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Powell v. State of Florida
Citations: 132 F.3d 677; 4 Wage & Hour Cas.2d (BNA) 638; 1998 U.S. App. LEXIS 270Docket: 96-5119
Court: Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit; January 9, 1998; Federal Appellate Court
Original Court Document: View Document
James E. Powell, representing himself and similarly situated employees, appealed the dismissal of his class action lawsuit against the State of Florida for back wages related to overtime work, alleging misclassification as "excluded" employees to avoid paying overtime under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The Eleventh Circuit upheld the district court's dismissal based on the State's Eleventh Amendment immunity, referencing the precedent set in *Seminole Tribe of Florida v. Florida* and various other circuit court decisions that affirm states' immunity from such claims. Additionally, the court confirmed that the right to seek injunctive relief under the FLSA is exclusively held by the U.S. Secretary of Labor, citing statutory provisions and supporting case law. The court noted that individuals, including Powell, are limited to pursuing legal remedies and cannot seek injunctive relief on their own. Consequently, the appeal regarding the need for opt-in notification for class members was deemed moot. The court's decision was affirmed.