About The Case

Lambro vs. the United States: Case Summary

Background

Jason Lambro, on behalf of himself and others, sued the United States under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Lambro claimed that Voice of America (VOA), a federal agency, should have given him benefits like overtime pay. He wasn't officially a federal employee, but he argued that he should be treated as one under the FLSA because of how he worked for VOA.

Key Points

  1. Work Relationship: Lambro worked as a studio technician for VOA since 2002 through various contracts, which stated he wasn't an employee.

  2. Control and Supervision: Lambro claimed VOA controlled his work a lot, like not letting him subcontract, set his own schedule, and making him use VOA's equipment and do extra tasks.

Arguments

  • Lambro’s Side: He argued that because VOA controlled his work so much, he should be considered an employee under the FLSA, which broadly defines "employ" as allowing someone to work.

  • Government’s Side: The government said that only people officially appointed or hired under specific laws could be federal employees under the FLSA.

Court’s Decision

The Court of Federal Claims first dismissed Lambro’s case, saying the FLSA didn’t apply to him because he wasn’t officially a federal employee.

However, the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit disagreed and reversed the decision. They said the FLSA’s definitions should be used to decide if Lambro was an employee. The court noted that the FLSA looks at the actual work relationship, not just official titles or contracts.

Final Verdict

The Federal Circuit vacated (canceled) the dismissal and sent the case back for further review to see if Lambro was an employee under the FLSA’s standards.

Implications

This case shows that the FLSA’s broad definitions can apply to federal workers. It means that how someone is treated in their work, not just their official job title is important in deciding if they are an employee under the FLSA.

What’s Happened Since

Lambro isn’t the only contractor owed unpaid wages from government entities. The team at Whitcomb, Selinsky, PC is gearing up to help additional plaintiffs join the collective lawsuit to recover what is owed to them. For more information about qualifying for or joining the lawsuit, click the button below.