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PUBLICATION","paragraph_id":"para_1"},{"text":"UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS","paragraph_id":"para_2"},{"text":"FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT","paragraph_id":"para_3"},{"text":"JOSE ARNULFO ARIAS,","paragraph_id":"para_4"},{"text":"Plaintiff-Appellant,","paragraph_id":"para_5"},{"text":"v.","paragraph_id":"para_6"},{"text":"ANTHONY RAIMONDO,","paragraph_id":"para_7"},{"text":"Defendant-Appellee.","paragraph_id":"para_8"},{"text":"No. 15-16120","paragraph_id":"para_9"},{"text":"D.C. No.","paragraph_id":"para_10"},{"text":"2:13-cv-00904-TLN-EFB","paragraph_id":"para_11"},{"text":"OPINION","paragraph_id":"para_12"},{"text":"Appeal from the United States District Court","paragraph_id":"para_13"},{"text":"for the Eastern District of California","paragraph_id":"para_14"},{"text":"Troy L. Nunley, District Judge, Presiding","paragraph_id":"para_15"},{"text":"Argued and Submitted March 14, 2017","paragraph_id":"para_16"},{"text":"San Francisco, California","paragraph_id":"para_17"},{"text":"Filed June 22, 2017","paragraph_id":"para_18"},{"text":"Before: Stephen S. Trott, Kim McLane Wardlaw,","paragraph_id":"para_19"},{"text":"and Ronald M. Gould, Circuit Judges.","paragraph_id":"para_20"},{"text":"Opinion by Judge Trott","paragraph_id":"para_21"},{"text":"ARIAS V. RAIMONDO2","paragraph_id":"para_22"},{"text":"SUMMARY*","paragraph_id":"para_23"},{"text":"Labor Law","paragraph_id":"para_24"},{"text":"The panel reversed the district court’s dismissal of a","paragraph_id":"para_25"},{"text":"retaliation claim under the Fair Labor Standards Act.","paragraph_id":"para_26"},{"text":"The plaintiff alleged that after he filed suit against his","paragraph_id":"para_27"},{"text":"employers in state court, the employers’ attorney, acting as","paragraph_id":"para_28"},{"text":"their agent, retaliated against him by planning for U.S.","paragraph_id":"para_29"},{"text":"Immigration and Customs Enforcement to take him into","paragraph_id":"para_30"},{"text":"custody at a scheduled deposition and then to remove him","paragraph_id":"para_31"},{"text":"from the United States. The panel held that unlike the Fair","paragraph_id":"para_32"},{"text":"Labor Standards Act’s wage and hour provisions, its","paragraph_id":"para_33"},{"text":"retaliation provisions apply to “any person” and do not","paragraph_id":"para_34"},{"text":"require that a defendant be the plaintiff’s employer. The","paragraph_id":"para_35"},{"text":"panel remanded the case to the district court for further","paragraph_id":"para_36"},{"text":"proceedings.","paragraph_id":"para_37"},{"text":"COUNSEL","paragraph_id":"para_38"},{"text":"Christopher Ho (argued) and Stacy Villalobos, The Legal Aid","paragraph_id":"para_39"},{"text":"Society – Employment Law Center, San Francisco,","paragraph_id":"para_40"},{"text":"California; Esmeralda Zendejas and Blanca A. Bañuelos,","paragraph_id":"para_41"},{"text":"California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc., Stockton, California;","paragraph_id":"para_42"},{"text":"Michael L. Meuter, California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc.,","paragraph_id":"para_43"},{"text":"Salinas, California; for Plaintiff-Appellant.","paragraph_id":"para_44"},{"text":"* This summary constitutes no part of the opinion of the court. It has","paragraph_id":"para_45"},{"text":"been prepared by court staff for the convenience of the reader.","paragraph_id":"para_46"},{"text":"ARIAS V. RAIMONDO 3","paragraph_id":"para_47"},{"text":"Scott P. Dixler (argued) and Peder K. Batalden, Horvitz &","paragraph_id":"para_48"},{"text":"Levy LLP, Burbank, California, for Defendant-Appellee.","paragraph_id":"para_49"},{"text":"Nora A. Preciado and Joshua T. Stehlik, National","paragraph_id":"para_50"},{"text":"Immigration Law Center, Los Angeles, California; Jessica","paragraph_id":"para_51"},{"text":"Hahn, National Immigration Law Center, Washington, D.C.;","paragraph_id":"para_52"},{"text":"for Amicus Curiae National Immigration Law Center, Asian","paragraph_id":"para_53"},{"text":"Americans Advancing Justice – Asian Law Caucus, Asian","paragraph_id":"para_54"},{"text":"Americans Advancing Justice – Los Angeles, Bet Tzedek","paragraph_id":"para_55"},{"text":"Legal Services, Centro Legal de la Raza, Farmworker Justice,","paragraph_id":"para_56"},{"text":"Jobs with Justice, National Employment Law Project, New","paragraph_id":"para_57"},{"text":"Orleans Workers’ Center for Racial Justice, UCLA Center for","paragraph_id":"para_58"},{"text":"Labor Research and Education, United Food and Commercial","paragraph_id":"para_59"},{"text":"Workers International Union, and Worksafe Inc.","paragraph_id":"para_60"},{"text":"OPINION","paragraph_id":"para_61"},{"text":"TROTT, Circuit Judge:","paragraph_id":"para_62"},{"text":"Can an employer’s attorney be held liable for retaliating","paragraph_id":"para_63"},{"text":"against his client’s employee because the employee sued his","paragraph_id":"para_64"},{"text":"client for violations of workplace laws? The district court’s","paragraph_id":"para_65"},{"text":"answer was no. We respectfully disagree.","paragraph_id":"para_66"},{"text":"We have jurisdiction over this timely appeal pursuant to","paragraph_id":"para_67"},{"text":"28 