Prime Communications

No Company is Too Big to Play Fair.

More than 600 retail store employees (and counting) have lodged demands with the American Arbitration Association against Prime Communications for unpaid overtime. These employees (which include store managers, assistant store managers, and sales representatives) allege that they worked off-the-clock overtime hours without pay, and with the company’s knowledge. They seek to recover unpaid overtime compensation, double damages, and other available relief under wage and hour law.

We are pursuing these claims through a process called arbitration, which is often considered less formal than court. This is because of agreements the company had employees sign that require filing claims with the American Arbitration Association, rather than in court.

Prime Communications has made multiple settlement offers to resolve these claims for backpay for many of our clients. Some accepted and have received payment, while others decided to continue with their claim in arbitration to pursue additional damages.

We are still accepting new claims for Prime Communications retail store employees from anywhere in the country who worked unpaid overtime hours in the past three years.

Our firm is partnered with attorneys Michael Palitz and Gregg Shavitz of Shavitz Law Group, P.A. More information about their firm and these claims can also be found at their site at https://primeovertime.com/.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q:Am I Eligible?

A:
You may be eligible to make a demand if you worked as a store manager, assistant store manager, and/or sales representative within the past three years and were not paid for all the overtime hours you worked (hours over 40 in a workweek).
Q:Which Locations Are Included?

A:
Retail store employees who work or have worked for Prime Communications in any state anywhere across the country within the past three years may make a demand for unpaid overtime wages.
Q:What Timeframe Does This Matter Cover?

A:
There is a statute of limitations, which allows workers to recover unpaid overtime wages within specific time periods. Under federal law, the statute of limitation is two to three years back from when we file your demand with the American Arbitration Association.
Q:Do I Have to Pay Anything?

A:
We are handling these matters on a contingency fee basis. This means we will only be paid if we are successful in obtaining relief either through a settlement, award, or a final judgment, and that payment will only come out of that settlement, award, or final judgment and not your pocket.
Q:How Do I Prove I Worked Overtime?

A:
If you have records of the hours you worked, please preserve and keep them until we ask you for them. However, you do not need to have records of your work hours to make a claim for your overtime pay. If Prime Communications did not keep accurate time records, you are permitted to make a good-faith estimate of your work hours. We will seek any records the company may have of your hours worked as well.
Q:What About Retaliation?

A:
It is against the law for an employer to retaliate against a person for making a claim for unpaid wages. If you currently work for Prime Communications and you believe you may be the victim of retaliation, contact the case clerk, Bridget Peterson at (612) 256-3259 or bpeterson@nka.com immediately.
Q:How Long Will This Take?

A:
The length of these matters varies but can typically last one to two years.
Q:Is There Money Available Now?

A:
No. These matters are ongoing. There is no money currently available and there is no guarantee that you will receive money.
Q:How Can I Help?

A:
If you know any store managers, assistant store managers, and/or sales representatives interested in making a demand for unpaid overtime, they should contact the case clerk, Bridget Peterson at (612) 256-3259 or bpeterson@nka.com to sign up.
Q:How Do I Learn More?

A:
To learn more, feel free to contact the case clerk, Bridget Peterson at (612) 256-3259 or bpeterson@nka.com.

Case Updates

December 19, 2023

We now represent over 600 workers in arbitrations against Prime. In September, we had our first arbitration hearing and our client won. In November, we had another one that went very well and are awaiting the result. Prime has settled with several others as their arbitration hearing dates approach, and we have many more hearings scheduled, and being scheduled, in the coming months.

April 27, 2023

Prime Communications Case Update

We have now filed nearly 500 arbitration demands as Prime employees continue to seek to recover unpaid overtime wages. Prime has made multiple settlement offers and over 150 workers have accepted them and been paid. Those who did not settle are going forward with the arbitration process. Some have already had arbitrators selected to decide their claims and have hearings scheduled, while the majority are waiting for arbitrators to be selected. We are still accepting new clients.

December 9, 2022

Prime Communications Case Update

We have now filed more than 330 arbitration demands and more Prime employees continue to sign up who were not paid for their overtime worked. Prime made settlement offers and close to 100 workers accepted them and will be paid soon. For those who did not settle, the next step is selecting arbitrators who will decide the claims. We are moving forward with that process, which will be ongoing for a few months. We are still accepting new clients.

March 4, 2022

Retail Store Employees Launch Demands for Overtime Pay Against Prime Communications

Over the past few weeks, more than 140 retail store employees (and counting) have lodged demands with the American Arbitration Association against Prime Communications for unpaid overtime. These employees (which include store managers, assistant store managers, and sales representatives) allege that they worked off-the-clock overtime hours without pay, and with the company’s knowledge. They seek to recover unpaid overtime compensation, double damages, and other available relief under wage and hour law.

Michele R. Fisher, a partner at Nichols Kaster, PLLP who represents the employees, stated, “we have been learning of allegations from workers around the country that Prime Communications encouraged unpaid overtime work by instructing employees to continue working but not record time beyond scheduled hours, not paying for meal breaks not taken, and requiring off-the-clock work for meetings, conference calls, and responding to GroupMe messages. These workers should be paid for this time.” Michael Palitz, a partner with Shavitz Law Group, P.A. who also represents the store employees explained, “some companies make employees sign arbitration agreements that extinguish their right to sue in court if the employer treats them illegally and require them to bring a claim in arbitration instead. We intend to hold Prime Communications responsible by bringing these claims for these workers in arbitration.”

The employees are represented by Michael Palitz and Gregg Shavitz of Shavitz Law Group, P.A. and Michele Fisher and Kayla Kienzle of Nichols Kaster, PLLP.

The firms representing the workers are still accepting new claims for Prime Communications retail store employees from anywhere in the country who worked unpaid overtime hours in the past three years. For additional information about how to make a claim, visit www.primeunpaidovertime.com or https://primeovertime.com.

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