In a decision with broad implications within and, potentially, outside the pharmaceutical industry, the Supreme Court has affirmed, by a 5-4 margin, the Ninth Circuit’s decision finding GlaxoSmithKline’s pharmaceutical sales representatives qualify for the outside sales exemption under the FLSA. Christopher v. SmithKline Beecham Corp., No. 11–204 (June 18, 2012). Justice Alito delivered
novartis
Supreme Court To Decide Classification of Pharmaceutical Representatives
The Supreme Court’s web site confirms that the nation’s highest court has granted the petition for certiorari filed by the pharmaceutical sales representative (PSR) plaintiffs in Christopher et al. v. SmithKline Beecham Corporation. The Court will now review the Ninth Circuit’s ruling in Christopher that SmithKline properly classifies its pharmaceutical sales representatives as "outside …
Another Petition for Certiorari to US Supreme Court Filed Seeking Clarity As to FLSA Status of PSR’s
As often discussed in this space and elsewhere, Courts continue to widely differ in their analysis as to whether the administrative and/or outside sales exemptions are applicable to pharmaceutical sales representatives. Now, the Supreme Court will have another opportunity to weigh in on the applicability of the outside sales exemption to such employees, as the plaintiffs…
Supreme Court Declines to Review Drug Reps Classification Issue
Despite the Circuit split created by this month’s decision from the Ninth Circuit, holding that pharmaceutical sales representatives are outside sales employees within the meaning of the FLSA, the Supreme Court has declined to take up Novartis’ appeal of the adverse ruling it received on this issue from the Second Circuit. The Supreme…
Lacking Circuit Court Guidance, District Court Adheres To Earlier Ruling That Pharmaceutical Sales Representatives Are Exempt Outside Salespersons
In the latest installment of the ongoing litigation over whether pharmaceutical sales representatives are exempt from overtime under the FLSA (see earlier post here), a district court in Indiana declined to reconsider its decision holding that PSRs do qualify for the outside sales exemption. See Schaefer-Larose v. Eli Lilly & Co., S..D.
Will Supreme Court Elect to Resolve Scope of Outside Sales and Administrative Exemptions?
In a much-awaited decision, earlier this week the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit reversed a New York District Court and held that pharmaceutical sales representatives are not exempt outside sales or administrative employees. In re Novartis Wage & Hour Litig., No. 09-0437-cv, 2010 U.S. App. LEXIS 13708 (2d Cir. July 6…