Johnson et al v. Helion Technologies, Inc., No. 1:2018cv03276 - Document 48 (D. Md. 2019)
Court Description: MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Judge Deborah K. Chasanow on 9/17/2019. (sat, Chambers)
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Johnson et al v. Helion Technologies, Inc. Doc. 48 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF MARYLAND TYLER JOHNSON, et al., Individually and on behalf of similarly situated employees v. : : : Civil Action No. DKC 18-3276 : HELION TECHNOLOGIES, INC. : MEMORANDUM OPINION Presently pending in this Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”) case are: (1) a motion for conditional certification and courtauthorized notice filed by Plaintiffs Tyler Johnson, James Phelan, William Toomey, and Matthew Willis (“Plaintiffs”) (ECF No. 11); (2) a motion for leave to file an amended complaint filed by Plaintiffs (ECF No. 19); and (3) consolidate filed by Plaintiffs (ECF No. 22). a motion to The issues have been briefed, and the court now rules, no hearing being deemed necessary. Local Rule 105.6. For the following reasons, Plaintiffs’ motion to amend will be denied in part and granted in part; Plaintiffs’ motion for conditional certification and court-authorized notice will be granted; and Plaintiffs’ motion to consolidate will be denied as moot. I. Background Plaintiff Tyler Johnson (“Plaintiff Johnson”) and Plaintiff James Phelan (“Plaintiff Phelan”) filed a complaint on behalf of Dockets.Justia.com themselves and those that are similarly situated on October 23, 2018. (ECF No. 1). The complaint alleges that Defendant improperly classified them as exempt employees and failed to pay them overtime wages in violation of the FLSA, 29 U.S.C. § 201 et seq.; the Maryland Wage and Hour Law (“MWHL”), Md.Code Ann., Lab. & Empl. § 3-401, et seq.; and the Maryland Wage Payment and Collection Law (“MWPCL”), Md.Code Ann., Lab. & Emp. § 3-501 et seq. Plaintiff Matt Willis (“Plaintiff Willis”) filed a notice of consent to become a party-plaintiff on October 24, 2018. (ECF No. filed a 3). Plaintiff notice November 8, 2018. On December of William consent to Toomey become (“Plaintiff a Toomey”) party-plaintiff on (ECF No. 5). 6, 2018, Defendant filed lawsuits against Plaintiff Johnson and Plaintiff Toomey in Maryland state court. As defendants in those state cases, Johnson and Toomey filed Notices of Removal and removed the state court cases to this court. When the removed actions reached this court, they were filed as separate actions before different judges. A motion to consolidate was filed and one of the judges granted the motion, directing that all future filings be made in the FLSA case. The cases were then all assigned to this member of the bench. The order consolidating the cases was vacated and the lawsuit against Plaintiff Johnson, Civil Action No. 19-0036, was severed from the FLSA case and remanded to the Circuit Court. 2 (ECF No. 33). The lawsuit against Plaintiff Toomey, Civil Action No. 19- 0037, remains pending despite Defendant’s filing of its first amended answer and counterclaim. submitted supplemental (ECF No. 41). briefing to address The parties the effect of Defendant’s counterclaim against Plaintiff Toomey on the pending motion for conditional certification. (ECF No. 42; ECF No. 44). Defendant “provides information technology (“IT”) support for automobile dealerships. . . across the United States, providing for [its dealership clients] a reliable, efficient, and secure IT network and all troubleshooting assistance necessary to diagnose and resolve problems that arise within that network.” Plaintiff (ECF No. 21-1, at 2 ¶ 2). Johnson as a Outsource Field Specialist. Desktop Support (ECF No. 11-3). Defendant employed Technician and an Defendant employed Plaintiff Phelan as a Systems Support Technician. (ECF No. 11- 5). Defendant employed Plaintiff Toomey as a Field Technician. (ECF No. 11-6). Defendant Desktop Support Technician. employed Plaintiff Willis as a (ECF No. 11-4).1 1 The parties refer to the four positions differently. Plaintiffs refer to the positions as Desktop Support Technicians/Engineers, Systems Support Technicians/Engineers, Outsource Field Department Technicians/Specialists, and Field Service Technicians/Engineers. (ECF No. 19-1, at 20 ¶ 106). Defendant refers to the positions as Desktop Engineer, Systems Engineer, Outsource Field Specialist, and Field Engineer. (ECF No. 21, at 4 n.2). The court will refer to the positions as Desktop Support Technician, Systems Support Technician, Outsource Field Specialist, and Field Technician. 