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Breaking: U.S. Supreme Court’s Ruling Allows Minor League Minimum Wage Class Action to Proceed Ahead

 

Earlier today, the U.S. Supreme Court denied a request by Major League Baseball (“MLB”) to take up an unlawful wage class action lawsuit brought by minor league baseball players, which means the case will likely proceed ahead to a trial setting.

As a bit of background, a group of minor league baseball players had filed suit against MLB several years ago on the grounds that they were earning less than $7,500.00 per year, in violation of federal law.  (For years, minor league baseball players have earned less than the minimum wage rate, which has been a source of contention.)  The lawsuit, Senne v. Royals, is comprised of both current and former players who seek back pay for hours worked.  The lawsuit bounced around a bit in the lower courts with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals issuing a ruling last year that allowed the suit to proceed as a class action.  

Readers might recall that in 2018, the Save America’s Pastime Act was introduced which sought to strip minor league baseball players of minimum wage protections.  While that law went into effect, this lawsuit was brought in an effort to circumvent the pay restrictions placed on minor league baseball players.

While the Supreme Court did not state their reason for denying MLB’s appeal, and should not be constructed as the Supreme Court deciding the merits of the case either way, the lawsuit lives to see another day.


For additional information:  https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/supreme-court-clears-way-for-class-action-lawsuit-from-minor-league-players-being-paid-below-minimum-wage/amp/

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