Milner v. Farmers Insurance Exchange

OPINION

ANDERSON, RUSSELL A., Chief Justice.

This аppeal concerns a class action lawsuit brought under the Minnesota Fair Labor Standards Act (MFLSA or the Act) by a group of claims representatives against their employer, Farmers Insurance Exchange (Farmers). A jury found that the claims representatives were misclassified as “exempt,” but the jury awarded no compensatory damages. Based on the conclusion that Farmers violated the MFLSA by misclassifying the claims representatives and failing to keep any time records for them, the district court granted injunctive relief and ordered Farmers to pay $376,000 in civil penalties and $1.8 million in attorney fees to the claims representatives. The court of appeals affirmed in part as modified, reversed in part, and remanded. The court of appeals concluded that the district court had the authority to issue an injunction and impose civil penalties, but that civil penalties are payable to the state and the use of a multiplier in calculating the attorney fee award is inаppropriate. We affirm in part and reverse in part and hold that (1) an employer’s misclassification of employees as exempt from the MFLSA, standing alone, is not a violation of the Act, but the failure to make and keep the required wage and hour records is a violation; (2) the MFLSA authorizes district courts to issue equitable relief in the form of injunctions and civil penalties when an employer has violated the Act, and compensatory damages are not a prerequisite for such relief; (3) civil penalties assessed under the MFLSA are payable to the state; and (4) attorney fees awards must reflect the limited degree of success achieved by the plaintiffs. We remand to the district court for recalculation of the civil penalties and attorney fees.

The MFLSA establishes minimum wage and overtime compensation standards that apply to all employees who are not specifically exempt from the requirements of the Act. Minn.Stat. §§ 177.21-.35 (2006); see MinmStat. § 177.23, subd. 7 (defining employees cоvered by the MFLSA). 1 The overall purpose of the MFLSA is to ensure “compensation standards that maintain workers’ health, efficiency, and general well-being.” Minn.Stat. § 177.22. The Act exempts many categories of work from the requirements of the MFLSA, including the claimed exemption here: individuals employed in a bona fide administrative capacity. MinmStat. § 177.23, subd. 7(6). For enforcement purposes, employers are required to “make and keep a record of’ the wages and hours worked by each employee subject to the MFLSA. Minn.Stat. § 177.30. The Act can be enforced by the Commissioner of Labor and Industry or through civil actions brought by private parties. Minn.Stat. § 177.27, subds. 7, 8.

In this case, named plaintiffs Gary Mil-ner, James Oliver, Toni Bjerke, and Annette Barrett brought a multi-count putative class action complaint against their employer, Farmers, in Hennepin County District Court on behalf of themselves and a class of similarly situated claims representatives. The plaintiffs claimed that Farmers violated the MFLSA by classifying them as exempt from the requirеments of the Act and failing to pay them overtime compensation. See Minn.Stat. § 177.25, subd. 1 (generally requiring overtime compensation “for employment in excess of 48 hours in a workweek at a rate of at least 1-1/2 times the regular rate at which the employee is employed”). 2 Farmers asserted that the claims representatives were employed in a bona fide administrative capacity and therefore were exempt from the requirements of the Act. See Minn. Stat. § 177.23, subd. 7(6); Minn. R. 5200.0200 (2007) (setting forth tests to determine the status of employees under the administrative exemption).

The plaintiffs sought the following remedies in their amended complaint: (1) compensatory damages for the failure to pay overtime compensation; (2) a declaratory judgment setting forth the rights of the plaintiffs and the obligations of Farmers with respect to compensation and penalties; (3) an accounting of the compensation, statutory interest, and penalties owed; and (4) injunctive relief. 3 The plaintiffs also sought attorney fees, costs, and expenses, and “any and all remedies and relief allowed under Minn.Stat. § 177.27.”

The district court certified the class, and the case was tried to a Hennepin County jury. During the 10-day trial, the bulk of the evidence focused on the claims representatives’ job duties and responsibilities relevant to the exemption for bona fide administrative employees. The parties also presented lay and expert testimony regarding the number of hours the plaintiffs worked and the amount of back pay the plaintiffs were owed. Farmers admitted that it did not keep the records required by the MFLSA for any of the plaintiffs because Farmers considered the claims representatives exempt.

A special verdict form submitted to the jury asked about the classification of the claims representatives and damages. The jury found that the claims representatives were not employed in a bona fide administrative capacity and therefore were not exempt from the requirements of the MFLSA. 4 With respect to compensatory damages, the jury was asked “what amount of money will adequately and fairly compensate” the claims representatives “for unpaid overtime hours worked over 48 hours per week” during the 5-year class period, to which the jury answered “0.”

After the jury returned its verdict, Farmers moved for judgment in its favor under Minn. R. Civ. P. 58.01. At the same time, the plaintiffs asked the district court to consider additional issues they claimed were reserved for the court, including the issues of injunctive relief and civil penalties. The court determined that the appropriate judgment under Rule 58.01 “must include consideration of both the jury’s verdict and any other issues reserved for the Court’s consideration.” Therefore, the court denied Farmers’ request for entry of judgment on the verdict. Because the special verdict established that Farmers misclassified the claims representatives as “exempt,” the court determined that the plaintiffs were entitled to relief under Minn.Stat. § 177.27, including injunctive relief, civil penalties, and attorney fees.

