Stiegler Law Firm is proud to announce a victory in the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in a wage case filed by our client Philip Taylor against South Louisiana Contractors, Inc. The appeals court’s opinion affirms a trial victory awarding Mr. Taylor $7,500 in unpaid wages, $32,000 in statutory penalties, and over $34,000 in attorneys’ fees and costs.
Mr. Taylor was employed at South La. Contractors from August 2020 through October 2021. Before starting employment, he was promised three weeks’ paid vacation by the company’s owner Bradford Melancon. After Mr. Taylor resigned, he sent a demand for his accrued and unused vacation pay – first by text message, then by a letter to the company’s headquarters.
When South La. Contractors refused to pay the vacation, Mr. Taylor hired Stiegler Law Firm and filed suit. The lawsuit alleged non-payment of minimum wage for Mr. Taylor’s final week worked under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), and failure to pay accrued vacation under the Louisiana Wage Payment Act (LWPA). He also sought statutory penalties and attorneys’ fees under both statutes.
The case was tried before Judge Summerhays of the Western District of Louisiana, sitting without a jury. After hearing from Mr. Taylor and Mr. Melancon, and reviewing the relevant exhibits, the Court ruled against Mr. Taylor on the FLSA claim and in his favor on the LWPA claim. Judge Summerhays also awarded the full amount of attorney fees and statutory penalties as requested by Plaintiff.
South La. Contractors appealed. Its primary arguments were (1) that the court lacked jurisdiction over the FLSA case, because South La. Contractors was not engaged in “interstate commerce,” and (2) the trial court erred in believing Mr. Taylor over Mr. Melancon.
The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals rejected both arguments and affirmed Mr. Taylor’s victory in full. Following prior circuit precedent, the Court held that a challenge to FLSA enterprise coverage does not affect the Court’s jurisdiction, but is merely an element of the statute. The Court further affirmed that, even though the FLSA claim was ultimately unsuccessful, the district court had discretion to maintain supplemental jurisdiction over the state law LWPA claim. The Court also affirmed the district judge’s credibility determination under the deferential “clearly erroneous” standard. Finally, the Court held that South La. Contractors had no good faith, non-arbitrary defense to the wage claim, thus meriting statutory penalties.
The Fifth Circuit’s ruling reaffirms the importance of paying all wages due on separation under Louisiana law, and the significant monetary penalties which can result from a failure to follow the law. Stiegler Law Firm is proud to have helped Mr. Taylor obtain this just ruling. Click to read a copy of the Court’s per curiam opinion: Taylor v. South La. Contractors, LLC, 25-30150 (5th Cir. Oct. 23, 2025)
If you believe you have been shorted your earned pay, click here to contact New Orleans unpaid wage lawyer Charles Stiegler today, or call (504) 267-0777.