3 On April 26, 2019, Plaintiff Willis and Defendant jointly moved for approval of acceptance of offer of judgment and entry of judgment. (ECF No. 34). On May 9, 2019, the court granted the joint motion and entered judgment in favor of Plaintiff Willis and against Defendant “in the amount of $2,850.00 in wages, $2,850.00 attorneys’ parties’ fees in and liquidated costs[.]” supplemental damages, (ECF briefing also No. and 36, $6,112.00 at addressed 1–2). the effect in The of Plaintiff Willis’s acceptance of the offer of judgment on the pending motion for conditional certification. (ECF No. 42; ECF No. 44). On August 20, 2019, Plaintiff Johnson and Defendant jointly moved for approval of acceptance of offer of judgment and entry of judgment. (ECF No. 45). court approve Plaintiff offer of judgment and The parties requested that the Johnson’s enter acceptance judgment in of favor Defendant’s of Plaintiff Johnson and against Defendant “in the amount of $5,250.00 in wages, $5,250.00 in liquidated attorneys’ fees and costs.” also indicated that damages, and $21,000.00 (ECF No. 45-1, at 1). Plaintiff Johnson’s in The parties acceptance was “conditioned on [Defendant] dismissing with prejudice the action which [Defendant] has initiated against [Plaintiff Johnson] in the Circuit Court for Baltimore County. . . and [Defendant] has agreed to that condition.” (Id., at 2). 4 The court denied the motion without prejudice because the parties failed to provide any information to support the requested attorneys’ fees and costs. the (ECF No. 46, at 7–8). presently pending Nevertheless, the court decided motions with the expectation that the parties will address the joint motion’s deficiencies and that Plaintiff Johnson will no longer proceed as a plaintiff in this action. II. Motion to Amend Plaintiffs filed a motion for leave to file an amended complaint on January 28, 2019. (ECF No. 19). A party may amend its pleading once as a matter of course within 21 days after serving it or within 21 days after service of a motion under Rule 12(b), whichever is earlier. Fed.R.Civ.P. 15(a)(1). When the right to amend as a matter of course expires, “a party may amend its pleading only with the consent or the court’s leave.” 15(a)(2) provides that courts opposing party’s written Fed.R.Civ.P. 15(a)(2). should “freely give leave Rule [to amend] when justice so requires,” and commits the matter to the discretion of the district court. See Simmons v. United Mortg. & Loan Inv., LLC, 634 F.3d 754, 769 (4th Cir. 2011). Denial of leave to amend is appropriate “only when the amendment would be prejudicial to the opposing party, there has been bad faith on the part of the moving party, or the amendment would be futile.” Edwards v. City of Goldsboro, 178 F.3d 231, 242 (4th Cir. 1999) 5 (emphasis in original) (quoting Johnson v. Oroweat Foods Co., 785 F.2d 503, 509 (4th Cir. 1986)). Leave to amend may be denied as futile “if the proposed amended complaint fails to satisfy the requirements federal rules[,]” including federal pleading standards. of the Katyle v. Perm Nat. Gaming, Inc., 637 F.3d 462, 471 (4th Cir. 2011) (quoting United States ex rel. Wilson v. Kellogg Brown & Root, Inc., 525 F.3d 370, 376 (4th Cir. 2008); Oroweat Foods Co., 785 F.2d at 510 (“Leave to amend, however, should only be denied on the ground of futility when the proposed amendment is clearly insufficient or frivolous on its face.” (citations omitted)). A pleading need not contain detailed factual allegations, but the plaintiff must allege enough facts to make the claim appear “plausible on its face.” Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570 (2007); see Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) (“Threadbare recitals of the elements of a cause of action, supported by mere (citation omitted)). conclusory statements, do not suffice.” Accordingly, denial of leave to amend is appropriate if the court, taking as true the allegations of the proposed amended pleading, would be compelled to dismiss the action. See Kellogg Brown & Root, 525 F.3d at 376. In the motion for leave to amend, Plaintiffs allege that Defendant filed lawsuits against Plaintiffs Johnson and Toomey 6 in Maryland state court “for a retaliatory purpose.”2 19, at 1 ¶ 5). Complaint (ECF No. Plaintiffs’ motion attaches a Proposed Amended (“PAC”) that alleges Defendant’s Plaintiffs Johnson and Toomey are baseless.” “claims against (Id. at 2, ¶ 9). The PAC also attaches affidavits from Plaintiffs Johnson and Toomey. (ECF No. 19-3; ECF No. 19-4). Defendant challenges Plaintiff’s motion on two grounds: (1) amendment would be futile; and, (2) amendment would be duplicative of the counterclaims raised by Plaintiffs Johnson and Toomey in the state court cases. Plaintiffs’ motion to amend (ECF No. 23, at 3–11). the complaint to include allegations that Defendant filed the lawsuit against Plaintiff Johnson for a retaliatory purpose will be denied. The parties represented accepted offer action of to the judgment against court and that that Plaintiff Plaintiff Defendant Johnson. Johnson agreed (ECF No. to dismiss 45-1, at an its 1–2). Plaintiff Johnson will not be proceeding in the case and the proposed amendments are moot with respect to him. 2 “Plaintiffs also seek to amend the Complaint to add the names of those who have filed their consent forms to become Party Plaintiffs.” (ECF No. 19, at 2 ¶ 10). Defendant “does consent to the filing of an amended complaint that would add those names.” (ECF No. 23, at 3 n.2) (emphasis in original). Plaintiff Willis and Plaintiff Toomey filed notices of consent. (ECF No. 3; ECF No. 5). Plaintiff Willis subsequently accepted an offer of judgment and the court approved the offer. (ECF No. 36). Plaintiffs may amend the complaint to add Plaintiff Toomey. 7 Defendant’s futile first because Defendant’s reasonable PAC basis in amended Toomey’s dealerships providing services [Defendant.]” or answer automobile that allege Plaintiff law. and (ECF by those amendment adequately Toomey No. [Defendant’s] dealerships (ECF No. 41-1, at 19 ¶ 5). at alleged included is that lacks 23, counterclaim responsibilities owned at to against fact job contends fails counterclaim Defendant’s Plaintiff the argument a 4). that “visiting clients and behalf of on Defendant elaborated that it assigned a vehicle to Plaintiff Toomey and Plaintiff Toomey agreed to “use the [v]ehicle performing” his responsibilities. only (Id.) for purposes of Defendant alleges that despite Plaintiff Toomey’s representation that he “would use the [v]ehicle only for responsibilities,]” purposes Plaintiff Toomey of performing “drove the [his [v]ehicle thousands of miles on personal frolics having nothing to do with his duties[.]” (Id. at 20, ¶¶ 6–8). raised a breach of contract claim. Defendant’s counterclaim (Id. at 20–21). In the PAC, “Plaintiff Toomey. . . denies a contract of employment with Defendant ever existed[]” and “that he ever used Defendant’s vehicle for personal frolics[.]” 19 ¶¶ 102-103). (ECF No. 19-2, at The PAC attaches a declaration from Plaintiff Toomey, in which he states that he “never signed a contract of 8 employment with Defendant” and vehicle for personal frolics.” he “did not use Defendant’s (ECF No. 19-4, at 2 ¶¶ 7–8). Defendant argues that the PAC’s allegations “are not only conclusory, but also false[.]” (ECF No. 23, at 10). Defendant attaches the affidavit of Defendant’s Vice President of Human Resources to attempt to prove Plaintiff Toomey “used the vehicle assigned to him for numerous personal frolics[.]” ECF No. 23-3, at 4–7 ¶¶ 8, 10–11)). “absent a judgment determining that (Id. (citing Defendant maintains that the [counterclaim is] without merit, the PAC could not possibly allege that [it