The district court concluded that Farmers “violated numerous sections” of the MFLSA over 5 years by (1) “refusing to classify the Class as employees within the meaning of the Act”; (2) “misclassifying Plaintiffs and the Class as ‘administrative’ employees and ‘exempt’ from overtime protection”; and (3) “failing to keep any time records at all for the Plaintiffs and the Class.” Based on these findings, the court enjoined Farmers from misclassify-ing Minnesota claims representatives as exempt and ordered Farmers to “immediately implement procedures to track the time for each day worked” in accordance with Minn.Stat. § 177.30. The court also concluded that “a significant civil penalty should be imposed.” The court ordered Farmers to pay the individual employee-litigants a civil penalty of $500 per person, per pay period worked during the class period. Although there were almost 200 members in the class, only 25 plaintiffs were subject to the district court’s order because of an injunction in a parallel class actiоn proceeding in federal court. 5 The civil penalties totaled $376,000. In addition, the district court awarded over $1.8 million in attorney fees and costs.

The court of appeals affirmed in part as modified, reversed in part, and remanded. Milner v. Farmers Ins. Exch, 725 N.W.2d 138, 147 (Minn.App.2006). The court of appeals concluded that the district court had the authority to order injunctive relief and civil penalties under the MFLSA but that civil penalties are payable to the state, not to the individual litigants. Id. at 144-45. The court of appeals also concluded that the district court did not abuse its discretion in determining that the plaintiffs were the prevailing party and awarding attorney fees using the lodestar method. Id. at 145-47. However, the court of appeals determined that the district court abused its discretion in applying a 1.5 multiplier to the lodestar amount. Id. at 146-47. The court of appeals remanded for recalculation of the attorney fees award without the use of a multiplier. Id. at 147. 6

We granted review to consider the scope of aсtionable violations under the MFLSA and the circumstances under which equitable relief and enhanced attorney fees may be awarded in MFLSA actions brought by private parties. We now consider (1) whether misclassification of employees is a violation of the MFLSA and in what circumstances private parties may seek civil penalties and injunctions; (2) whether the district court’s findings of fact, conclusions of law, and order were proper in light of the special verdict; and (3) whether the district court abused its discretion in awarding attorney fees.

I.

This case presents questions of first impression regarding the interpretation and application of the MFLSA. The aim in statutory interpretation “is to give effect to the intention of the legislature in drafting the statute.” Educ. Minn.-Chisholm v. Indep. Sch. Dist. No. 695, 662 N.W.2d 139, 143 (Minn.2003). We review questions of statutory interpretation de novo. E.g., In re GlaxoSmithKline plc, 732 N.W.2d 257, 264 (Minn.2007).

A. Misclassification

We first consider whether an employer’s misclassification of employees as exempt from the protections of the MFLSA, standing alone, constitutes a violation of the Act. Even though thе plaintiffs did not establish that Farmers failed to pay them overtime pay, the district court treated the miselassification of the plaintiffs as a violation of the MFLSA. The district court concluded that Farmers violated Minn. Stat. § 177.23, subd. 7(6), “by refusing to classify the Class as employees within the meaning of the Act.” Section 177.28, subd. 7(6), defines an “employee,” as relevant here, as “any individual employed by an employer,” but not including “any individual employed in a bona fide executive, administrative, or professional capacity.” The court of appeals did not directly address this issue.

Farmers argues that the district court erred in concluding that Farmers violated Minn.Stat. § 177.23, subd. 7(6), because this “is simply a definition of the term ‘employee,’” not a substantive provision that can be “violated.” According to Farmers, an employer cannot violate the definition of ‘employee.’ Farmers advocates that we conclude the MFLSA, like the Federal Fair Labors Standards Act (FLSA) does not make mere classification a violation. See 29 U.S.C. §§ 201-19 (2006). Although mеre miselassification is not considered a violation under the FLSA, 7 the FLSA is not dispositive here because it is structured differently than the MFLSA.

We begin our analysis by looking at the language of the statute. The legislature was not precise in delineating the scope of actionable violations under the MFLSA. Essentially, the legislature identified the entire Act. In the context of suits by private parties, the statute provides that “[a]n employee may bring a civil action seeking redress for a violation or violations of sections 177.21 ‍‌‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‍to 177.35 directly to district court.” Minn.Stat. § 177.27, subd. 8. Sections 177.21 to 177.35 encompass every section of the MFLSA, even those sections setting forth the proper citation of the Act, the statement of purpose of the Act, the powers and duties of the Division of Labor Standards, the powers and duties of the Commissioner, and the manner of appealing an administrative rule. See Minn.Stat. § 177.21 (stating that sections 177.21 to 177.35 “may be cited as the ‘Minnesota Fair Labor Standards Act’ ”); Minn.Stat. § 177.22 (setting forth the purpose of the MFLSA); Minn.Stat. § 177.26 (setting forth thе powers and duties of the Division of Labor Standards and Apprenticeship in the Department of Labor and Industry); Minn.Stat. §§ 177.27-.28 (setting forth the powers and duties of the Commissioner, including the adoption of administrative rules); Minn.Stat. § 177.29 (specifying the manner of appeal for persons “aggrieved by an administrative rule issued under section 177.28”). Although every section of the MFLSA, including section 177.23, falls within the literal scope of actionable violations under section 177.27, the legislature clearly did not contemplate that an employer could be civilly liable for misciting the Act, violating the purpose of the Act, or improperly seeking an appeal of an administrative rule. See also Minn.Stat. § 177.32, subd. 1(9) (providing a criminal penalty for employers that “violat[e] any provision of sections 177.21 to 177.35”).

Therefore, in determining the scope of actionable violations, we focus on whether a section of the MFLSA is capable of being violated by an employer. The term “violate” includes a “failure to comply with” a statutory requirement. See Minn. Stat. § 645.44, subd. 17 (2006). Key to our analysis is determining whether there is an affirmative requirement imposed upon the employer to take or not take certain action under the Act. Several sections of the MFLSA do impose an affirmative requirement on the employer with respect to “employees” covered by the Act — for example, the obligation to pay minimum wages under section 177.24; the obligation to pay overtime compensation under section 177.25; the obligation to provide rest and meal breaks under sections 177.253 and 177.254; and the obligation to make and keep records under section 177.30.

