Aron John Bland has filed a collective action lawsuit against his former employer, alleging significant violations of federal labor laws. The complaint was submitted on November 18, 2025, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. Bland is accusing Global K9 Protection Group, LLC and its representative Eric Hare of failing to compensate him and other employees properly for overtime work as mandated by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
The lawsuit outlines several grievances against Global K9 Protection Group, LLC (GK9) and Eric Hare. Bland claims that during his tenure as a commercial canine handler from July 13, 2022, to May 2024, he was not compensated for overtime hours despite being eligible under FLSA guidelines. Initially paid hourly until December 31, 2023, and then salaried with supposed overtime pay starting January 1, 2024, Bland asserts that neither he nor his colleagues received due compensation for hours worked beyond the standard 40-hour workweek. “Defendants GK9 and Hare have engaged in a practice and policy of willfully failing and refusing to pay Plaintiff and the class he seeks to represent overtime compensation,” the complaint states.
Bland further alleges that GK9 failed to maintain accurate time records required by law and instead recorded overtime hours as regular time. The company also allegedly failed to pay for mandatory canine care and training hours which were integral to their job roles but were either unpaid or inadequately compensated. Additionally, Bland accuses GK9 of constructive discharge practices where handlers faced termination if they did not comply with improper wage practices or relinquish their canines without substantial fees.
In seeking redress from the court, Bland is pursuing injunctive relief alongside declaratory judgments against the defendants. He requests back wages covering three years prior to filing the complaint plus liquidated damages equal to unpaid wages under FLSA provisions. The lawsuit also calls for an injunction preventing GK9 from continuing these unlawful practices while seeking attorney’s fees and costs incurred during litigation.
Representing Aron John Bland is attorney Daniel W. Rucker from Hertz Schram PC located in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. The case has been filed under Case ID: 2:25-cv-13670-LVP-DRG at the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.
Source: 225cv13670_Aron_John_v_Global_Portection_Complaint_Eastern_District_of_Michigan.pdf
