JIT SHI GOH v. COCO ASIAN CUISINE, INC. and FATT SENG LIM
Civ. No. 15-6310 (KM) (MAH)
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY
April 11, 2016
MCNULTY, U.S.D.J.
NOT FOR PUBLICATION
MEMORANDUM OPINION
MCNULTY, U.S.D.J.:
The plaintiff, Jit Shi Goh (“Goh“), brings this purported class action seeking to recover unpaid wages and overtime pay under the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA“),
Now before the Court are the motions of Defendants to dismiss the complaint for lack of subject matter jurisdiction pursuant to
LEGAL STANDARDS
Although a complaint need not contain detailed factual allegations, “a plaintiff‘s obligation to provide the grounds of his entitlement to relief requires more than labels and conclusions.” Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007) (internal quotations omitted). The factual allegations must be sufficient to raise a plaintiff‘s right to relief beyond the merely speculative level to demonstrate that the claim is “plausible on its face.” Id. at 570; see also
DISCUSSION
A. Subject Matter Jurisdiction
Defendants argue that the Court lacks subject matter jurisdiction over this action because diversity is lacking. Although diversity jurisdiction is one basis for invoking the jurisdiction of federal courts, federal question jurisdiction is another: “The district courts shall have original jurisdiction of all civil actions arising under the Constitution, laws, or treaties of the United States.”
A federal question being present, the Court may exercise supplemental jurisdiction over Plaintiff‘s NJWHL claim.
B. Failure to State a Claim
Defendants also move to dismiss the complaint for failure to state a claim under the FLSA or the NJWHL. The FLSA “establishes federal minimum-wage, maximum-hour, and overtime guarantees that cannot be modified by contract.” Genesis Healthcare Corp. v. Symczyk, — U.S. —, —, 133 S.Ct. 1523, 1527, (2013). Section 206 prescribes the minimum wage, stating that “[e]very employer shall pay to each of his employees ... not less than ... $7.25 hour.”
Defendants argue that plaintiff has no claim because Coco Asian Cuisine does not meet the FLSA‘s definition of an “enterprise,” and that Goh is not a covered “employee.”
The FLSA minimum wage and overtime requirements offer two avenues to coverage, referred to as “individual coverage” and “enterprise coverage.” Juan Su v. Guang Yang Li, 2011 WL 3329882, at *1 (D.N.J. Aug. 1, 2011). Individual coverage attaches when the employee is “engaged in commerce or in the production of good for commerce.” Enterprise coverage attaches when the employee is “employed in an enterprise engaged in commerce or in the production of goods for commerce.”
(i) has employees engaged in commerce or in the production of goods for commerce, or that has employees handling, selling, or otherwise working on goods or materials that have been moved in or produced for commerce by any person; and
(ii) is an enterprise whose annual gross volume of sales made or business done is not less than $500,000
Defendants also appear to argue that Goh should not be considered an “employee” under the FLSA. Defendants contend that Goh was “not merely an employee, rather he was a shareholder, chief chef, and manager of the business.” (Br. at 7) I find this argument to be without merit. The FLSA defines “employer” as “any person acting directly or indirectly in the interests of an employer in relation to an employee.”
Finally, Defendants argue that the complaint fails to state a claim that Goh was not paid minimum wage and/or overtime because Goh was paid $4,740.00 per month, rather than the $3,600.00 alleged in the complaint. The discrepancy, say Defendants, arises from the fact that Goh received additional compensation in the form of room and board. Again, this raises factual matters inappropriate for consideration on a motion to dismiss.
I do note a potential problem, however, that should be explored in discovery and may arise in connection with summary judgment. Setting aside
CONCLUSION
For the reasons set forth above, Defendants’ motions to dismiss the complaint are DENIED. An appropriate Order follows.
Dated: April 11, 2016
HON. KEVIN MCNULTY, U.S.D.J.
