Fifth Circuit Approves Emotional Distress Damages and Invites FLSA Retaliation Plaintiffs to Sit on Freudian Couch

Resolving a split in the lower courts and deciding an issue of first impression for the Court, the Fifth Circuit earlier this week held that prevailing plaintiffs in FLSA retaliation cases may recover emotional distress damages. While perhaps not unexpected, since the result joins with the majority rule in other Circuits, the outcome means that the costs to litigate these claims and the potential exposure may increase dramatically by the inclusion of possible emotional distress damages. The number of claims will likely increase as well, since plaintiffs with little or no economic damages now have another reason to sue.

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