U.S.C. § 1291, and we reverse and remand.","paragraph_id":"para_68"},{"text":"I","paragraph_id":"para_69"},{"text":"Background","paragraph_id":"para_70"},{"text":"In 1995, plaintiff José Arnulfo Arias went to work as a","paragraph_id":"para_71"},{"text":"milker for Angelo Dairy. Three Angelos owned and operated","paragraph_id":"para_72"},{"text":"ARIAS V. RAIMONDO4","paragraph_id":"para_73"},{"text":"the dairy: Luis, Maria, and Joe (“Angelos”). When the","paragraph_id":"para_74"},{"text":"Angelos hired Arias, they did not complete and file a Form I-","paragraph_id":"para_75"},{"text":"9 (“I-9”) regarding his employment eligibility in the United","paragraph_id":"para_76"},{"text":"States.","paragraph_id":"para_77"},{"text":"An I-9 is a document required by U.S. Citizenship and","paragraph_id":"para_78"},{"text":"Immigration Services (“USCIS”), a component of our","paragraph_id":"para_79"},{"text":"Department of Homeland Security. USCIS explains the","paragraph_id":"para_80"},{"text":"purpose of the I-9 and process as follows:","paragraph_id":"para_81"},{"text":"Form I-9 is used for verifying the identity and","paragraph_id":"para_82"},{"text":"employment authorization of individuals hired","paragraph_id":"para_83"},{"text":"for employment in the United States. All U.S.","paragraph_id":"para_84"},{"text":"employers must ensure proper completion of","paragraph_id":"para_85"},{"text":"Form I-9 for each individual they hire for","paragraph_id":"para_86"},{"text":"employment in the United States. This","paragraph_id":"para_87"},{"text":"includes citizens and noncitizens. . . .","paragraph_id":"para_88"},{"text":"Employers must retain Form I-9 for a","paragraph_id":"para_89"},{"text":"designated period and make it available for","paragraph_id":"para_90"},{"text":"inspection by authorized government officers.","paragraph_id":"para_91"},{"text":"U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, I-9, Employment","paragraph_id":"para_92"},{"text":"Eligibility Verification, https://www.uscis.gov/i-9 (last","paragraph_id":"para_93"},{"text":"updated Jan. 23, 2017).","paragraph_id":"para_94"},{"text":"Instead of complying with federal law, the Angelos","paragraph_id":"para_95"},{"text":"wielded it as a weapon to confine Arias in their employ.","paragraph_id":"para_96"},{"text":"When Arias informed Luis Angelo in 1997 that he had been","paragraph_id":"para_97"},{"text":"offered a position with another dairy, Luis “responded that if","paragraph_id":"para_98"},{"text":"[Arias] left to work at the other dairy, [Luis] would report the","paragraph_id":"para_99"},{"text":"other dairy to federal immigration authorities as an employer","paragraph_id":"para_100"},{"text":"of undocumented workers,” which Arias was. This threat","paragraph_id":"para_101"},{"text":"caused Arias to forego his other employment opportunity and","paragraph_id":"para_102"},{"text":"to remain with the Angelos.","paragraph_id":"para_103"},{"text":"ARIAS V. RAIMONDO 5","paragraph_id":"para_104"},{"text":"In 2006, Arias sued Angelo Dairy in California state","paragraph_id":"para_105"},{"text":"court. Arias alleged causes of action on behalf of himself and","paragraph_id":"para_106"},{"text":"other employees under California’s Unfair Competition Law","paragraph_id":"para_107"},{"text":"(“UCL”), CAL. BUS. & PROF. CODE § 17200 et seq., for a","paragraph_id":"para_108"},{"text":"variety of workplace violations, including failure to provide","paragraph_id":"para_109"},{"text":"overtime pay and rest and meal periods. Later, he added a","paragraph_id":"para_110"},{"text":"cause of action under California’s Private Attorneys General","paragraph_id":"para_111"},{"text":"Act of 2004 (“PAGA”), CAL. LAB. CODE § 2698 et seq. The","paragraph_id":"para_112"},{"text":"Superior Court struck his representative claims in the UCL","paragraph_id":"para_113"},{"text":"and PAGA causes of action. The Court of Appeal later issued","paragraph_id":"para_114"},{"text":"a peremptory writ of mandate directing the Superior Court to","paragraph_id":"para_115"},{"text":"vacate its order as to the PAGA cause of action. See Arias v.","paragraph_id":"para_116"},{"text":"Superior Court, 63 Cal. Rptr. 3d 272 (Cal. Ct. App. 2007),","paragraph_id":"para_117"},{"text":"aff’d, 46 Cal. 4th 969 (2009). The Superior Court then set a","paragraph_id":"para_118"},{"text":"trial date of August 15, 2011.","paragraph_id":"para_119"},{"text":"II","paragraph_id":"para_120"},{"text":"The Plot Thickens","paragraph_id":"para_121"},{"text":"On June 1, 2011, ten weeks before the state court trial, the","paragraph_id":"para_122"},{"text":"Angelos’ attorney, Anthony Raimondo, set in motion an","paragraph_id":"para_123"},{"text":"underhanded plan to derail Arias’s lawsuit. Raimondo’s plan","paragraph_id":"para_124"},{"text":"involved enlisting the services of U.S. Immigration and","paragraph_id":"para_125"},{"text":"Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) to take Arias into custody at","paragraph_id":"para_126"},{"text":"a scheduled deposition and then to remove him from the","paragraph_id":"para_127"},{"text":"United States. A second part of Raimondo’s plan was to","paragraph_id":"para_128"},{"text":"block Arias’s California Rural Legal Assistance attorney","paragraph_id":"para_129"},{"text":"from representing