A group of 13 firefighters are suing Hermosa Beach over how their regular and overtime wages were calculated amid the city's move toward contracting with the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
NBC Los Angeles reports that the lawsuit filed in federal district court alleges the city violated the Fair Labor Standards Act and seeks not only compensation but double damages spanning three years as a penalty, plus interest and attorneys fees, according to Hermosa Beach Public Information Officer Katie Casey.
"We have been negotiating in good faith for the better part of a year with their union on a host of issues, and this Fair Labor Standards Act issue never came up," Hermosa Beach Mayor Jeff Duclos said in response to the suit. "We've always been fair with the firefighters and grateful for their services. It's saddening really, that they had many opportunities to bring it up, chose not to and now saddle the city with a lawsuit as they depart city service."
Casey said that because of overtime hours logged, 10 of the highest paid city employees in 2016 were firefighters whose compensation ranged from $156,000 to $307,761.
"In 2017, the highest paid city employee, also from the fire department, will reach over $400,000 in total compensation," she said.
The Hermosa Beach Fire Department will be dissolved Dec. 30 when Los Angeles County takes over fire protection services for the city.
