Full title: JUSTIN BAUGHMAN, et al, Plaintiffs, v. KTH PARTS INDUSTRIES, INC., et. al, Defendants.
Court: UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF OHIO WESTERN DIVISION
Date published: Apr 10, 2020
Facts
KTH designs, develops, and manufactures automotive parts in St. Louis, Ohio. Doc. #1, PAGEID#4. KLP stamps and welds automotive body sub-component parts in Alabama and supplies these parts to KTH. Id., PAGEID#6. Plaintiffs Baughman and Nichols worked at KTH in Ohio, Id., PAGEID#3, and Plaintiff Williams worked at KLP in Alabama. Id., PAGEID# 6. KLP, as a wholly owned subsidiary of KTH, allegedly “conducts business on behalf of KTH.” Id., PAGEID#3. The complaint alleges that the defendants “shared the services of plaintiffs and other similarly situated employees” and “acted directly or indirectly in the interest of each other.” Id., PAGEID#8. According to the plaintiffs, KTH “exercises significant control of KLP by overseeing, controlling, directing, and maintaining operations over the production and manufacturing goals.” Id. PAGEID#6. This control includes the “promulgation and enforcement of policies affecting the payment of wages and overtime.” Id., PAGEID#8.
Issue
Decision
For the reasons set forth above, the Motion to Dismiss, Doc. # 7, the Collective and Class Action Complaint, Doc. #1, as to KLP for lack of personal jurisdiction, is SUSTAINED. The Court also sustains KTH’s Motion to Dismiss Plaintiff Shawn Nichols’s Claims against it, Doc. 8, compels arbitration in accordance with the Arbitration Agreement in the county where Plaintiff Nichols was last employed and DISMISSES his claims WITH PREJUDICE.
The claims of Plaintiff Baughman, an employee of KTH, against KTH, and the claims of Plaintiff Williams, an employee of KLP, remain pending against KTH. Date: April 10, 2020
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