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IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS JANICE R. BARNES, et al., Plaintiffs, v. THE UNITED STATES, Defendant. ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )
Case No. 07-682C (Senior Judge Bruggink)
DEFENDANT'S ANSWER For its answer to plaintiffs' complaint, defendant admits, denies, and alleges as follows: 1. The allegations contained in paragraph 1 are
plaintiffs' characterization of his case and conclusions of law to which no response is required; to the extent that they may be deemed allegations of fact, they are denied, except to admit that plaintiffs are or have been employed by the referenced agency in the referenced position. 2. The allegations contained in paragraph 2 are
conclusions of law to which no response is required; to the extent that they may be deemed allegations of fact, they are denied. 3. Admits the allegation contained in paragraph 3 that the
individual plaintiffs identified in the caption of plaintiffs' Complaint and other persons similarly situated are present or former employees of defendant; the allegation contained in paragraph 3 that plaintiffs are or were employees within the meaning of 5 U.S.C. § 2105 and 29 U.S.C. § 203(e) is a conclusion of law to which no response is required; to the extent that it may be deemed an allegation of fact, it is denied.
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4.
Admits the allegations contained in paragraph 4 to the
extent supported by the attachments cited, which are the best evidence of their contents; otherwise denies the allegations contained in paragraph 4. 5. Denies the allegations contained in paragraph 5, except
to admit that the individual plaintiffs have been employed by defendant during pay periods from 2004 to date. 6. 7. 8. Admits. Denies. Admits that at various times defendant has considered
plaintiffs as being "FLSA exempt" and, during those times, has not accorded plaintiffs the rights to which FLSA non-exempt employees of defendant are entitled; otherwise denied the allegations contained in paragraph 8. 9. The allegations contained in paragraph 9 are
conclusions of law to which no response is required; to the extent that they may be deemed allegations of fact, they are denied. 10. The allegations contained in paragraph 10 are
conclusions of law to which no response is required; to the extent that they may be deemed allegations of fact, they are denied. 11. Defendant incorporates its responses to paragraphs 1
through 10 in response to paragraph 11. 12. Denies; alleges that plaintiffs were exempt or were
determined in good faith to be exempt from the overtime pay -2-
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provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act, 29 U.S.C. § 201, et seq. 13. Defendant incorporates its responses to paragraphs 1
through 12 in response to paragraph 13. 14. Denies; alleges that plaintiffs were exempt or were from the overtime pay
determined in good faith to be exempt
provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act, 29 U.S.C. § 201, et seq. 15. Defendant incorporates its responses to paragraphs 1
through 14 in response to paragraph 15. 16. Denies; alleges that plaintiffs were exempt or were from the overtime pay
determined in good faith to be exempt
provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act, 29 U.S.C. § 201, et seq. 17. Defendant incorporates its responses to paragraphs 1
through 16 in response to paragraph 17. 18. Admits the allegations contained in the first sentence
of paragraph 18 that plaintiffs have taken annual, sick, jury, witness, administrative or military leave, paid holidays, or has had excused absences; the allegations contained in the first sentence of paragraph 18 that plaintiffs and others were entitled to enjoy their leave, holidays and excused absences under applicable Federal law and regulations without suffering a loss of, or reduction in, pay, including FLSA overtime compensation, are conclusions of law to which no response is required; denies the remainder of the allegations contained in the first sentence
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of paragraph 18.
Denies the allegations contained in the second
sentence of paragraph 18. 19. 20. Denies. Admits the allegations contained in the first sentence
of paragraph 20 that the employment, time, work and compensation records for plaintiffs are in the possession, control, and custody of defendant and its officers and agencies except to the extent that such records may have been destroyed inadvertently or in accordance with Government schedules for the retention and destruction of documents; denies the remainder of the allegations contained in the first sentence of paragraph 20 for lack of knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to their truth. The allegations contained in the second sentence of
paragraph 20 are conclusions of law to which no response is required; to the extent that they may be deemed allegations of fact, they are denied. 21. Denies that plaintiffs are entitled to any of the
relief requested in the prayer for relief. 22. Denies each and every allegation not previously
admitted or otherwise qualified. AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSES 23. Plaintiffs have received full payment under all
applicable statutes and regulations for all of the hours which they have worked. 24. To the extent that defendant violated the terms of the
Fair Labor Standards Act, its violations occurred notwithstanding its good faith efforts to comply with the terms of the Act. -4-
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25.
To the extent that defendant violated the terms of the
FLSA, its violation was not willful. 26. Plaintiffs' claims are barred in part by the statute of
limitations. WHEREFORE, defendant requests that the complaint be dismissed and that defendant be granted such other and further relief as the Court may deem just and proper. Respectfully submitted, PETER D. KEISLER Assistant Attorney General
s/Jeanne E. Davidson JEANNE E. DAVIDSON Director
Filed Electronically
s/Shalom Brilliant SHALOM BRILLIANT Senior Trial Counsel Commercial Litigation Branch Civil Division Department of Justice 1100 L Street, N.W. Attn: Classification Unit 8th Floor Washington, D.C. 20530 Tele: (202) 616-8275 Fax: (202) 305-7643 Attorneys for Defendant
November 19, 2007
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