lacks] a reasonable basis in law or fact.” Plaintiffs criticize (Id. at 11). Defendant’s reliance “on outside testimony and exhibits” and conclude “Defendant is not actually challenging the facial plausibility of the allegations in the. . . PAC, but rather the merits.” (ECF No. 28, at 6). Plaintiffs contend that Defendant is improperly requesting the court “to resolve factual disputes[]” and emphasize that “the ‘futility’ standard that governs amendments of pleadings does not permit consideration of materials outside the amended complaint.” (Id. at 6–7). “A plaintiff asserting a prima facie claim of retaliation under the FLSA must show that[:] (1) he engaged in an activity protected by the FLSA; (2) he suffered adverse action by the employer subsequent to or contemporaneous with such protected 9 activity; and (3) a causal connection exists between employee’s activity and the employer’s adverse action.” v. Detecon, Inc., 515 F.3d 334, 340 (4th Cir. 2008). the Darveau An employee suffers an adverse action by the employer when an employer files a lawsuit against the employee with a retaliatory motive and without a reasonable basis in fact or law. 343. Darveau, 515 F.3d at Plaintiffs’ PAC includes factual allegations, not merely legal conclusions, counterclaim. that attack the basis of Defendant’s Plaintiff Toomey contends that no contract, oral or written, existed with Defendant and that he did not use the vehicle for personal frolics. These allegations are more than bare conclusions that Defendant’s counterclaim is baseless. Espinoza v. Mex-Am Café, LLC, No. 14-cv-0030-NCT, 2015 See WL 5431949, at *7 (D.Md. Sept 15., 2015). Defendant’s second argument is also unavailing. Defendant contends that the proposed amendment is duplicative of Plaintiff Toomey’s counterclaim in the pending state court case. 23, at 11). (ECF No. However, Plaintiff removed that case to this court and Defendant subsequently amended its answer and included a counterclaim against Plaintiff Toomey. Toomey’s proposed amendment is counterclaim currently proceeding. 10 (ECF No. 41). not duplicative Plaintiff of any Plaintiffs’ motion to amend the complaint to include allegations that Defendant filed the lawsuit against Plaintiff Toomey for a retaliatory purpose will be granted. III. Motion for Conditional Facilitated Notice “Under action the against FLSA, their Certification plaintiffs employer for pursuant to 29 U.S.C. § 216(b).” Inc., 532 F.Supp.2d 762, 771 may and maintain violations for a Court- collective under the act Quinteros v. Sparkle Cleaning, (D.Md. 2008). Section 216(b) provides, in relevant part, as follows: An action. . . may be maintained against any employer. . . in any Federal or State court of competent jurisdiction by any one or more employees for and in behalf of himself or themselves and other employees similarly situated. No employee shall be a party plaintiff to any such action unless he gives his consent in writing to become such a party and such consent is filed in the court in which such action is brought. “This potential provision plaintiffs establishes must an ‘opt-in’ affirmatively scheme, notify their intentions to be a party to the suit.” the whereby court of Quinteros, 532 F.Supp.2d at 771 (citing Camper v. Home Quality Mgmt., Inc., 200 F.R.D. 516, 519 (D.Md. 2000). When deciding whether to certify a collective action under the FLSA, courts generally follow a two-stage process. Westat, Inc., 756 F.Supp. 2d 682, 686 (D.Md. 2010). Syrja v. In the first stage, commonly referred to as the notice stage, the court 11 makes a “threshold determination of ‘whether the plaintiffs have demonstrated that potential class members are similarly situated,’ such that court-facilitated notice to the putative class members would be appropriate.” F.R.D. at 519). Id. (quoting Camper, 200 In the second stage, following the close of discovery, the court determine whether conducts the a “more plaintiffs stringent are situated,” as required by § 216(b). in inquiry” fact to “similarly Rawls v. Augustine Home Health Care, Inc., 244 F.R.D. 298, 300 (D.Md. 2007). At this later