MIAMI – A former paralegal for a Miami Lakes law firm claims it owes her more than $20,000 in unpaid overtime, according to a federal lawsuit.
Plaintiff Eileen Ruisanchez filed her lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
The named defendants are Steszewski Law PA and Jonathan Steszewski.
In her five-page complaint, Ruisanchez alleges the law firm violated the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, or FLSA.
The FLSA, passed in 1938, sets baseline standards for minimum wage, overtime pay, recordkeeping, and child labor.
Ruisanchez began her employment with the firm in August 2024 as a paralegal at its Miami Lakes office. According to the filing, she earned a $75,000 salary.
“Although Plaintiff was paid a salary, Plaintiff was a non-exempt employee whose primary duties consisted of performing paralegal and legal-support work at the direction of Defendants and their attorneys,” the complaint states.
She notes in her filing that she did not have the authority to hire or fire employees, did not manage a department or subdivision of the firm, and did not exercise independent authority concerning “matters of significance” sufficient to exempt her from the overtime requirements of the FLSA.
Her regular work schedule consisted of 40 hours per week in the office.
In addition to her regular working hours, Steszewski required Ruisanchez to remain available after normal business hours and on weekends, to respond to any work-related phone calls and communications, and to address work matters as they came up.
“Plaintiff routinely performed compensable work during evenings and weekends, including responding to work-related calls and communications and performing work requested or required by Defendants,” the complaint states.
As a result, she contends she regularly worked about 45 hours per week.
Ruisanchez argues the defendants were well aware she was performing the additional work.
Despite this, she alleges they failed to compensate her at the required overtime rate for hours worked in excess of 40 hours each workweek.
Ruisanchez estimates she worked five unpaid hours each week, for 89 weeks over two years.
According to her calculations, she alleges she is owed $24,262 in unpaid overtime compensation.
She seeks damages, including liquidated damages, pre-judgment interest and attorney fees.
The Law Offices of Levy & Levy PA in Coral Springs, Florida, is representing Ruisanchez in the lawsuit.
