Celine Dion Sued for Failure to Pay Overtime to Employee

Keith Sturtevant, a former employee of singer Celine Dion, has filed suit in U.S. District Court in Florida, claiming he was never compensated for overtime work he did for Dion and her husband. Sturtevant claims that other employees of the couple have been similarly denied wages.

According to the lawsuit, Sturtevant was classified as a “warehouse manager” in order to exempt him from overtime laws. However, Sturtevant alleges that this was a false classification because he worked in the warehouse alone, and thus had no other employees to exert managerial powers over. The complaint also states that Sturtevant would perform household duties for Dion, including “fixing ice makers, cleaning the house shutters, building stages, and repairing kitchen items.” Further, the lawsuit claims that the only individual to have been designated an employee and paid overtime was Scott Hyde, who is the estate manager’s brother.

Sturtevant is seeking compensation for the overtime pay he and other employees are owed. He is also asking for unspecified “liquidated damages” as well as attorneys’ fees and costs.

Federal law, under the Fair Labor Standards Act, requires employers to pay employees at a rate not less than time and one-half for any time worked over a regular 40 hour week. California law also requires overtime pay for workdays exceeding eight hours or workweeks exceeding 40 hours. Employees must also be compensated for working more than six consecutive days in a workweek.

If you have not been compensated by your employer for working overtime, contact Khorrami, LLP for a confidential consultation.