Denise Godbee has filed a collective action lawsuit against Johnson Service Group, Inc. (JSG), alleging the company violated federal labor laws by failing to pay overtime wages. The complaint was filed on March 21, 2025, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Godbee accuses JSG of misclassifying employees to avoid paying them the legally required overtime compensation.
The case centers around JSG's alleged practice of paying its "Straight Time Employees" the same hourly rate for all hours worked, including those exceeding 40 hours per week, which is contrary to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Godbee claims that this "straight time for overtime" scheme systematically deprived her and other similarly situated employees of their rightful overtime pay. She argues that JSG misclassified these employees as exempt from overtime without meeting the necessary criteria, such as paying a salary basis or offering guaranteed salaries not subject to reduction based on work quality or quantity.
Godbee worked as an ITP Closure Tech for JSG from December 2021 until March 2024 and was paid approximately $26.25 per hour. Despite regularly working between 50 to 70 hours a week, she received no additional compensation for overtime hours. The lawsuit highlights specific instances where Godbee worked significant overtime but was compensated at her regular hourly rate instead of receiving time-and-a-half pay as mandated by law.
In her complaint, Godbee seeks several forms of relief from the court: an order designating the lawsuit as a collective action so other affected employees can join; a judgment requiring JSG to pay back wages plus liquidated damages equal to those unpaid wages; and coverage of attorneys' fees and related costs. She also requests pre- and post-judgment interest on any awarded amounts.
The legal team representing Godbee includes Douglas M. Werman and Maureen A. Salas from Werman Salas P.C., along with Michael A. Josephson and Andrew W. Dunlap from Josephson Dunlap LLP, and Richard J. Burch from Bruckner Burch PLLC, who are expected to apply pro hac vice status for this case in Illinois courts. The case is presided over by judges in the Northern District of Illinois under Case ID: 1:25-cv-03033.