him. This double barrel plan was captured","paragraph_id":"para_130"},{"text":"in email messages back and forth between Raimondo, Joe","paragraph_id":"para_131"},{"text":"Angelo, and ICE’s forensic auditor Kulwinder Brar. Arias","paragraph_id":"para_132"},{"text":"quoted these revealing exchanges in his current complaint:","paragraph_id":"para_133"},{"text":"ARIAS V. RAIMONDO6","paragraph_id":"para_134"},{"text":"23. On June 1, 2011, Defendant RAIMONDO","paragraph_id":"para_135"},{"text":"emailed Immigration and Custom","paragraph_id":"para_136"},{"text":"Enforcement (“ICE”) Forensic Auditor","paragraph_id":"para_137"},{"text":"Kulwinder Brar, an employee of the U.S.","paragraph_id":"para_138"},{"text":"Department of Homeland Security. In this","paragraph_id":"para_139"},{"text":"email, Defendant RAIMONDO supplied Brar","paragraph_id":"para_140"},{"text":"with information about Plaintiff’s identity,","paragraph_id":"para_141"},{"text":"and asked Brar to “[l]et me know if there is","paragraph_id":"para_142"},{"text":"anything that you can do. . . .”","paragraph_id":"para_143"},{"text":"24. On the same day, June 1, 2011, all parties","paragraph_id":"para_144"},{"text":"to the 2006 Lawsuit attended a mediation in","paragraph_id":"para_145"},{"text":"Stockton, California. The mediation was","paragraph_id":"para_146"},{"text":"unsuccessful.","paragraph_id":"para_147"},{"text":"25. On June 14, 2011, Defendant","paragraph_id":"para_148"},{"text":"RAIMONDO sent Joe Angelo a text message","paragraph_id":"para_149"},{"text":"stating, “Immigration is trying to verify Arias","paragraph_id":"para_150"},{"text":"[sic] status - let me know if you have any","paragraph_id":"para_151"},{"text":"more info on him.” Joe Angelo responded by","paragraph_id":"para_152"},{"text":"providing Defendant RAIMONDO with","paragraph_id":"para_153"},{"text":"Plaintiff’s driver’s license number. . . .","paragraph_id":"para_154"},{"text":"26. On June 15, 2011, Defendant","paragraph_id":"para_155"},{"text":"RAIMONDO emailed to ICE Auditor Brar the","paragraph_id":"para_156"},{"text":"information Joe Angelo had provided. In","paragraph_id":"para_157"},{"text":"doing so, Defendant RAIMONDO stated, “I","paragraph_id":"para_158"},{"text":"hope this helps. [Plaintiff] will be attending a","paragraph_id":"para_159"},{"text":"deposition next week. If there is an interest in","paragraph_id":"para_160"},{"text":"apprehending him, please let me know so that","paragraph_id":"para_161"},{"text":"we can make the necessary arrangements. . . .”","paragraph_id":"para_162"},{"text":"27. On June 16, 2011, ICE Auditor Brar","paragraph_id":"para_163"},{"text":"responded to Defendant RAIMONDO’s email","paragraph_id":"para_164"},{"text":"ARIAS V. RAIMONDO 7","paragraph_id":"para_165"},{"text":"of June 1, 2011, stating that “[b]ased on our","paragraph_id":"para_166"},{"text":"records he [Plaintiff] has no legal status. We","paragraph_id":"para_167"},{"text":"will be forwarding this information to ERO","paragraph_id":"para_168"},{"text":"[Enforcement and Removal Operations] and","paragraph_id":"para_169"},{"text":"your contact information if they want to","paragraph_id":"para_170"},{"text":"proceed with this matter. . . .”","paragraph_id":"para_171"},{"text":"28. Defendant RAIMONDO replied to ICE","paragraph_id":"para_172"},{"text":"Auditor Brar, asking her to “[p]lease let ERO","paragraph_id":"para_173"},{"text":"know that they can expect our full cooperation","paragraph_id":"para_174"},{"text":"and assistance”, and to “let me know if there","paragraph_id":"para_175"},{"text":"is anything I can do to be of assistance to","paragraph_id":"para_176"},{"text":"you.” Brar responded, “No problem and we","paragraph_id":"para_177"},{"text":"will get your contact information as soon as","paragraph_id":"para_178"},{"text":"contact is made.”","paragraph_id":"para_179"},{"text":"Arias’s current complaint also alleged the impact of","paragraph_id":"para_180"},{"text":"Raimondo’s actions on him and his case, and Raimondo’s","paragraph_id":"para_181"},{"text":"pattern and practice of similar conduct in other cases:","paragraph_id":"para_182"},{"text":"29. Plaintiff became aware on June 22, 2011","paragraph_id":"para_183"},{"text":"that Defendant had provided information","paragraph_id":"para_184"},{"text":"concerning Plaintiff to the immigration","paragraph_id":"para_185"},{"text":"authorities. Fearing that he would be deported","paragraph_id":"para_186"},{"text":"and separated from his family, Plaintiff","paragraph_id":"para_187"},{"text":"suffered anxiety, mental anguish, and other","paragraph_id":"para_188"},{"text":"emotional distress from Defendant’s","paragraph_id":"para_189"},{"text":"retaliatory action.","paragraph_id":"para_190"},{"text":"30. On July 11, 2011, one month before trial,","paragraph_id":"para_191"},{"text":"the parties participated in a settlement","paragraph_id":"para_192"},{"text":"conference. In lieu of proceeding to trial on","paragraph_id":"para_193"},{"text":"the wage and hour claims comprised within","paragraph_id":"para_194"},{"text":"the 2006 Lawsuit, Plaintiff entered into a","paragraph_id":"para_195"},{"text":"ARIAS V. RAIMONDO8","paragraph_id":"para_196"},{"text":"settlement and release of those claims, due in","paragraph_id":"para_197"},{"text":"substantial part to