LOS ANGELES — A former linebacker for the University of Southern California (USC) recently filed an appeal after a U.S. District Court judge threw out his minimum wage and unpaid overtime lawsuit against the PAC-12 sports conference and the NCAA. The lawsuit claimed that an employer-employee relationship existed between the athletic organizations and that the student-athletes participating in the school’s football programs are therefore due back pay for minimum wage and overtime.
The plaintiff’s lawsuit claimed the PAC-12 and NCAA violated the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and California wage and labor laws by refusing to compensate athletes for all the many hours devoted to training, study, and playing football. The defendants filed a motion to dismiss the case in November of 2016, which a federal judge in San Francisco recently granted, asserting there was no legal foundation to suggest an employment relationship existed between the two parties.
Originally filed in September of 2016 in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, the former football player’s minimum wage and overtime pay lawsuit claimed that because the student-athletes were required to show up for practices at set times, adhere to rules, and made money for both the conference and NCAA, the players were employees. Unfortunately for the plaintiff and other student-athletes, the courts have yet to recognize such a relationship between schools and players.
College Athletes Continue to Fight for Wages
Other current and former college athletes have filed similar lawsuits against the NCAA and other member schools asserting an employer-employee relationship. In February of 2016, a federal judge in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana dismissed a claim brought by University of Pennsylvania track and field athletes against the NCAA and over 100 other member schools.
In August of 2015, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRA) struck down an effort to hold an election and organize football players at Northwestern University into a union. Like many other wage and labor lawsuits, defendants in these cases expend tremendous effort to avoid paying individuals for all their hard work and hours spent on the job.
Unpaid Overtime Lawsuits
Call (855) 754-2795 or complete the Free Unpaid Overtime Case Review form on the top right of this page if you feel that your wage rights are being violated under the FLSA. Our top-rated team of unpaid wage lawyers will evaluate your situation to determine your best course of action to help you seek justice and recover much needed compensation.
Our office will also determine if it is in your best interest to file a lawsuit against your employer. Because strict time limitations apply for filing these types of claims, we advise you contact our experienced unpaid overtime wage attorneys at your earliest convenience and preserve your legal rights.