There is no similar obligation with respect to the classification of employees under section 177.23. Section 177.23 is merely a list of definitions and does not impose any affirmative requirement upon which a “violation” may be based. The preface to the definitions in section 177.23 provides generally that “the following terms, for the purposes of sections 177.21 to 177.35, have the meanings given to them in this sectiоn.” Minn.Stat. § 177.23, subd. 1. The definition of “employee” at issue here simply provides that an employee does not include any individual employed in a bona fide administrative capacity. Minn.Stat. § 177.23 subd. 7(6). Neither this section nor any other section of the MFLSA mentions the terms “classification” or “misclas-sification” in the context of the definition of “employee,” and the Act does not specify the actions an employer must take to classify employees properly. It is true that employers are required to make and keep records of each employee’s name, address, occupation, pay, and hours under section 177.30, but an employer’s failure to make and keep these records constitutes a violation of section 177.30, not section 177.23.

We thus conclude that civil liability does not arise under the definition of “employee” in section 177.23. An employer’s act of misclassifying an employee, without more, does not constitute a violation of the MFLSA.

B. Civil Penalties and Injunctive Relief

We next address the plaintiffs’ entitlеment to civil penalties and injunctive relief. Farmers argues that civil penalties and injunctive relief may be imposed only by the Commissioner. Alternatively, Farmers argues that such relief is available in civil actions brought by private parties only when the plaintiffs are first awarded compensatory damages. The plaintiffs argue that civil penalties may be imposed whenever a violation of the Act occurs, regardless of whether the employee is entitled to compensatory damages, and civil penalties are payable to individual litigants, not, as the court of appeals concluded, the state.

1. District Court’s Authority to Impose Civil Penalties and Injunctive Relief

We first consider the district court’s authority to impose civil penalties and injunc-tive relief. The MFLSA authorizes the Commissioner to enforce the Act. See Minn.Stat. § 177.27 (giving the Commissioner the power to inspect businesses; issue compliance orders; bring a civil action; issue cease-and-desist orders; order back pay, gratuities, and compensatory and liquidated damages; and assess civil penalties). Subdivision 7 of section 177.27 delineates the remedies the Commissioner can impose when an employer is found to have violated the Act:

If an employer is found by the commissioner to have violated a section identified in subdivision 4, or any rule adopted under section 177.28, and the commissioner issues an order to comply, the commissioner shall order the employer to cease and desist from engaging in the violative practice and to take such affirmative steps that in the judgment of the commissioner will effectuate the purposes of the section or rule violated. The commissioner shall order the employer to pay to the aggrieved parties back pay, gratuities, and compensatory damages, less any amount actually paid to the employee by the employer, and for an additional equal amount as liquidated damages. Any employer who is found by the commissioner to have repeatedly or willfully violated a section or sections identified in subdivision 4 shall be subject to a civil penalty of up to $1,000 for each violation for each employee.

The MFLSA, however, does not vest the power to enforce the Act solely in the Commissioner. The Act allows employees to bring civil actions to enforce the MFLSA. Under subdivision 8 of section 177.27, an employee may seek wages, gratuities, and overtime compensation, as well as liquidated damages and “other appropriate relief provided by subdivision 7 and otherwise provided by law.”

Thus, under the plain language of subdivision 8, the relief provided by subdivision 7 is available to a private party in a civil action and includes civil penalties, as well as injunctive relief. Subdivision 7 specifically provides for civil penalties for repeated or willful violations of the MFLSA. In addition, subdivision 7 authorizes the Commissioner to order employers to cease and desist from engaging in “violative practices” and to take affirmative steрs to comply with the Act. The legislature intended that the district court’s powers mirror those of the Commissioner, and district court injunctions are the functional equivalent of administrative cease-and-desist orders. See Bernard Schwartz, Administrative Law § 2.26 (3d ed. 1991).

Accordingly, we conclude that employees may seek injunctive relief and civil penalties in actions brought in district court. We note that this conclusion does not mean that private parties have all the powers of the Commissioner; rather, the statute grants private parties the right to seek the remedies available to the Commissioner under subdivision 7.

2. Threshold Requirement for Civil Penalties and Injunctive Relief

Even if the district court is authorized to award civil penalties and injunctive relief, Farmers argues that these remedies are available in civil actions only when the plaintiffs are entitled to compensatory damages. Subdivision 8 describes the remedies available in civil actions by private parties:

An employer who pays an employee less than the wages and overtime compensation to which the employee is entitled under sections 177.21 to 177.35 is liable to the employee for the full amount of the wages, gratuities, and overtime compensation, less any amount the employer is able to establish was actually paid to the employee and for an additional equal amount as liquidated damages. In addition, in an action under this subdivision the employee may seek damages and other appropriate relief provided by subdivision 7 and otherwise provided by law.

Minn.Stat. § 177.27, subd. 8 (emphasis added). Farmers argues that the words “[i]n addition” in the second sentence indicate that there must be unpaid wages or overtime compensation before an employee may seek “other appropriate relief provided by subdivision 7.” The court of appeals rejected this argument, concluding that “the plain meaning of the ‘in addition’ language * * * is not limiting, but rather it is granting.” Milner, 725 N.W.2d at 143. We similarly conclude that the statute is clear and unambiguous, and the plain meaning of the words “in addition” doеs not limit the circumstances in which an employee can seek the remedies of subdivision 7. Moreover, this conclusion is appropriate considering that an employee may bring a private suit for the violation of any section of the MFLSA, including a failure to maintain records. Minn.Stat. § 177.27, subd. 8. Although such a violation may not result in compensatory damages, other relief, such as civil penalties or injunctions, may be appropriate.