the threat of deportation","paragraph_id":"para_198"},{"text":"created by Defendant’s communications with","paragraph_id":"para_199"},{"text":"ICE.","paragraph_id":"para_200"},{"text":"31. On information and belief, Defendant","paragraph_id":"para_201"},{"text":"RAIMONDO’s actions against Plaintiff are","paragraph_id":"para_202"},{"text":"reflective of and consistent with his pattern","paragraph_id":"para_203"},{"text":"and practice of retaliating against employees","paragraph_id":"para_204"},{"text":"who assert their workplace rights. In fact,","paragraph_id":"para_205"},{"text":"Defendant RAIMONDO has stated in a","paragraph_id":"para_206"},{"text":"declaration filed in a court action that it is his","paragraph_id":"para_207"},{"text":"practice to investigate the immigration status","paragraph_id":"para_208"},{"text":"of plaintiffs who have brought legal claims","paragraph_id":"para_209"},{"text":"against his clients. . . .","paragraph_id":"para_210"},{"text":"32. On at least five additional occasions, and","paragraph_id":"para_211"},{"text":"consistent with his pattern and practice,","paragraph_id":"para_212"},{"text":"Defendant RAIMONDO has contacted ICE","paragraph_id":"para_213"},{"text":"with respect to employees who have asserted","paragraph_id":"para_214"},{"text":"their workplace rights against employers","paragraph_id":"para_215"},{"text":"whom Defendant RAIMONDO has","paragraph_id":"para_216"},{"text":"represented, and has offered his assistance to","paragraph_id":"para_217"},{"text":"ICE in apprehending those employees. . . .","paragraph_id":"para_218"},{"text":"33. On May 2, 2013, Defendant RAIMONDO","paragraph_id":"para_219"},{"text":"confirmed the above pattern and practice in an","paragraph_id":"para_220"},{"text":"email he sent to Thomas Hester of the Office","paragraph_id":"para_221"},{"text":"of Inspector General at the Legal Services","paragraph_id":"para_222"},{"text":"Corporation, in which he stated, “The time","paragraph_id":"para_223"},{"text":"when I have had litigants deported, I have","paragraph_id":"para_224"},{"text":"always simply taken action rather than make","paragraph_id":"para_225"},{"text":"any threats. The attorneys find out when their","paragraph_id":"para_226"},{"text":"clients are already gone.”","paragraph_id":"para_227"},{"text":"ARIAS V. RAIMONDO 9","paragraph_id":"para_228"},{"text":"III","paragraph_id":"para_229"},{"text":"Arias’s Complaint","paragraph_id":"para_230"},{"text":"On May 8, 2013, Arias filed this lawsuit against Angelo","paragraph_id":"para_231"},{"text":"Dairy, the Angelos, and Raimondo in the Eastern District of","paragraph_id":"para_232"},{"text":"California. Arias alleged that the defendants violated section","paragraph_id":"para_233"},{"text":"215(a)(3) of the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”),","paragraph_id":"para_234"},{"text":"29 U.S.C. § 201 et seq.1","paragraph_id":"para_235"},{"text":"Arias’s theory of his case is that Raimondo, acting as the","paragraph_id":"para_236"},{"text":"Angelos’ agent, retaliated against him in violation of section","paragraph_id":"para_237"},{"text":"215(a)(3) for filing his original case against Raimondo’s","paragraph_id":"para_238"},{"text":"clients in state court . Raimondo’s sole legal defense is that","paragraph_id":"para_239"},{"text":"because he was never Arias’s actual employer, he cannot be","paragraph_id":"para_240"},{"text":"held liable under the FLSA for retaliation against someone","paragraph_id":"para_241"},{"text":"who was never his employee.","paragraph_id":"para_242"},{"text":"Angelo Dairy and its owners settled their part of this case","paragraph_id":"para_243"},{"text":"at the early stages of its existence.","paragraph_id":"para_244"},{"text":"IV","paragraph_id":"para_245"},{"text":"A.","paragraph_id":"para_246"},{"text":"The District Court’s Dismissal","paragraph_id":"para_247"},{"text":"Notwithstanding section 215(a)(3)’s reference to “any","paragraph_id":"para_248"},{"text":"person,” section 203(a)’s inclusion of a legal representative","paragraph_id":"para_249"},{"text":"as a “person,” and section 203(d)’s plain language defining","paragraph_id":"para_250"},{"text":"“employer,” the district court granted Raimondo’s motion to","paragraph_id":"para_251"},{"text":"1 Arias’s current complaint also contains claims for intentional","paragraph_id":"para_252"},{"text":"infliction of emotional distress and unfair competition.","paragraph_id":"para_253"},{"text":"ARIAS V. RAIMONDO10","paragraph_id":"para_254"},{"text":"dismiss pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6).","paragraph_id":"para_255"},{"text":"The court did so without the benefit of oral argument,","paragraph_id":"para_256"},{"text":"concluding that because Arias “ha[d] not alleged that","paragraph_id":"para_257"},{"text":"[Raimondo] exercised any control over [his] employment","paragraph_id":"para_258"},{"text":"relationship,” Raimondo as a matter of law could not be","paragraph_id":"para_259"},{"text":"Arias’s employer.","paragraph_id":"para_260"},{"text":"B.","paragraph_id":"para_261"},{"text":"Standard of Review","paragraph_id":"para_262"},{"text":"We review de novo a Rule 12(b)(6) dismissal for failure","paragraph_id":"para_263"},{"text":"to state a claim, and we take all allegations of material fact