July 02, 2010 11:32 ET

Multiband Corporation Faces Overtime Lawsuit by Satellite Television Installers Represented by Nichols Kaster, PLLP and Donati Law Firm

MINNEAPOLIS, MN--(Marketwire - July 2, 2010) -  Nichols Kaster, PLLP and Donati Law Firm, LLP have brought a putative nationwide action on behalf of installers/technicians against Multiband Corporation, a Minnesota company. The lawsuit, entitled Edwards v. Multiband Corporation, Case No. 0:10-cv-02826-MJD-JJK, was filed in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota on Thursday, July 1, 2010. Multiband is the second largest independent field services provider for DirecTV. 

Plaintiff Edwards performed installation and maintenance services for DirecTV subscribers for Multiband. Multiband treated Edwards as an "independent contractor." Edwards alleges that he and other similarly situated technicians should have been treated as "employees" of Multiband because Multiband exercised substantial control over their work. As an employee, Edwards should have been compensated for all of the overtime hours he worked each week.

Plaintiffs' attorney Rachhana T. Srey explained, "like the Department of Labor, we are focusing our attention on so-called 'independent contractors' because we truly believe that this is a rampant problem in many industries, especially in the cable and satellite television arena. These installers work extremely long hours, are usually paid only what they earn in 'piece-rates,' and work under the control of companies who operate a scheme to avoid paying overtime. It's not right." 

Plaintiffs are represented by Paul J. Lukas and Rachhana T. Srey from Nichols Kaster, PLLP, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and William B. Ryan and Bryce Ashby from Donati Law Firm, LLP in Memphis, Tennessee. 

Individuals may find additional information at www.overtimecases.com or by calling Nichols Kaster toll free at (877) 448-0492.