S. Recipient of Civil Penalties

The final issue of statutory interpretation we address is determining to whom civil penalties are payable. The plaintiffs argue that the court of appeals erred in concluding that civil penalties are payable to the state, not to individual litigants. Farmers argues that the court of appeals correctly concluded that civil penalties are payable to the state.

The MFLSA does not specify to whom civil penalties are to be paid, either when assessed by the Commissioner or by a district court. In the absence of any plain languаge in the MFLSA dictating to whom civil penalties are payable, we look to other related statutes for guidance. “Statutes should be read as a whole with other statutes that address the same subject.” Harris v. County of Hennepin, 679 N.W.2d 728, 732 (Minn.2004); see Minn. Stat. § 645.16(5) (2006) (stating that when the words of a statute are not explicit, the intention of the legislature may be ascertained by considering, among other matters, “other laws upon the same or similar subjects”). In addition, we presume that “the legislature intends to favor the public interest as against any private interest.” Minn.Stat. § 645.17 (2006).

In this case, we look to the Minnesota Payment of Wages Act (PWA), Minn. Stat. §§ 181.01-.171 (2006). The PWA is a related act that covers employment and wages, is enforced by the Commissioner of Labor and Industry, and is referenced in the MFLSA. See Minn.Stat. § 177.27, subd. 4. While the MFLSA addresses minimum wage and hour standards, the PWA addresses how often wages must be paid and establishes penalties for wages that are paid late. See Minn.Stat. §§ 181.10-.15. The PWA also has similarities to the MFLSA in that its provisions can be enforced by either the Commissioner or by an employee in a privatе action. See Minn.Stat. §§ 181.101, 181.13, 181.171. Thus, together, these acts provide a comprehensive statutory scheme for wages and payment in Minnesota and should be interpreted in light of each other. ‍‌‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‍We decline to look to the federal FLSA, as it is structured differently from the MFLSA. We also decline to look to the Minnesota Human Rights Act, as suggested by the court of appeals, Milner, 725 N.W.2d at 145, because that act is broader than the MFLSA and does not pertain exclusively to employment. See MinmStat. §§ 363A.01-.41 (2006). 8

Under the PWA, penalties are paid to the individual employee, even when the Commissioner collects the money. See, e.g., MinmStat. § 181.101 (“Money collected by the commissioner must be paid to the employee concerned.”). The PWA also specifically provides that an employer found to have violated the PWA “is liable to the aggrieved party” for civil penalties. Minn.Stat. § 181.171, subd. 1.

If the legislature had intended the same result under the MFLSA, the legislature would have used similar language and explicitly provided for civil penalties to be paid to the individual employees. For . example, in enforcement actions brought by the Commissioner under the MFLSA, the legislature specifically provides for the employer to pay “to the aggrieved parties” back pay and compensatory damages, as well as liquidated damages. Minn.Stat. § 177.27, subd. 7. The legislature did not include civil penalties within this particular provision. See id. (stating that an employer found to have repeatedly or willfully violated the MFLSA “shall be subject to a civil penalty”). And the legislature did not specify a different result for civil actions brought by employees. See Id., subd. 8. Therefore, we hold that civil penalties are payable to the state under the MFLSA, regardless of whether the penalties are assessed by the Commissioner or the district court.

II.

We turn next to the question of whether the district court erred in applying the MFLSA in this case. Specifically, Farmers contests the district court’s finding that Farmers violated the recordkeeping provisions of the MFLSA and the district court’s finding (in the context of awarding civil penalties) that the plaintiffs routinely worked over 48 hours a week. Farmers argues that the district court’s findings regarding recordkeeping and overtime hours — which along with miselassification supported the imposition of civil penalties totaling $876,000 — amount to nullification of the jury’s verdict of no damages.

“[A] special verdict form is to be liberally construed to give effect to the intention of the jury and on appellate review it is the court’s responsibility to harmonize all findings if at all possible.” Kelly v. City of Minneapolis, 598 N.W.2d 657, 662 (Minn. 1999). Issues of fact that are not submitted to the jury on the special verdict form are left to the district court to decide. Minn. R. Civ. P. 49.01(a) (providing that if “any issue of fact raised by the pleadings or by the evidence” is omitted from the special verdict form, then “each party waives the right to a trial by jury of the issue so omitted”). The district court’s authority to make findings is not without limit, however. In Onvoy, Inc. v. ALLETE, Inc., we held that the factual findings made by a jury “are binding upon the district court” as it makes its own findings regarding equitable claims. 736 N.W.2d 611, 617 (Minn.2007). We analyze the district court’s findings regarding record-keeping and overtimе hours worked (as reflected in the award of civil penalties) in light of these principles.

A. Recordkeeping

The district court found that Farmers did not maintain the required wage and hour records for the claims representatives and thus concluded that Farmers violated Minn.Stat. § 177.30. Farmers does not dispute the fact of the recordkeeping violation; rather, Farmers disputes whether the plaintiffs pleaded a violation of the recordkeeping provision in their complaint and whether the issue of recordkeeping was raised by the evidence during trial. No questions were submitted to the jury regarding recordkeeping. Provided that the issue of recordkeeping was pleaded or raised by the evidence, the issue was within the district court’s authority under Minn. R. Civ. P. 49.01(a).