stage, referred to as the decertification stage, the court makes a final decision about the propriety of proceeding as a collective action. Syrja, 756 F.Supp.2d at 686 (quoting Rawls, 244 F.R.D at 300). Plaintiffs here have moved for conditional certification of a collective action and they have requested court-facilitated notice to potential opt-in plaintiffs. “Determinations of the appropriateness of conditional collective action certification. . . are left to the court’s discretion.” Syrja, 756 F. Supp.2d at 686; see also Hoffman-La Roche, v. Inc. threshold issue discretion is Sperling, in 493 U.S. determining whether 165, whether Plaintiffs have 169 (1989). The to exercise such demonstrated that potential opt-in plaintiffs are “similarly situated.” 200 F.R.D. at 519 (quoting 29 U.S.C. § 216(b)). situated” does not mean “identical.” 12 Bouthner Camper, “Similarly v. Cleveland Constr., Inc., No. RDB-11-0244, 2012 WL 738578, at *4 (D.Md. Mar. 5, 2012) (citing Hipp v. Liberty Nat’l Life Ins. Co., 252 F.3d 1208, 1217 (11th Cir. 2001)). FLSA plaintiffs is “similarly Rather, a group of potential situated” if its members can demonstrate that they were victims of a common policy, scheme, or plan that violated the law. Mancia v. Mayflower Textile Servs. Co., No. 08-cv-0273-CCB, 2008 WL 4735344, at *3 (D.Md. Oct. 14, 2008); Quinteros, 532 F.Supp.2d at 772. To satisfy this standard, plaintiffs generally need only make a “relatively modest factual showing[]” that such common policy, scheme, or plan exists. Marroquin v. Canales, 236 F.R.D. 257, 259 (D.Md. 2006). standard The is lenient[,]” class.” Robinson v. Empire Equity Group, Inc., No. 09-cv-1603- Yeibyo WL v. 4018560, E-Park of at DC, *2 (D.Md. Inc., No. of Nov. a “typically in 2009 certification’ and results WDQ, ‘conditional “fairly 18, representative 2009) 07-cv-1919-DKC, (quoting 2008 WL 182502, at *7 (D.Md. Jan. 18, 2008)). To meet this burden and demonstrate that potential class members are “similarly situated,” Plaintiffs must set forth more than “vague allegations” with “meager factual support” regarding a common policy to violate the FLSA. D’Anna v. M/A COM, Inc., 903 F.Supp. 889, 894 (D.Md. 1995); Bouthner, 2012 WL 738578, at *4. Their evidence need not, however, enable the court to determine conclusively whether a class of “similarly situated” 13 plaintiffs exists, Bouthner, 2012 WL 738578, at *4, and it need not include evidence that the company has a formal policy of refusing to pay overtime, Quinteros, 532 F.Supp.2d at 772. Plaintiffs may rely on “[a]ffidavits or other means,” such as declarations showing. and deposition testimony, to make the required Williams v. Long, 585 F.Supp. 2d 679, 684–85 (D.Md. 2008); Essame v. SSC Laurel Operating Co., 847 F.Supp.2d 821, 825 (D.Md. 2012). Plaintiffs seek to certify conditionally the following class: All persons who worked as Desktop Support Technicians/Engineers, Systems Support Technicians/Engineers[,] Outsource Field Department Technicians/Specialist[s][,] and Field Service Technicians/Engineers, or in other positions with similar job duties, for Defendant at any time during the last three years prior to the filing of this Complaint through the entry of judgment (the ‘FLSA Collective’), and were compensated on a salary basis. (ECF No. 19-1, at 20 ¶ 106).3 duties and responsibilities Plaintiffs contend that “[t]he of [Desktop Support Technicians, Systems Support Technicians, Outsource Field Specialists, and Field Technicians] were substantially similar.” at 2). (ECF No. 11-1, They argue that “[t]heir tasks centered on manual labor 3 The citation to the PAC reflects that the court will grant Plaintiffs’ motion to amend. The initial complaint did not include Field Service Technicians in the proposed collective class. Compare ECF No. 1 at 15, ¶83 with ECF No. 19-1 at 20, ¶106. 