as","paragraph_id":"para_264"},{"text":"true, construing them in the light most favorable to the","paragraph_id":"para_265"},{"text":"nonmoving party, here Arias.","paragraph_id":"para_266"},{"text":"V","paragraph_id":"para_267"},{"text":"Discussion","paragraph_id":"para_268"},{"text":"Section 215(a)(3), an anti-retaliation provision, makes it","paragraph_id":"para_269"},{"text":"unlawful “for any person . . . to discharge or in any other","paragraph_id":"para_270"},{"text":"manner discriminate against any employee because such","paragraph_id":"para_271"},{"text":"employee has filed any complaint . . . under or related to this","paragraph_id":"para_272"},{"text":"chapter.” The FLSA defines the term “person” to include a","paragraph_id":"para_273"},{"text":"“legal representative.” Id. § 203(a). Section 216(b) in turn","paragraph_id":"para_274"},{"text":"creates a private right of action against any “employer” who","paragraph_id":"para_275"},{"text":"violates section 215(a)(3); and the FLSA defines “employer”","paragraph_id":"para_276"},{"text":"to include “any person acting directly or indirectly in the","paragraph_id":"para_277"},{"text":"interest of an employer in relation to an employee.” Id.","paragraph_id":"para_278"},{"text":"§§ 203(d), 216(b).","paragraph_id":"para_279"},{"text":"Controversies under FLSA sections 206 and 207 that","paragraph_id":"para_280"},{"text":"require a determination of primary workplace liability for","paragraph_id":"para_281"},{"text":"ARIAS V. RAIMONDO 11","paragraph_id":"para_282"},{"text":"wage and hour responsibilities and violations, on one hand,","paragraph_id":"para_283"},{"text":"and controversies arising from retaliation against employees","paragraph_id":"para_284"},{"text":"for asserting their legal rights, on the other, are as different as","paragraph_id":"para_285"},{"text":"chalk is from cheese. Each category has a different purpose.","paragraph_id":"para_286"},{"text":"It stands to reason that the former relies in application on tests","paragraph_id":"para_287"},{"text":"involving economic control and economic realities to","paragraph_id":"para_288"},{"text":"determine who is an employer, because by definition it is the","paragraph_id":"para_289"},{"text":"actual employer who controls substantive wage and hours","paragraph_id":"para_290"},{"text":"issues.","paragraph_id":"para_291"},{"text":"Retaliation is a different animal altogether. Its purpose is","paragraph_id":"para_292"},{"text":"to enable workers to avail themselves of their statutory rights","paragraph_id":"para_293"},{"text":"in court by invoking the legal process designed by Congress","paragraph_id":"para_294"},{"text":"to protect them. Robinson v. Shell Oil Co., 519 U.S. 337, 346","paragraph_id":"para_295"},{"text":"(1997) (the “primary purpose of antiretaliation provisions” is","paragraph_id":"para_296"},{"text":"to “[m]aintai[n] unfettered access to statutory remedial","paragraph_id":"para_297"},{"text":"mechanisms”).","paragraph_id":"para_298"},{"text":"This distinctive purpose is not served by importing an","paragraph_id":"para_299"},{"text":"“economic control” or an “economic realities” test as a line","paragraph_id":"para_300"},{"text":"of demarcation into the issue of who may be held liable for","paragraph_id":"para_301"},{"text":"retaliation. To the contrary, the FLSA itself recognizes this","paragraph_id":"para_302"},{"text":"sensible distinction in section 215(a)(3) by prohibiting “any","paragraph_id":"para_303"},{"text":"person” – not just an actual employer – from engaging in","paragraph_id":"para_304"},{"text":"retaliatory conduct. By contrast, the FLSA’s primary wage","paragraph_id":"para_305"},{"text":"and hour obligations are unambiguously imposed only on an","paragraph_id":"para_306"},{"text":"employee’s de facto “employer,” as that term is defined in the","paragraph_id":"para_307"},{"text":"statute. Treating “any person” who was not a worker’s actual","paragraph_id":"para_308"},{"text":"employer as primarily responsible for wage and hour","paragraph_id":"para_309"},{"text":"violations would be nonsensical.","paragraph_id":"para_310"},{"text":"The district court based its decision on precedent","paragraph_id":"para_311"},{"text":"pertaining to whether a person was an employer for purposes","paragraph_id":"para_312"},{"text":"of the FLSA’s substantive economic provisions, i.e., those","paragraph_id":"para_313"},{"text":"ARIAS V. RAIMONDO12","paragraph_id":"para_314"},{"text":"involving wages and hours, etc., not section 215(a)(3)","paragraph_id":"para_315"},{"text":"retaliation. See Boucher v. Shaw, 572 F.3d 1087, 1090–93","paragraph_id":"para_316"},{"text":"(9th Cir. 2009) (holding that an employer’s individual","paragraph_id":"para_317"},{"text":"managers were personally liable under the FLSA for unpaid","paragraph_id":"para_318"},{"text":"wages, pursuant to an “economic control” test); Bonnette v.","paragraph_id":"para_319"},{"text":"Cal. Health & Welfare Agency, 704 F.2d 1465, 1470 (9th Cir.","paragraph_id":"para_320"},{"text":"1983) (holding that state and county agencies were employers","paragraph_id":"para_321"},{"text":"of in-home chore workers who alleged violations of minimum","paragraph_id":"para_322"},{"text":"wage provisions).","paragraph_id":"para_323"},{"text":"The district court also relied on Dellinger