We have held that “[i]n the furtherance of justice, pleadings are to be liberally construed.” Sollar v. Oliver Iron Mining Co., 237 Minn. 170, 175, 54 N.W.2d 114, 117 (1952). The recordkeeping provision of the MFLSA was referenced in the complaint, and Farmers admitted in its answer that it did not keep records pursuant to the MFLSA. We conclude that Farmers was on notice of the issue of recordkeeping from the pleadings. Furthermore, recordkeeping was an issue at trial. For instance, when a liability claims manager for Farmers was asked whether Farmers had made any efforts to determine how many hours the claims representatives were actually working, the manager answered that Farmers had not. In addition, the plaintiffs’ expert testified that Farmers did not collect information on the actual hours worked by the various claims representatives. Indeed, the plaintiffs would have had no need for an expert witness to calculate the number of hours worked had Farmers kept records as required by the MFLSA.

We conclude that recordkeeping was raised by both the pleadings and the evidence at trial. Because the issue of recordkeeping was not submitted to the jury on the special verdict form, the court was within its authority pursuant to Minn. R. Civ. P. 49.01(a) to make factual findings regarding the recordkeeping requirements of the MFLSA.

B. Bases for Civil Penalties Award

Farmers also argues that the district court’s award of civil penalties was inconsistent with the jury’s special verdict. The MFLSA states that civil penalties may be awarded for repeated or willful violations of the Act. Minn.Stat. § 177.27, subd. 7. The district court imposed civil penalties in this case based on two violations: (1) Farmers’ misclassification of the claims representatives as exempt from the MFLSA and (2) Farmers’ failure to maintain records required by the MFLSA.

Having determined that misclassification does not constitute a violation of the MFLSA, we conclude that the district court erred in basing the award of civil penalties on Farmers’ misclassification of the claims representatives as exempt. Civil penalties are fitting, however, for the recordkeeping violations, notwithstanding the lack of compensatory damages. The statute specifically provides that civil penalties may be assessed for repeated or willful violations of any section of the MFLSA. See Minn.Stat. § 177.27, subd. 7. The failure of an employer to maintain records is an obstacle for emplоyees like the plaintiffs here trying to pursue claims for unpaid overtime compensation. When employers do not maintain the required records, it becomes difficult for employees to meet their burden of proof with respect to compensatory damages.

We next address the amount of the civil penalty. If an employer is found to have repeatedly or willfully violated the Act, the employer “shall be subject to a civil penalty of up to $1,000 for each violation for each employee.” Minn.Stat. § 177.27, subd. 7. The two statutory factors relevant to determining the amount of a civil penalty are “the size of the employer’s business and the gravity of the violation.” Id. In addressing the size of Farmers’ business, the district court described Farmers as “a large, national, sophisticated employer” that collected between $3 and $4 billion in premiums annually. In addressing the gravity of the violations, the court based its award, in part, on a finding that the claims representatives worked “very long hours,” routinely in excess of 48 hours per week. The court also found that Farmers “misclassified employees for at least 12,870 pay periods and more than 120,000 work days.” Based on these findings, the court concluded that “a significant civil penalty” was warranted. The district court imposed a civil penalty of $500 per employee, per pay period worked during the class period.

Farmers asserts that the district court’s finding regarding the overtime hours worked by the plaintiffs is an improper basis for calculating civil penalties because the finding is inconsistent with the jury’s special verdict. We agree. While the jury was not asked how many hours per week the claims representatives worked, the jury was asked what amount of money would compensate the claims representatives for the overtime hours they worked, to which the jury answered “0.” As a predicate to determining the amount of compensatory damages owed, the jury would necessarily have to consider how many hours, if any, over 48 hours per week the claims representatives worked. Since the jury found that the claims representatives were not entitled to any compensatory damages, the district court’s finding that the claims representatives routinely worked in excess of 48 hours is inconsistent with the jury’s special verdict and cannot stand under Onvoy. Thus, although a civil penalty is appropriate in this case, we remand to the district court to reconsider the amount of the civil penalty without using the miselassifieation violation or the overtime hours worked by the claims representatives as bases for the award.

III.

Finally, we consider the attorney fees award. Generally, we review an award of attorney fees for an abuse of discretion. E.g., Gully v. Gully, 599 N.W.2d 814, 825 (Minn.1999).

In suits brought by private parties, the MFLSA directs courts to award attorney fees when an employer has violated any part of the Act:

In any action brought pursuant to subdivision 8, the court shall order an employer who is found to have committed a violation or violations of sections 177.21 to 177.35 to pay to the emplоyee or employees reasonable costs, disbursements, witness fees, and attorney fees.

Minn.Stat. § 177.27, subd. 10. Because we conclude that Farmers violated the MFLSA by failing to keep the required pay and time records under Minn.Stat. § 177.30, the plaintiffs are entitled to reasonable attorney fees.

The issue here is the reasonableness of the attorney fees award. The district court awarded total attorney fees of $1,887,268, using the lodestar method and applying a multiplier of 1.5. The court of appeals affirmed the district court’s calculation of the lodestar amount but concluded that an enhanced attorney fees award is inappropriate and remanded for an award of the lodestar amount without the multiplier. Milner, 725 N.W.2d at 146-47. Both Farmers and the claims representatives challenge the modified attorney fees award. Farmers argues that (1) the district court did not correctly calculate the lodestar amount because the district court failed to scrutinize the reasonableness of the hours and rates submitted by the plaintiffs’ attorneys, and (2) the award should be reduced to reflect the limited results obtained. The plaintiffs argue that the court of appeals erred in eliminating the 1.5 multiplier. We conclude that the $1.8 million attorney fees award does not reflect the plaintiffs’ limited success on their claims. We reverse and remand for recalculation of the lodestar amount and for redetermination of the attorney fees award without the use of a multiplier.