14 and routine technical and service work.” argue that they are similarly situated (Id.) to Plaintiffs other technicians employed by Defendant because they “performed similar duties, worked similar schedules[,] and were paid in the same manner.” (Id. at 6). Defendant argues that the four positions do not have similar responsibilities, that Defendant compensated the four positions differently, conclusory and Defendant also inappropriate lack and that Plaintiffs’ foundation. argues because that the (ECF declarations No. conditional parties’ 21, at 3–17). certification contrasting are positions is on whether the positions are exempt under the FLSA “could lead to discrete battles. . . regarding whether each of the positions can lawfully be treated as exempt, but also whether certain individuals who served in a particular position were exempt and others were non-exempt.” (Id. at 18). Defendant also raises an argument that potential plaintiffs serving as Desktop Support Technicians cannot be similarly situated “to anyone serving in the other positions at issue because the statute of limitations on any claim that any [Desktop Support Technicians]. . . could hypothetically Defendant salary 2016. have converted employees (Id. at will expire Desktop by Support to non-exempt, 5, 18). February Technicians hourly Defendant 15 2019[]” employees also because from exempt, in February contends that it discontinued certain of the practices Plaintiffs support their assertion that they worked overtime. describe to (Id. 18–20). Defendant also contends that its counterclaim against Plaintiff Toomey and Plaintiff Willis’s acceptance of an offer of judgment (and, presumably, Plaintiff Johnson’s acceptance of an offer of judgment) counsel against conditional certification because they present manageability concerns. (ECF No. 42, at 1–3). The “salient flaw” in Defendant’s various arguments is that they “delve[] too deeply into the merits of the dispute; such a steep plunge is inappropriate for such an early stage of a FLSA collective action.” Essame, 847 F.Supp.2d at 826. Here, Plaintiffs have made a modest factual showing that they are similarly situated Defendant. to other technicians who worked for Plaintiffs submitted declarations that despite their different job titles, their job responsibilities were largely the same. lacking this Defendant attacks these declarations as conclusory, foundation, circuit conditional usually and consider declarations certification inappropriate certification.” self-serving, and for but when district deciding “credibility the courts in motions for determinations are question of conditional Id. at 825; see also Butler v. DirectSAT USA, LLC, 876 F.Supp.2d 560, 571 (D.Md. 2012). Moreover, although Defendant distinguishes between the positions, “plaintiffs can be similarly situated even though 16 there are distinctions in their job titles, functions, or pay.” Robinson v. Empire Equity Group, Inc., No. 09-cv-1603-WDQ, 2009 WL 4018560, at *3 (D.Md. Nov. 18, 2009). A “fact-intensive inquiry” into the distinctions in job responsibilities alleged by Defendant “is inappropriate at the notice stage, as Plaintiff[s] [are] seeking only conditional certification.” Long v. CPI Sec. Sys., Inc., 292 F.R.D. 296, 303 (W.D.N.C. 2013). arguments are similarly premature. Defendant’s argument “that its Defendant’s manageability See id. at 303 (rejecting separate and particularized compensation plans for each of its classifications will mandate highly individualized inquiries into each plaintiff’s claim[]” because “[t]his type of class manageability argument. . . is more appropriate at the motion to decertify phase[]”); Robinson, 2009 WL 4018560, at *4 (rejecting as premature Defendant’s argument “that a collective suit is inappropriate because the individualized inquiries into each [prospective plaintiff’s] exempt status will render the action unmanageable”). Finally, Helion’s manageability argument regarding its counterclaim against Plaintiff Toomey merits additional comment. As Chief Judge Bredar noted, several courts “have been hesitant to permit an employer to file counterclaims in FLSA suits for money the employer claims the employee owes it, or for damages the employee’s “clutter[ing] tortious these conduct proceedings 17 allegedly caused[,]” with minutiae the because of other employer-employee relationships purposes of the” FLSA. would