Benton v. Telecom Network Specialists, Inc.

Opinion

ZELON, J.

INTRODUCTION

Plaintiffs filed a wage and hour class action lawsuit against Telecom Network Specialists, Inc. (TNS), alleging, among other things, violation of meal and rest break requirements and failure to pay overtime. The proposed class consisted of approximately 750 cell phone tower technicians, most of whom were hired and paid by staffing companies that contracted with TNS. The remainder of the technicians—approximately 15 percent of the proposed class—were hired and paid by TNS directly. Plaintiffs alleged that TNS was the employer of both categories of technicians and…