A The Lodestar Amount

We have approved the use of the lodestar method for determining reasonable attorney fees. See Specialized Tours, Inc. v. Hagen, 392 N.W.2d 520, 542 (Minn. 1986) (characterizing the procedure ‍‌‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‍set forth by the Supreme Court in Hensley v. Eckerhart, 461 U.S. 424, 103 S.Ct. 1933, 76 L.Ed.2d 40 (1983), as “a sensible and fair approach”). The lodestar method “requires the court to determine the number of hours ‘reasonably expended’ on the litigation” multiplied by “ ‘a reasonable hourly rate.’ ” Anderson v. Hunter, Keith, Marshall & Co., 417 N.W.2d 619, 628 (Minn.1988) (quoting Hensley, 461 U.S. at 433,103 S.Ct. 1933).

In determining the reasonableness of the hours and the reasonableness of the hourly rates, the court considers “all relevant circumstances.” State v. Paulson, 290 Minn. 371, 373, 188 N.W.2d 424, 426 (1971). Factors considered in determining reasonableness include “the time and labor required; the nature and difficulty of the responsibility assumed; the amount involved and the results obtained; the fees customarily charged for similar legal services; the experience, reputation, and ability of counsel; and the fee arrangement existing between counsel and the client.” Id. at 373, 188 N.W.2d at 426; see also Hensley, 461 U.S. at 430 n. 3, 103 S.Ct. 1933 (listing additional factors relevant to the determination of reasonable attorney fees). 9 When the reasonableness of the requested attorney fees is challenged, the district court must “provide a ‘concise but clear explanation of its reasons for the fee award.’ ” Anderson, 417 N.W.2d at 629-30 (quoting Hensley, 461 U.S. at 437, 103 S.Ct. 1933).

In this case, the district court determined that the total number of hours submitted by the plaintiffs’ attorneys, reduced by 10 percent, “as well as the rates charged by the Plaintiffs’ attorneys are reasonable.” Applying the Paulson factors, the district court found that (1) “the time and labor necessary to prosecute this class action was substantial and warranted”; (2) the ease “was a significant and complex one”; (3) “the Plaintiffs’ attorneys secured substantial benefits not only for the Class, but also for all future [Farmers] claims representatives” in Minnesota; and (4) the hourly rates normally charged by the plaintiffs’ attorneys and paralegals are reasonable and are “comparable to those charged by equally competent attorneys and paralegals in their respective communities.” The district court did not make specific findings on the experience, reputation, and ability of counsel; or the fee arrangement between counsel and the plaintiffs.

In challenging the attorney fees award, Farmers claims that the district court failed to scrutinize the reasonableness of the hours . and rates submitted by the plaintiffs’ attorneys and simply accepted them at face value. Farmers notes that at the district court level, it objected to the hours and rates submitted by the plaintiffs’ attorneys “on numerous grounds, including block billing, undocumented work, duplicatiоn of effort, and work unrelated to any claim or issue in the case.” Further more, Farmers argues that most of the hours claimed by the plaintiffs’ attorneys “were expended attempting to prove that the class was entitled to damages for unpaid overtime hours worked, a claim which wholly failed.”

As an initial matter, we conclude that the district court did not abuse its discretion in determining that the hourly rates charged by the plaintiffs’ attorneys are reasonable. The district court reached this conclusion after reviewing “a detailed study,” which, according to the district court, “evidenc[ed] that their respective hourly rates are comparable to those charged by equally competent attorneys and paralegals in their respective communities.”

Our focus here is on the reasonableness of the hours expended by the plaintiffs’ attorneys. Although we have observed that the district court is in a better position than this court to determine the reasonableness of the hours expended, we also have stated that when a party has challenged this component of an attorney fees claim, the district court must “scrutinize” the claim and “either make findings or otherwise concisely explain why it felt the hours claimed are reasonable or unreasonable.” Anderson, 417 N.W.2d at 629-30. In this case, the district court did not specifically address Farmers’ challenge to the reasonableness of the hours expended, other than to note that, “[djespite Farmers’ assertions, the Plaintiffs’ attorneys did do a good job in this litigation and did obtain a successful result for their clients.” The district court did not mention, let alone consider anywhere in its attorney fees analysis, the plaintiffs’ complete failure to prove their claim for millions of dollars in unpaid overtime compensation. 10 The district court simply stated in a con-clusory fashion that “the time and labor necessary to prosecute this class action was substantial and warranted,” and that after “reviewing] all the documents submitted,” the court “has determined that the total number of hours worked submitted by the [plaintiffs’ attorneys] (reduced by 10%)” are reasonable. The district court did not give any reason for reducing the hours by 10 percent and did not give a clear explanation as to why those reduced hours are reasonable.

We conclude that, given Farmers’ challenge to the reasonableness of the charges, the district court did not provide the clear explanation required to support the reasonableness of the attorney fees award. In particular, the district court did not account for the failure of the plaintiffs to achieve their primary objective — compensatory damages for unpaid overtime hours worked. As the Eighth Circuit has observed, “Minnesota courts consider the results obtained critical to the award.” First State Bank of Floodwood v. Jubie, 86 F.3d 755, 761 (8th Cir.1996) (citing Specialized Tours, 392 N.W.2d at 542). “[T]he results obtained factor is particularly crucial where a plaintiff is deemed ‘prevailing’ even though he succeeded on only some of the claims for relief.” Anderson, 417 N.W.2d at 630 (internal quotation marks omitted); see also Hensley, 461 U.S. at 436, 103 S.Ct. 1933 (commenting that even when a case involvеs interrelated claims, using the hours expended on the litigation as a whole may result in an attorney fees award that is excessive). 11

In this case, the district court found that the plaintiffs’ attorneys obtained “a successful result for their clients” because they established that Farmers violated the MFLSA and Farmers was assessed a large civil penalty and is now paying its claims representatives in Minnesota overtime pay. Although these achievements did not result in any monetary relief for the plaintiffs, they are properly considered in assessing the plaintiffs’ success in this litigation. For example, several federal circuits measure success not only by looking at the difference between the judgment recovered and the recovery sought, but also by looking at the significance of the legal issues on which the plaintiff prevailed and the public purpose served by the litigation. See, e.g., Brandan v. Kansas, 168 F.3d 1179, 1181 (10th Cir.1999) (citing Farrar v. Hobby, 506 U.S. 103, 121-22, 113 S.Ct. 566, 121 L.Ed.2d 494 (O’Connor, J., concurring)); Scott v. Sunrise Healthcare Corp., No. 95 C 1277, 1999 WL 787624, at *2 (N.D.Ill. Sept. 23, 1999) (recognizing that FLSA cases “are affected with the public interest, and the value of such a suit to the public may exсeed its limited monetary value” to the plaintiffs).