v. Science","paragraph_id":"para_324"},{"text":"Applications International Corp., 649 F.3d 226 (4th Cir.","paragraph_id":"para_325"},{"text":"2011). However, Dellinger is inapposite because Dellinger","paragraph_id":"para_326"},{"text":"was never officially hired by the defendant. All Dellinger","paragraph_id":"para_327"},{"text":"stands for is that “the FLSA gives an employee the right to","paragraph_id":"para_328"},{"text":"sue only his or her current or former employer and that a","paragraph_id":"para_329"},{"text":"prospective employee cannot sue a prospective employer for","paragraph_id":"para_330"},{"text":"retaliation.” Id. at 227 (emphasis added). In other words, a","paragraph_id":"para_331"},{"text":"person who never worked for the employer – in our case","paragraph_id":"para_332"},{"text":"Angelo Dairy – does not fit anywhere in the FLSA. See id. at","paragraph_id":"para_333"},{"text":"230 n.2. Because Angelo Dairy was Arias’s actual employer,","paragraph_id":"para_334"},{"text":"Arias is indisputably an employee, as section 215(a)(3) uses","paragraph_id":"para_335"},{"text":"that term.","paragraph_id":"para_336"},{"text":"These cases and the others the district court relied on are","paragraph_id":"para_337"},{"text":"not in tension with our decision. The cases are simply","paragraph_id":"para_338"},{"text":"inapposite in the context of an allegation of retaliation.","paragraph_id":"para_339"},{"text":"The Supreme Court’s decision in Burlington Northern &","paragraph_id":"para_340"},{"text":"Santa Fe Railway Co. v. White, 548 U.S. 53 (2006), supports","paragraph_id":"para_341"},{"text":"our analysis, albeit in a different context: Title VII of the","paragraph_id":"para_342"},{"text":"Civil Rights Act of 1964’s (“Title VII”) anti-retaliation","paragraph_id":"para_343"},{"text":"provision, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-3(a). See Darveau v. Detecon,","paragraph_id":"para_344"},{"text":"Inc., 515 F.3d 334, 342 (4th Cir. 2008) (recognizing “the","paragraph_id":"para_345"},{"text":"ARIAS V. RAIMONDO 13","paragraph_id":"para_346"},{"text":"almost uniform practice of courts in considering the","paragraph_id":"para_347"},{"text":"authoritative body of Title VII case law when interpreting the","paragraph_id":"para_348"},{"text":"comparable provisions of other federal statutes” and noting in","paragraph_id":"para_349"},{"text":"particular that “courts have looked to Title VII cases in","paragraph_id":"para_350"},{"text":"interpreting the FLSA” (citations omitted)).","paragraph_id":"para_351"},{"text":"The issue in Burlington was whether the actions and","paragraph_id":"para_352"},{"text":"harms forbidden by Title VII’s anti-retaliation provision are","paragraph_id":"para_353"},{"text":"confined to those that are related to employment or occur at","paragraph_id":"para_354"},{"text":"the workplace. 548 U.S. at 57. Focusing on differences in","paragraph_id":"para_355"},{"text":"language and purpose between the substantive provisions of","paragraph_id":"para_356"},{"text":"Title VII and the anti-retaliation provision, the Court held that","paragraph_id":"para_357"},{"text":"Title VII’s anti-retaliation provision is not so confined.","paragraph_id":"para_358"},{"text":"There is strong reason to believe that","paragraph_id":"para_359"},{"text":"Congress intended the differences that its","paragraph_id":"para_360"},{"text":"language suggests, for the two provisions","paragraph_id":"para_361"},{"text":"differ not only in language but in purpose as","paragraph_id":"para_362"},{"text":"well. The antidiscrimination provision seeks","paragraph_id":"para_363"},{"text":"a workplace where individuals are not","paragraph_id":"para_364"},{"text":"discriminated against because of their racial,","paragraph_id":"para_365"},{"text":"ethnic, religious, or gender-based status. The","paragraph_id":"para_366"},{"text":"antiretaliation provision seeks to secure that","paragraph_id":"para_367"},{"text":"primary objective by preventing an employer","paragraph_id":"para_368"},{"text":"from interfering (through retaliation) with an","paragraph_id":"para_369"},{"text":"employee’s efforts to secure or advance","paragraph_id":"para_370"},{"text":"enforcement of the Act’s basic guarantees.","paragraph_id":"para_371"},{"text":"The substantive provision seeks to prevent","paragraph_id":"para_372"},{"text":"injury to individuals based on who they are,","paragraph_id":"para_373"},{"text":"i.e., their status. The antiretaliation provision","paragraph_id":"para_374"},{"text":"seeks to prevent harm to individuals based on","paragraph_id":"para_375"},{"text":"what they do, i.e., their conduct.","paragraph_id":"para_376"},{"text":"ARIAS V. RAIMONDO14","paragraph_id":"para_377"},{"text":"To secure the first objective, Congress did not","paragraph_id":"para_378"},{"text":"need to prohibit anything other than","paragraph_id":"para_379"},{"text":"employment-related discrimination. The","paragraph_id":"para_380"},{"text":"substantive provision’s basic objective of","paragraph_id":"para_381"},{"text":"“equality of employment opportunities” and","paragraph_id":"para_382"},{"text":"the elimination of practices that tend to bring","paragraph_id":"para_383"},{"text":"about “stratified job environments,” would be","paragraph_id":"para_384"},{"text":"achieved were