Date: 08-23-2006

Case Style: Chellen, et al. v. John Pickle Company, et al.

Case Number: 02-CV-85

Judge: Claire V. Eagan

Court: United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma

Plaintiff's Attorney:

Bill K. "Kent" Felty, Tulsa, Oklahoma; Joe W. McDoulett, Catholic Charities, Oklahoma City, OK; and Eddie D. Ramirez, Tulsa, Oklahoma

Defendant's Attorney:

Tom Mason, Phil McGowan and Linda McGowan, Tulsa, Oklahoma

Description:

Fair Labor Standards Act, 29 U.S.C. 201, claims by Babu Thanu Chellen and other Indian nationals who claimed they were brought into the United States by the John Pickle Company and held in virtual slavery conditions at the John Pickle manufacturing plant in West Tulsa, Oklahoma. They claimed that their immigration documents were taken from them and that they were not allowed to leave the dormitory facility on the plant grounds because of fear of deportation. They also claimed that they were paid only $3.20 an hour for their labor of the industrial heat exchangers and other refinery and industrial equipment that they manufactured at the plant.

The defendants claimed that they had the right to pay the Indian workers only $3.20 an hour because they were "trainees" and that they had the right to leave the plant any time they wished.

Outcome: Judgment for the plaintiffs in the amount of $1.293 million.

Plaintiff's Experts: Unknown

Defendant's Experts: Unknown

Comments: None