Brouwer v. Metropolitan Dade County ( 1998 )

United States Court of Appeals,
Eleventh Circuit.
No. 97-4802
Non-Argument Calendar.
Elena BROUWER, on behalf of herself and all others similarly situated, Plaintiff-Appellant,
Alejandro Rodriguez, Plaintiff,
v.
METROPOLITAN DADE COUNTY, a political subdivision of the State of Florida, Defendant-
Appellee.
April 20, 1998.
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. (No. 96-1730-CV-
DLG), Donald L. Graham, Judge.
Before ANDERSON, EDMONDSON and DUBINA, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:
Plaintiff appeals from the district court's order granting Defendant's motion to dismiss. We
conclude that the district court properly granted the motion and affirm.
Background
Plaintiff Elena Brouwer was summoned for jury service in Dade County, Florida, for two
days. She was paid nothing for her service. As a result, Plaintiff filed a complaint against
Defendant Metropolitan Dade County claiming that, under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA),
29 U.S.C. § 201 et seq., she is entitled to be paid minimum wage ($4.25/hour) and overtime
($6.37/hour) for her services. Plaintiff filed this action on behalf of herself and all other similarly
situated jurors: Dade County jurors who received no compensation or compensation less than
minimum wage.
Defendant filed a motion to dismiss arguing that no employer/employee relationship existed
to subject jury service to the provisions of the FLSA. The district court granted the motion after
concluding that jurors were not covered by the FLSA: they are not "employees" of the county under
the FLSA. Plaintiff appeals the district court's decision.
Discussion
We review a district court's grant of a motion to dismiss de novo. See McKusick v. City of
Melbourne, Fla., 96 F.3d 478, 482 (11th Cir.1996). In doing so, we view the facts in the light most
favorable to the Plaintiff. See Welch v. Laney, 57 F.3d 1004, 1008 (11th Cir.1995). In addition, the
determination of employment status under the FLSA is a question of law. See Villarreal v.
Woodham, 113 F.3d 202, 205 (11th Cir.1997).
That Dade County falls within the FLSA's definition of "employer" is undisputed. See 29
U.S.C. § 203(d). The question in this case is whether the relationship between Plaintiff and Dade
County was an employment relationship.1 Although the scope of coverage under the FLSA is broad,
the Supreme Court has cautioned that the Act's coverage has limits. See Tony & Susan Alamo
Found. v. Secretary of Labor, 471 U.S. 290, 294-95, 105 S.Ct. 1953, 1958, 85 L.Ed.2d 278 (1985).
To determine whether an employment relationship existed, we look at the "economic reality"
of all the circumstances. See Goldberg v. Whitaker House Coop., Inc., 366 U.S. 28, 31-33, 81 S.Ct.
933, 936, 6 L.Ed.2d 100 (1961); Aimable v. Long & Scott Farms, 20 F.3d 434, 439 (11th Cir.1994).
Plaintiff argued to the district court that the test established in Welch v. Laney, 57 F.3d at 1011,
1
Congress's intent seems to be that jurors would not be considered employees under the
FLSA. Like state employees, federal employees are protected by the FLSA. But, a separate
statute, 28 U.S.C. § 1871(b)(1), provides for the compensation of federal jurors; and, more
important, the compensation for federal jurors is less than minimum wage.
2
should apply.2 But as the district court explained, the factors in Welch were used to determine who,
among many, was the plaintiff's employer—not whether an employment relationship existed at all.3
"Jury service is a duty as well as a privilege of citizenship; it is a duty that cannot be shirked
on a plea of inconvenience or decreased earning power." Thiel v. Southern Pac. Co., 328 U.S. 217,
222-24, 66 S.Ct. 984, 987, 90 L.Ed. 1181 (1946). This duty and privilege does not amount to
employment. See generally North Carolina v. Setzer, 42 N.C.App. 98, 256 S.E.2d 485, 488 (1979)
("[J]ury duty is not a form of employment....").
We see the relationship between Plaintiff (and those similarly situated) and Dade County as
the district court did. The district court described the true relationship of jurors to the county:
Jurors are completely different from state [or county] employees. Jurors do not apply for
employment, but are randomly selected from voter registration lists. Jurors are not
interviewed to determine who is better qualified for a position; the State summons all
available persons who meet the basic requirements.... Jurors do not voluntarily tender their
labor to the state, but are compelled to serve. Jurors are not paid a salary, rather they receive
a statutorily mandated sum regardless of the number of hours worked. Jurors are not eligible
for employment benefits, do not accrue vacation time, annual or sick leave and do not
qualify for health or life insurance. The state does not have the power to fire jurors for poor
performance, but must accept their verdict. In short, there is no indicia of an employment
relationship between state court jurors and Dade County.
2
On appeal, Plaintiff argues that the analysis in Antenor v. D & S Farms, 88 F.3d 925 (11th
Cir.1996), should apply to this case. But the factors used in Antenor specifically apply to
determining whether a farmworker is jointly employed by two or more produce growers. See
Antenor, 88 F.3d at 932. Antenor involved no question about whether an activity was
employment at all, but involved a decision on who, among many, was the employer.
3
Even using the factors set out in Welch, Plaintiff probably loses. The factors of whether the
employer exerted control over the employee and whether the employer had the power to hire and
to fire lead to the conclusion that Plaintiff was not employed by Dade County. Dade County
could not hire or fire Plaintiff as a juror and could not exert much control over Plaintiff in how
she performed the duty of juror.
3
District Court Order at 7-8; see generally Johns v. Stewart, 57 F.3d 1544, 1558-59 (10th Cir.1995)
(using similar considerations such as lack of application by plaintiff for employment, lack of sick
or annual leave, no job security, no Social Security or pension benefits). We agree with the district
court's analysis of the circumstances. No employment relationship existed in this case; and, thus,
Plaintiff is entitled to no minimum wage under the FLSA.
AFFIRMED.
4