be antithetical to the Yassa v. EM Consulting Gp., Inc., 261 F.Supp.3d 564, 566 (D.Md. 2017) (citations and quotation marks omitted). Allowing an employer to avoid conditional certification by counterclaiming against its employees would be similarly antithetical to the FLSA. Plaintiffs’ motion for conditional certification will be granted. Plaintiff requests that the court order: Defendant to produce a list of all persons employed by Defendant as Desktop Support Technicians/Engineers, Systems Support Technicians/Engineers, Outsource Field Department Technicians/Specialists, and Field Service Engineers, or in other positions with similar job duties, at any time during the applicable statutory period, including each person’s name, job title, last known address and telephone number, last known personal email address, dates of employment, location[s] of employment and social security number (last four digits only)[.] (ECF No. 11, at 1). Defendant objects to this request and contends: Plaintiffs have provided no specification whatsoever as to what those “other positions with similar job duties” might be. It is Plaintiffs’ burden to not only identify the job positions as to which conditional certification is sought, but also [to] articulate why those positions are situated similarly to other identified positions. Given the absence of any such identification and description. . . [the court] should reject Plaintiffs’ suggestion that any job positions other than the four (4) specific 18 positions referenced in the Motion should be considered with respect for conditional certification.” ECF No. 21, at 1 n.1). Plaintiff replies that the putative class “must include those ‘in other positions with similar job duties[]’” because Defendant claimed Plaintiff Johnson was the only Outsource Field Specialist during the relevant time period, despite also “submit[ing] documents others performing the same duties.” showing that there were (ECF No. 24, at 8). Plaintiffs demonstrated that they are similarly situated to other employees working in the conditional certification purposes. the burden duties.” of identifying “other four named positions for Defendant should not bear positions with similar job Plaintiffs must endeavor to undertake a discussion with Defendant about how to describe the job duties common to the four named positions. For example, the parties may agree that Defendant should identify all persons employed by Defendant to provide computer installation and network support services to Defendant’s clients, on site at a client’s location or remotely, and who received assignments to provide such services through digital tickets, including Desktop Support Technicians, Systems Support Technicians, Technicians. Outsource Field Specialists, and Plaintiff did not submit a proposed notice. Field The court will order the parties to attempt to draft an acceptable notice and notification plan and to attempt to resolve their 19 disagreement regarding the identification of other employees outside the named positions. IV. Motion to Consolidate Plaintiffs filed the motion to consolidate on January 31, 2019. (ECF No. 22). On March 15, 2019, the parties’ Joint Status Report noted that “[t]he argument to consolidate Helion v. Toomey [No. 19-0037] is now moot.” (ECF No. 31, at 2 n.1). Nonetheless, the Toomey case, No. 19-0037, remains pending. The parties are directed to notify the court within 28 days whether No. 19-0037 may be dismissed without prejudice. On July 3, 2019, the parties’ Joint Status Report noted that the argument to consolidate Helion v. Johnson, No. 19-0036 is also now moot. (ECF No. 37, at 2 ¶¶ 2–3). The motion to consolidate will therefore be denied as moot. V. Conclusion For the foregoing reasons, the motion to amend will be denied in part and granted in part; Plaintiffs’ motion for conditional certification and court-authorized notice will be granted; and Plaintiffs’ motion to consolidate will be denied as moot. A separate order will follow. /s/ DEBORAH K. CHASANOW United States District Judge 20
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