CHARLESTON, S.C., July 26, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Judge David C. Norton of the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina granted the plaintiffs' motion for conditional certification and to notify other potential plaintiffs of the opportunity to join in a lawsuit against Farmers Insurance in MacGregor, et al. v. Farmers Insurance Exchange. The plaintiff group, which includes property claims representatives in the Atlanta area, is suing Farmers for allegedly refusing to pay for all of their overtime work.

The judge's decision at the end of last week will allow property claims representatives who believe that they were not properly paid overtime to join in the suit against Farmers Insurance. Judge Norton initially applied the Supreme Court's decision in Dukes v. Walmart, which came in June of 2011, to deny the plaintiffs' first request for this relief. Judge Norton allowed the plaintiffs to file a renewed motion for conditional certification after hearing arguments from the plaintiffs about why he should reconsider his prior ruling. After hearing the plaintiffs' renewed motion for conditional certification, he granted it, extending the opportunity to join in the lawsuit to other potential plaintiffs in Farmers' Atlanta Zone.

"Judge Norton's decision is an important step toward justice for Farmers' property claims representatives who believe that they are not being paid for all the overtime they have worked," said Nicholas Woodfield, a principal at The Employment Law Group law firm and co-counsel representing the plaintiff group.

"He has made it possible for them to come forward and assert their claims in court rather than suffer in silence thinking they have little or no recourse against a large company like Farmers," Woodfield added.

To discuss the plaintiff opt-in process for this lawsuit, or to request an interview, please contact Nicholas Woodfield directly at (202) 261-2812 or email: nwoodfield@employmentlawgroup.com. SOURCE The Employment Law Group