When employers owe overtime
Merritt v. Texas Farm Bureau
In brief
- Where it stands
- Dismissed
Petition denied.
- What it’s about
- Jerry Merritt says he worked 816 overtime hours while his employers let him work as much as he wished.
- Who it affects
- The Fifth Circuit ruling remains in place for Merritt and his employers, but the Supreme Court's refusal to hear the case does not endorse it.
Summary: written with AI from the case record.
What it's about
The Fifth Circuit ruled they did not owe him overtime pay because they did not know he was working those extra hours; Merritt asked the Supreme Court to review that ruling.
The record describes 816 hours of overtime as undisputed. Merritt says his employers let him work as much as he wished.
The dispute concerns overtime pay under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
Question presented
Whether an employer who permits an employee to work as much as the employee wishes “employs” the worker under the FLSA for overtime worked, or must the worker also show the employer knew about the overtime work?
Documents
Docket activity
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AI analysis generated: Case Briefing
AI analysis generated: Decision Record
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Brief added: Petition
Sources
Primary materials plus reporting. Best-effort analysis: this explainer relies on a mix of primary materials and trusted secondary sources. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.