In a compelling legal dispute, an individual has taken a bold step against a corporation, accusing it of violating labor laws. On November 15, 2024, John Blake Campbell filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana against Pedal Valves, Inc., alleging significant breaches of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and state wage payment laws.
The lawsuit details Campbell's employment journey with Pedal Valves, which began in October 2023 when he was hired as an independent contractor to install water meters for Lafayette Utilities System (LUS). However, due to concerns raised by LUS about incomplete installations, Campbell transitioned to a W-2 employee role in December 2023. His new responsibilities involved pre-locating water meters for other installers, with promises of $15 per hour and weekly gas reimbursements. Despite these assurances, Campbell claims he regularly worked over 40 hours per week without receiving appropriate overtime compensation. For instance, during the week of December 11-17, 2023, he logged 44 hours but was compensated for only 40.
Campbell’s grievances extend beyond unpaid overtime. He alleges that his final paycheck in May 2024 was short by six non-overtime hours. His attempts to resolve these discrepancies through communication with supervisors Jarred Crozier and Andrew Wilke were met with silence or dismissive responses. On September 20, 2024, after months of unfruitful negotiations with Pedal Valves regarding his unpaid wages, Campbell warned the company of impending legal action if they failed to address his concerns within five days—a warning that went unheeded.
The plaintiff accuses Pedal Valves of willfully neglecting its legal obligations under both federal and state law. The FLSA mandates time-and-a-half pay for hours worked beyond forty in a workweek—a requirement Campbell asserts was blatantly ignored by his employer. Additionally, under the Louisiana Wage Payment Act (La. Rev. Stat. §§ 23:631-632), employers must settle all owed wages promptly upon termination; another obligation Pedal Valves allegedly failed to meet.
In seeking justice through the court system, Campbell is requesting expedited trial proceedings and demands comprehensive restitution from Pedal Valves. His claims include all unpaid wages plus liquidated damages as stipulated by federal law. Furthermore, he seeks penalties under state law for delayed wage payments alongside attorney fees and associated costs.
Representing John Blake Campbell are attorneys Charles J. Stiegler from Stiegler Law Firm LLC and Robert B. Landry III from Robert B. Landry III PLC. The case is presided over by judges at the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana under Case ID: 2:24-cv-02692.