SAN FRANCISCO — A former University of Southern California football player recently hit the NCAA and PAC-12 with an unpaid overtime lawsuit claiming he and other student athletes are actually employees of the colleges they played for and therefore are owed years of unpaid wages. The lawsuit is just the latest piece of litigation to hit college sports as athletes from around the country demand the right be paid for their play, unionize, and recover compensation for traumatic brain injuries they claim they were not properly warned about.
Attorneys for the plaintiff filed the suit in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California asking the court to grant the claim class action status. While the unpaid overtime lawsuit is still in its early stages, potentially thousands of student athletes in California and across the country could join in if the court allows the claim to move forward and certify its class action status.
The plaintiff was a member of the USC Trojans football team from 2011 to 2015. During that time, he claims he and other student athletes in the NCAA and PAC-12 met the requirements to be considered employees under Federal and state labor laws and should be compensated for the hours they spent practicing and playing football.
Furthermore, the claim alleges that while working as employees for the school, team members frequently worked over 40 hours per week and therefore are entitled to overtime payments. Under California state labor laws, employees who work more than eight hours in a day are entitled to one and a half times their regular rate of pay for overtime hours.
Under the Fair Labor Standard Act (FLSA) and state wage laws, individuals misclassified as overtime exempt workers can file unpaid overtime lawsuits to recover their back wages. Additionally, courts may also award additional compensation for liquidated damages, attorneys fees, and other relief the court may see fit to award, depending on the circumstances of the case.
Class Action 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.
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.