We are pleased to announce an important recent development in Matthew Hodge, et al. v. North Carolina Department of Public Safety, et al., our North Carolina wage and hour case on behalf of thousands of correctional officers. On February 8, 2024, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina granted class certification in that case, certifying a class defined as “[a]ll current and former non-exempt, hourly-paid employees of DAC who worked as security personnel in a correctional institution at any time between October 28, 2016 and the date of judgment.” This is a significant win for more than 16,000 correctional officers across the state of North Carolina.
The lawsuit, filed on behalf of correctional officers and sergeants employed at various correctional facilities across the State of North Carolina, alleges violations of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act and breach of contract. The complaint contends that the Defendants failed to pay the correctional officers and sergeants for all hours worked, including straight-time and overtime hours spent performing pre- and post-shift activities critical to maintaining facility safety and security.
This milestone marks a significant step forward in our ongoing pursuit of justice for these hardworking individuals. Our commitment to upholding fair labor standards and advocating for the rights of workers remains steadfast as we continue to prosecute this case to its successful conclusion.
The DiCello Levitt attorneys working on Matthew Hodge, et al. v. North Carolina Department of Public Safety, et al. are Adam Levitt and Laura Reasons.