The achievement of some success, however, does not necessarily support a significant attorney fees award. The attorney fees award must reflect “the degree of success obtained.” Hensley, 461 U.S. at 436, 103 S.Ct. 1933 (emphasis added). “A reduced fee award is appropriate if the relief, however significant, is limited in comparison to the scope of the litigation as a whole.” Id. at 440, 103 S.Ct. 1933. The court should focus on whether the hours expended are reasonable in relation to the overall relief obtained. See id. at 435-36, 103 S.Ct. 1933; see also Farrar, 506 U.S. at 114, 113 S.Ct. 566 (stating that when recovery of private damages is the purpose of the litigation, “a district court, in fixing fees, is obligated to give primary consideration to the amount of damages awarded as compared to the amount sought” (internal quotation marks omitted)).

Applying these standards here, we conclude that while the plaintiffs are entitled to reasonable attorney fees for proving that Farmers violated the MFLSA by failing to keep the required records, the plaintiffs’ fаilure to recover any compensatory damages on their primary claim must be taken into account in determining the reasonableness of the hours expended on this litigation. At trial, the plaintiffs sought millions of dollars in damages for unpaid overtime compensation, but the jury found they were entitled to nothing. The claim for unpaid overtime compensation was the central issue at trial. Because it is not clear that the district court gave any consideration to the plaintiffs’ failure to recover compensatory damages in determining the hours reasonably expended on the litigation, we conclude that the district court’s lodestar calculation, resulting in an award of over $1 million in attorney fees (without the enhancement), is excessive. See Wales v. Jack M. Berry, Inc., 192 F.Supp.2d 1313, 1326-27 (M.D.Fla.2001) (recognizing in a case involving “limited monetary recovery” that although “the FLSA is an important piece of social legislation,” the public benefit cannot support an attorney fees award of more than $1 million); cf. Saizan v. Delta Concrete Prods. Co., 448 F.3d 795, 801 (5th Cir.2006) (affirming a reduction in attorney fees in a FLSA action, commenting that vindication “is not as weighty of a factor as monetary success”).

Accordingly, we remand to the district court for recalculation of the lodestar amount. See Anderson, 417 N.W.2d at 630 (remanding attorney fees award where it was not clear the district court took into consideration the “fees incurred on unsuccessful claims”); Specialized Tours, 392 N.W.2d at 542-43 (remanding attorney fees award for the district court to “weigh the results obtained”). On remand, the district court should limit the attorney fee award to an amount that is “reasonable in relation to the results obtained.” Hensley, 461 U.S at 440, 103 S.Ct. 1933. The district court may “identify specific hours that should be eliminated” or the ‍‌‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‍district court “may simply reduce the award to account for the limited success.” Id. at 436-37,103 S.Ct. 1933.

B. The Use of a Multiplier

Because of the remand, we also address the district court’s decision to apply a 1.5 multiplier to the lodestar amount. There is a strong presumption that the lodestar amount represents a reasonable fee. Pennsylvania v. Del. Valley Citizens’ Council for Clean Air, 478 U.S. 546, 565, 106 S.Ct. 3088, 92 L.Ed.2d 439 (1986). Nonetheless, in cases whеre the lodestar amount is “either unreasonably low or unreasonably high,” the court may use a multiplier to adjust the lodestar amount upward or downward. Blum v. Stenson, 465 U.S. 886, 897, 104 S.Ct. 1541, 79 L.Ed.2d 891 (1984). We stress, however, that an upward adjustment of the lodestar amount is warranted only in rare cases of “ ‘exceptional success.’ ” Id. (quoting Hensley, 461 U.S. at 435, 103 S.Ct. 1933). Further, any upward adjustment must be supported by specific evidence in the record and detailed findings by the district court. Del. Valley, 478 U.S. at 565, 106 S.Ct. 3088; see also Blum, 465 U.S. at 898, 104 S.Ct. 1541 (stating that the fee applicant bears the burden of showing that an upward adjustment “is necessary to the determination of a reasonable fee” (emphasis added)).

In this case, the district court determined that “given the circumstances and outcome of this case and public policy considerations, a 1.5 lodestar multiplier is fair and reasonable in this case.” Besides this statement, the district court did not give any explanation for its decision to use a 1.5 multiplier. It appears that the district court based the decision, at least in part, on its assessment of the plaintiffs’ success, as well as the complexity and duration of the litigation.

The district court’s findings do not support an upward adjustment of the lodestar amount. As we noted in our discussion of the lodestar amount, we believe that the district court overstated the significance of the results obtained by the plaintiffs, given that the jury completely rejected the plaintiffs’ claim for millions of dollars in unpaid overtime compensation and the plaintiffs recovered no back pay or other monetary relief. Moreover, because the results obtained, the complexity of the litigation, and the duration of the litigation should be fully reflected in the lodestar amount, these factors should not be used again in determining whether a multiplier is warranted. See Blum, 465 U.S. at 900, 104 S.Ct. 1541; see also supra n. 11.

