Coffin v. Blessey Marine Services
United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
771 F.3d 276, 2015 AMC 99 (2014)
- Written by Carolyn Strutton, JD
Facts
Keith Coffin and other tankermen (the tankermen) (plaintiffs) were vessel-based workers on barges owned by Blessey Marine Services (Blessey) (defendant). The tankermen’s duties including loading and unloading the barges. The tankermen sued Blessey under the Fair Labor Standards Act, seeking overtime pay. Blessey filed a motion for summary judgment, alleging that the tankermen were seamen and therefore exempt from the overtime provisions of the FLSA. The district court held that the tankermen were not seamen because unloading and loading a vessel was non-seaman work and denied Blessey’s motion. Blessey filed an interlocutory appeal challenging the denial.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Jolly, J.)
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