- Home
- Retail Litigation Center
- Encino Motorcars v. Navarro
ENCINO MOTOR CARS V. NAVARRO
Issue: Employment
Court: U.S. Supreme Court
Term: October 2015
Oral Argument: April 20, 2016
Vote: 6-2
Opinion: Justice Kennedy
Lower Court: U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Question Presented:
Whether "service advisors" at car dealerships are exempt under 29 U.S.C. § 213(b)(10)(A) from the Fair Labor Standards Act's overtime-pay requirements.
RLC's Position:
The RLC joined other business associations in submitting a merits brief to the U.S. Supreme Court in a case where the Ninth Circuit narrowly construed one of the Fair Labor Standards Act's (FLSA's) over-time pay exemptions. The brief asks the Court to take the opportunity to direct the lower courts to construe the FLSA exemptions neither broadly nor narrowly, but correctly by using the ordinary tools of statutory construction. Although this issue differs from the question presented, it is squarely before the Court and addressing the proper standard to interpret the exemption is antecedent to the question presented.
Case Outcome:
In a 6-2 decision, the Court held that the Department of Labor is not entitled to Chevron deference in its interpretation of the FLSA "salesman" exemption due to the Department's lack of explanation for its rule change. The case was vacated and remanded.
Procedural History and Case Documents:
- Encino's Petition for Certiorari filed September 2015
- Navarro's Brief in Opposition filed December 2015
- Encino's Reply Brief filed December 2015
- Petition granted January 2016
- Encino's Brief on the Merits filed February 2016
- U.S. Supreme Court opinion issued June 2016