Lawrence v. City of Philadelphia, Pa.

OPINION OF THE COURT

SLOVITER, Circuit Judge.

It is generally known that by law an employer must pay time-and-a-half for overtime. It is less well-known that certain employment is exempt. We must decide an issue of first impression in this circuit, that is whether paramedics employed by the City of Philadelphia Fire Department have “legal authority and responsibility” for fire suppression activities within the meaning of the Fair Labor Standards Act, thereby bringing them among the exemptions.

I

Background

Appellants are Fire Service Paramedics (“FSPs”) employed by the City of Philadelphia Fire…