A Michigan corporation is facing a collective action lawsuit over alleged violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Raymond Dean filed the complaint on November 25, 2025, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan against Eaton Steel Corporation. The lawsuit claims that Eaton Steel failed to properly calculate and pay overtime wages to its hourly employees, including Dean.
Raymond Dean, a former employee of Eaton Steel Corporation, alleges that the company did not include non-discretionary bonuses such as Attendance Bonus and Gas Bonus in the calculation of regular rates for overtime pay. This omission resulted in employees being underpaid for overtime hours worked. According to Dean’s complaint, this practice violated the FLSA’s requirement that all forms of remuneration be included in determining an employee’s regular rate of pay. The plaintiff argues that Eaton Steel’s actions were willful and part of a broader pattern affecting numerous employees across its operations.
Dean worked as a sideload operator at Eaton Steel from June 2023 to September 2025, earning an hourly wage of $21.77. He claims that his pay stubs reflect incorrect overtime calculations due to excluded bonus payments. For instance, during one pay period in December 2024, he worked over 44 hours but was compensated at an incorrect overtime rate because his bonuses were not factored into his regular rate. The complaint asserts that similar miscalculations affected other hourly employees over the past three years.
The lawsuit seeks various forms of relief from the court. Dean requests backpay for unpaid wages, liquidated damages equal to those unpaid wages, attorney’s fees, costs, and interest. Additionally, he seeks a declaration from the court affirming that Eaton Steel violated FLSA regulations and demands corrective measures be implemented by the company. As part of this collective action suit under Section 216(b) of the FLSA, Dean also seeks court authorization to notify other affected employees so they can join the lawsuit.
Representing Raymond Dean is attorney Jesse L. Young from Sommers Schwartz P.C., based in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The case has been assigned Case ID: 2:25-cv-13772-LJM-DRG and will be presided over by judges yet to be named.
Source: 225cv13772_Ryamond_Dean_v_Eaton_Steel_Complaint_Eastern_District_of_Michigan.pdf
