field offices and natural gas well sites to perform “coiled tubing” services to clear away plugs inserted into oil and gas wells during the fracking process. Plaintiffs routinely worked well over forty (40) hours per workweek, throughout the duration of their assignments, but were not paid any overtime compensation for hours worked in excess of forty hours per week. Instead, Plaintiffs received a salary plus non-discretionary “on site” bonuses paid per number of days the crew member worked on site at a natural gas well site in a given pay period. Plaintiffs primarily claimed that they were improperly classified as exempt employees by WISE and were not paid an overtime rate when they worked more than forty (40) hours per week. The settlement resolved the claims alleged in the action. If you have experienced unpaid wages, unpaid overtime compensation, unreimbursed business expenses, or other wage and hour violations under federal or state laws by your employer, please contact Berger Montague. Our award-winning employment lawyers are available to speak with you free of charge.

About Berger Montague

Berger Montague is a national law firm focusing on complex civil litigation in federal and state courts throughout the United States. For over half a century, Berger Montague has played lead roles in consequential, precedent-setting cases and has recovered over $60 billion for its clients and the classes they have represented. Berger Montague is headquartered in Philadelphia and has offices in Chicago, Minneapolis, San Diego, San Francisco, Toronto, Wilmington, Del., and Washington, D.C.