Bethany Katz, et al. v. DNC Services Corp. d/b/a Democratic National Committee, et al.

United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

Docket No: 16-5800

Counsel: Justin Swidler, Richard Swartz

On November 9, 2016, Bethany Katz, an organizer who worked directly for the Pennsylvania Democratic Party (“PDP”), filed a federal lawsuit, on behalf of herself and all other organizers who worked for the Pennsylvania Democratic Party (“PDP”), in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania asserting that the PDP violated federal and state law by requiring her and others to work in excess of 40 hours per workweek while denying her and others overtime compensation guaranteed by the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”) and various state laws.

After significant preliminary motion practice, rhe Court allowed the claims against the PDP to continue.  Earlier this year, the Court conditionally certified the matter as a collective action under the FLSA, and order that Organizers who worked for the PDP may join the lawsuit by filing a consent form.  If you wish to join the lawsuit and worked for the PDP as an Organizer, you may complete the consent form below.

This lawsuit is not an attack on the Democratic Party, its ideals, or its candidates. Rather, Plaintiffs recognize that the Democratic Party strives to meaningfully advance, and is indeed responsible for the very laws on which this lawsuit is premised. The Democratic Party is commended for its efforts in pursing higher and fairer wages for workers throughout the country. But the “Democratic Party” is not an abstraction; it is composed of hard working individuals who fight day and night for what they believe is right. The people on the ground level of the campaigns – the organizers – work tirelessly during the campaign season to ensure that Democratic voters will show up and vote on election day. Such tireless efforts are taken to advance the ideals of the Democratic Party, including to advance the rights of workers. The fight for higher minimum wages is central to the Democratic Party’s national platform.

This lawsuit seeks fair pay for fair work. It seeks to hold the Democratic Party to the very ideals that Democrats have worked so hard to achieve for workers throughout this country. In so holding the Party to these ideals, Plaintiffs sincerely believe that we will improve the Party.

What the Lawsuit Seeks
The lawsuit seeks to have the District Court hold that organizers who worked for the PDP are entitled to overtime pay for hours worked beyond 40 per workweek. The lawsuit seeks judgment for those who opt in to the case for unpaid overtime hours and liquidated damages. Provided Plaintiffs are successful, those who opt-in may be entitled to recover thousands dollars or more, depending on the length of time employed by the campaign and the number of hours worked per workweek.

Litigation is not a guarantee
As with all litigation, there is no guarantee that Plaintiffs will prevail. Plaintiffs claims are yet unproven, and the relief they seek may ultimately not be granted. The Defendants assert that their employees are not entitled to the protections of the FLSA. Specifically, the Defendants have argued that the their employees have no legal right to be paid overtime or minimum wage for the hours they worked.

Organizers and Field Organizers who worked for the PDP may join the lawsuit by filing a consent form.
The Plaintiffs seek to bring their claims on behalf of all organizers who worked directly for the PDP. The Court has conditionally certified the matter as a collective action. You may submit a consent form below, which will be filed with the District Court. By filing a consent form, you will be joining the action. If you do not submit a consent form, you will not be entitled to receive compensation in this case for federal wage and hour violations. If you wish to recover unpaid overtime but do not wish to file a consent form, you may file a new lawsuit and hire your own attorney to bring such claims separately. However, if you wish to assert your rights and obtain compensation from the case, you must file a consent form.

Swartz Swidler, LLC has taken this case on a contingency fee. They may be entitled to receive attorneys’ fees and costs from Defendants should there be a recovery or judgment in favor of the Plaintiffs. If there is a recovery, Swartz Swidler, LLC will receive a part of any settlement obtained or money judgment entered in favor of all members of the class or their fees will be paid separately by the PDP. If there is no recovery or judgment in Plaintiffs’ favor, Swartz Swidler, LLC will not seek any attorney’s fees or costs from any of the Plaintiffs.