all employment-related","paragraph_id":"para_385"},{"text":"discrimination miraculously eliminated.","paragraph_id":"para_386"},{"text":"But one cannot secure the second objective by","paragraph_id":"para_387"},{"text":"focusing only upon employer actions and","paragraph_id":"para_388"},{"text":"harm that concern employment and the","paragraph_id":"para_389"},{"text":"workplace. Were all such actions and harms","paragraph_id":"para_390"},{"text":"eliminated, the antiretaliation provision’s","paragraph_id":"para_391"},{"text":"objective would not be achieved. An","paragraph_id":"para_392"},{"text":"employer can effectively retaliate against an","paragraph_id":"para_393"},{"text":"employee by taking actions not directly","paragraph_id":"para_394"},{"text":"related to his employment or by causing him","paragraph_id":"para_395"},{"text":"harm outside the workplace. . . .","paragraph_id":"para_396"},{"text":"Thus, purpose reinforces what language","paragraph_id":"para_397"},{"text":"already indicates, namely, that the","paragraph_id":"para_398"},{"text":"antiretaliation provision, unlike the","paragraph_id":"para_399"},{"text":"substantive provision, is not limited to","paragraph_id":"para_400"},{"text":"discriminatory actions that affect the terms","paragraph_id":"para_401"},{"text":"and conditions of employment. . . .","paragraph_id":"para_402"},{"text":"In any event, as we have explained,","paragraph_id":"para_403"},{"text":"differences in the purpose of the two","paragraph_id":"para_404"},{"text":"provisions remove any perceived “anomaly,”","paragraph_id":"para_405"},{"text":"for they justify this difference of","paragraph_id":"para_406"},{"text":"interpretation. Title VII depends for its","paragraph_id":"para_407"},{"text":"enforcement upon the cooperation of","paragraph_id":"para_408"},{"text":"ARIAS V. RAIMONDO 15","paragraph_id":"para_409"},{"text":"employees who are willing to file complaints","paragraph_id":"para_410"},{"text":"and act as witnesses. “Plainly, effective","paragraph_id":"para_411"},{"text":"enforcement could thus only be expected if","paragraph_id":"para_412"},{"text":"employees felt free to approach officials with","paragraph_id":"para_413"},{"text":"their grievances.” Interpreting the","paragraph_id":"para_414"},{"text":"antiretaliation provision to provide broad","paragraph_id":"para_415"},{"text":"protection from retaliation helps ensure the","paragraph_id":"para_416"},{"text":"cooperation upon which accomplishment of","paragraph_id":"para_417"},{"text":"the Act’s primary objective depends.","paragraph_id":"para_418"},{"text":"For these reasons, we conclude that Title","paragraph_id":"para_419"},{"text":"VII’s substantive provision and its","paragraph_id":"para_420"},{"text":"antiretaliation provision are not coterminous.","paragraph_id":"para_421"},{"text":"The scope of the antiretaliation provision","paragraph_id":"para_422"},{"text":"extends beyond workplace-related or","paragraph_id":"para_423"},{"text":"employment-related retaliatory acts and harm.","paragraph_id":"para_424"},{"text":"We therefore reject the standards applied in","paragraph_id":"para_425"},{"text":"the Courts of Appeals that have treated the","paragraph_id":"para_426"},{"text":"antiretaliation provision as forbidding the","paragraph_id":"para_427"},{"text":"same conduct prohibited by the","paragraph_id":"para_428"},{"text":"antidiscrimination provision and that have","paragraph_id":"para_429"},{"text":"limited actionable retaliation to so-called","paragraph_id":"para_430"},{"text":"“ultimate employment decisions.”","paragraph_id":"para_431"},{"text":"Id. at 63–67 (citations omitted).","paragraph_id":"para_432"},{"text":"In our case, the difference in reach between FLSA’s","paragraph_id":"para_433"},{"text":"substantive economic provisions and its anti-retaliation","paragraph_id":"para_434"},{"text":"provision is unmistakable. The wage and hours provisions","paragraph_id":"para_435"},{"text":"focus on de facto employers, but the anti-retaliation provision","paragraph_id":"para_436"},{"text":"refers to “any person” who retaliates. See 29 U.S.C.","paragraph_id":"para_437"},{"text":"§ 215(a)(3). In turn, section 203(d) extends this concept to","paragraph_id":"para_438"},{"text":"“any person acting directly or indirectly in the interest of an","paragraph_id":"para_439"},{"text":"employer in relation to an employee.” See Id. § 203(d).","paragraph_id":"para_440"},{"text":"ARIAS V. RAIMONDO16","paragraph_id":"para_441"},{"text":"Thus, Congress clearly means to extend section 215(a)(3)’s","paragraph_id":"para_442"},{"text":"reach beyond actual employers. Raimondo’s activity in this","paragraph_id":"para_443"},{"text":"case on behalf of his clients illustrates the wisdom of this","paragraph_id":"para_444"},{"text":"extension.","paragraph_id":"para_445"},{"text":"Although decided before Congress amended the FLSA in","paragraph_id":"para_446"},{"text":"1977 to explicitly create a private right of action for","paragraph_id":"para_447"},{"text":"violations of section 215(a)(3), the Third Circuit’s opinion in","paragraph_id":"para_448"},{"text":"Bowe v. Judson C. Burns, Inc., 137 F.2d 37 (3d Cir. 1943) –","paragraph_id":"para_449"},{"text":"in which a private right of action for such violations was","paragraph_id":"para_450"},{"text":"implied – reinforces