Based on our review of the record, we conclude that this is not the rare or excep tional case that justifies the use of a multiplier. Therefore, on remand, the district court should base the attorney fees award on the lodestar amount alone, without the use of a multiplier.

Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded.

GILDEA, J., took no part in thе consideration or decision of this case. DIETZEN, J., took no part in the consideration or decision of this case.

Notes

1

.The areas of minimum wage and overtime are subject to dual regulation by the state and federal governments. Minn. Dep't of Labor 8 Indus., Overtime Law, http://www.doli.state. mn.us/overtime.html (last visited May 2, 2008). If the employment falls within the jurisdiction of both state and federal law, the employer must comply with the law that sets the higher standard. Id. According to the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry, for certain employment, Minnesota's overtime laws and regulations set the higher standard. Id.

2

. The plaintiffs also claimed that Farmers violated the MFLSA by failing to pay them at their regular rate of pay for hours worked in excess of 38-3/4 hours up to 48 hours, but the district court granted summary judgment in favor of Farmers on this claim.

3

. The plaintiffs also brought a fifth claim for unjust enrichment but stipulated to the dismissal of this claim during trial.

4

. These questions asked whether the job duties of the claims representatives were "directly related to management poliсies or general business operations” and whether in the course of their jobs, the claims representatives "regularly exercise discretion or independent judgment.” For each of these questions, the jury answered "no.” The parties agree that these findings signify that the claims representatives were improperly classified as exempt.

5

. While this case was proceeding in Hennepin County District Court, nearly 2,000 Farmers claims representatives were engaged in federal multidistrict litigation in Oregon based on similar allegations of violations of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and state laws. See In re Farmers Ins. Exch., 481 F.3d 1119, 1124, 1126-27 (9th Cir.2007). The parties in the federal litigation stipulated to the certification of seven state law classes composed of individuals from seven states, including Minnesota. Id. at 1126. Many class members in the Hennepin County litigation also were participating in the federal litigation. Before the Hennepin County District Court had ruled on the post-trial motions in this case, judgment was entered in the federal court action, and the federal court enjoined the Hennepin County District Court from proceeding as to the claims representatives who also were participating in the federal court case. On appeal, the Ninth Circuit concluded that all the Farmers claims representatives are exempt under the federal FLSA. Id. at 1124. On the claims of the Minnesota class, the Ninth Circuit reversed and remanded to the federal district court for further proceedings. Id. at 1134 (explaining that the record was not sufficiently developed for the court of appeals “to tackle — in the first instance — the nuances of state law”). In addition, the Ninth Circuit instructed the federal district court to vacate the injunction imposed on the Hennepin County District Court. In re Farmers Ins. Exch., 204 F. App’x. 591, 592 (9th Cir.2006).

6

. The court of appeals also concluded the district court did not err by failing to dismiss the case on res judicata grounds based on the judgment in the federal multidistrict litigation. Milner, 725 N.W.2d at 142-43. We did not grant Farmers' petition for review on this issue, and this issue is not before us.

7

. See, e.g., Gov't Accountability Office, Employee Miselassification: Improved Outreach Could Help Ensure Proper Worker Classification 8, GAO-07-859T (2007) (stating that “miselassification alone is not an FLSA violation”).

8

. The MHRA specifically provides that civil penalties are payable to the state; we note that civil penalties are payable to the state regardless of whether the complaint is issued by the Commissioner of Human Rights and heard as a contested case, Minn.Stat. § 363A.29, subd. 4, or whether the suit is filed in district court by a private party, Minn.Stat. § 363A.33, subd. 6.

9

. The federal courts consider the following factors in determining the reasonableness of attorney fee awards:

(1) the time and labor required; (2) the novelty and difficulty of the questions; (3) the skill requisite to perform the legal service properly; (4) the preclusion of employment by the attorney due to acceptance of the case; (5) the customary fee; (6) whether the fee is fixed or contingent; (7) time limitations imposed by the client or the circumstances; (8) the amount involved and the results obtained; (9) the exрerience, reputation, and ability of the attorneys; (10) the "undesirability" of the case; (11) the nature and length of the professional relationship with the client; and (12) awards in similar cases.

Hensley, 461 U.S. at 430 n. 3, 103 S.Ct. 1933. But see City of Burlington v. Dague, 505 U.S. 557, 567, 112 S.Ct. 2638, 120 L.Ed.2d 449 (1992) (holding that an enhancement for contingency is not permitted under federal fee-shifting statutes).

10

. The only consideration the court gave to the plaintiffs' failure to prove compensatory damages was to exclude the ‍‌‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‍costs submitted for the plaintiffs’ damages expert, whom the district court concluded "did not do an adequate job.”

11

. We note that the Supreme Court’s discussion in Hensley of the "results obtained” fac tor took place in the context of deciding whether a modification of the lodestar amount was warranted. See 461 U.S. at 434-37, 103 S.Ct. 1933. In a subsequent case, however, the Court noted that the "results obtained” factor generally is "subsumed within other factors used to calculate a reasonable fee” and "normally should not provide an independent basis for increasing the fee award.” Blum v. Stenson, 465 U.S. 886, 900, 104 S.Ct. 1541, 79 L.Ed.2d 891 (1984). We take that approach here and consider the "results obtained” factor in our discussion of the proper determination of the lodestar amount, not in determining whether modification of the lodestar amount is warranted.

Case Details

Case Name: Milner v. Farmers Insurance Exchange

Court Name: Supreme Court of Minnesota

Date Published: May 15, 2008

Citation: 748 N.W.2d 608

Docket Number: A06-178

Court Abbreviation: Minn.