Judge refuses to dismiss federal labor lawsuit against Ernest Angley

Akron Beacon Journal, Ohio/November 13, 2015

By Jim Mackinnon

A federal judge on Friday refused to dismiss a government lawsuit against television evangelist Ernest Angley and his organization’s Cathedral Buffet Inc. on charges that they violated minimum wage, overtime and child labor provisions.

U.S. District Court Judge Benita Y. Pearson ruled that the U.S. Department of Labor “has adequately alleged facts” in the case, which was filed in August. The suit says Angley owes $207,975 in back wages and an equal amount in damages.
The judge said that Angley and Cathedral Buffet have until Nov. 25 to respond.

Cathedral Buffet is a restaurant on State Road in Cuyahoga Falls that is operated by Angley’s organization.

Angley in September filed paperwork seeking to dismiss the lawsuit, which was filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio.

The government’s lawsuit alleges violations of minimum wage, overtime, record-keeping and child labor provisions involving 238 current or former employees at Cathedral Buffet.

The government alleges that Angley and Cathedral Buffet classified some employees as unpaid volunteers, paid “excessively low salaries” to non-exempt managers and refused to pay overtime to employees who worked more than 40 hours a week.

In addition, the government alleges “defendants have repeatedly violated the child labor requirements” by allowing minors between the ages 14 and 16 to work prohibited hours.

To see more documents/articles regarding this group/organization/subject click here.