our interpretation of this statute. The","paragraph_id":"para_451"},{"text":"Third Circuit rejected a union’s contention that it could not be","paragraph_id":"para_452"},{"text":"liable under section 215(a)(3) for retaliation against its","paragraph_id":"para_453"},{"text":"members because the union was not the members’ actual","paragraph_id":"para_454"},{"text":"employer. The court said,","paragraph_id":"para_455"},{"text":"Legislative intent must be drawn from the Act","paragraph_id":"para_456"},{"text":"as a whole. Those portions of the Act . . .","paragraph_id":"para_457"},{"text":"relating to wages and to hours do apply only","paragraph_id":"para_458"},{"text":"to employers. The prohibitions expressed in","paragraph_id":"para_459"},{"text":"Section 15, 29 U.S.C.A. § 215, however, are","paragraph_id":"para_460"},{"text":"applicable “to any person[.]” Section 15(a)(3)","paragraph_id":"para_461"},{"text":"makes it unlawful for “any person” . . .","paragraph_id":"para_462"},{"text":"whether or not he is an employer, to","paragraph_id":"para_463"},{"text":"discriminate against any employee.","paragraph_id":"para_464"},{"text":"Id. at 38 (emphasis added).","paragraph_id":"para_465"},{"text":"In Sapperstein v. Hager, 188 F.3d 852, 856–57 (7th Cir.","paragraph_id":"para_466"},{"text":"1999), the Seventh Circuit interpreted and applied this “any","paragraph_id":"para_467"},{"text":"person” distinction in a manner that supports our analysis.","paragraph_id":"para_468"},{"text":"The court concluded that section 215(a)(3) provides an","paragraph_id":"para_469"},{"text":"“alternative basis for subject matter jurisdiction” where the","paragraph_id":"para_470"},{"text":"employer’s gross annual sales amount appeared to fall short","paragraph_id":"para_471"},{"text":"ARIAS V. RAIMONDO 17","paragraph_id":"para_472"},{"text":"of the jurisdictional amount required to bring the employer","paragraph_id":"para_473"},{"text":"within the purview of the FLSA’s wage and hour provisions","paragraph_id":"para_474"},{"text":"set forth in sections 206 and 207. The court held that:","paragraph_id":"para_475"},{"text":"Congress made it illegal for any person, not","paragraph_id":"para_476"},{"text":"just an “employer” as defined under the","paragraph_id":"para_477"},{"text":"statute, to retaliate against any employee for","paragraph_id":"para_478"},{"text":"reporting conduct “under” or “related to”","paragraph_id":"para_479"},{"text":"violations of the federal minimum wage or","paragraph_id":"para_480"},{"text":"maximum hour laws, whether or not the","paragraph_id":"para_481"},{"text":"employer’s conduct does in fact violate those","paragraph_id":"para_482"},{"text":"laws. . . . Moreover, “the remedial nature of","paragraph_id":"para_483"},{"text":"the statute further warrants an expansive","paragraph_id":"para_484"},{"text":"interpretation of its provisions. . . .”","paragraph_id":"para_485"},{"text":"Id. at 857 (second omission in original) (quoting Herman v.","paragraph_id":"para_486"},{"text":"RSR Sec. Servs., 172 F.3d 132, 139 (2d Cir. 1999)).","paragraph_id":"para_487"},{"text":"VI","paragraph_id":"para_488"},{"text":"Conclusion","paragraph_id":"para_489"},{"text":"The FLSA is “remedial and humanitarian in purpose. We","paragraph_id":"para_490"},{"text":"are not here dealing with mere chattels or articles of trade but","paragraph_id":"para_491"},{"text":"with the rights of those who toil, of those who sacrifice a full","paragraph_id":"para_492"},{"text":"measure of their freedom and talents to the use and profit of","paragraph_id":"para_493"},{"text":"others . . . . Such a statute must not be interpreted or applied","paragraph_id":"para_494"},{"text":"in a narrow, grudging manner.” Tenn. Coal, Iron & R.R. Co.","paragraph_id":"para_495"},{"text":"v. Muscoda Local No. 123, 321 U.S. 590, 597 (1944).","paragraph_id":"para_496"},{"text":"Accordingly, we conclude that Arias may proceed with","paragraph_id":"para_497"},{"text":"this retaliation action against Raimondo under FLSA sections","paragraph_id":"para_498"},{"text":"215(a)(3) and 216(b). Raimondo’s behavior as alleged in","paragraph_id":"para_499"},{"text":"Arias’s complaint manifestly falls within the purview, the","paragraph_id":"para_500"},{"text":"ARIAS V. RAIMONDO18","paragraph_id":"para_501"},{"text":"purpose, and the plain language of FLSA sections 203(a),","paragraph_id":"para_502"},{"text":"203(d), and 215(a)(3).","paragraph_id":"para_503"},{"text":"Our interpretation of these provisions is limited to","paragraph_id":"para_504"},{"text":"retaliation claims. It does not make non-actual employers","paragraph_id":"para_505"},{"text":"like Raimondo liable in the first instance for any of the","paragraph_id":"para_506"},{"text":"substantive wage and hour economic provisions listed in the","paragraph_id":"para_507"},{"text":"FLSA. As illustrated by the Court’s opinion in Burlington,","paragraph_id":"para_508"},{"text":"the substantive provisions of statutes like Title VII and the","paragraph_id":"para_509"},{"text":"FLSA, and their respective anti-retaliation provisions, stand","paragraph_id":"para_510"},{"text":"on distinctive grounds and shall be treated differently in","paragraph_id":"para_511"},{"text":"interpretation and application. 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