A class action lawsuit filed in Medford, Oregon alleges that Sterling Savings Bank systematically violated federal and state labor laws by denying overtime pay to mortgage loan officers and other mortgage origination employees. The lawsuit alleges that Sterling Savings Bank and Golf Savings Bank violated the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), Oregon Wage and Hour Laws, and other state labor laws nationwide, and deliberately misclassified mortgage loan officers as exempt from the overtime requirements. 

According to the complaint, the banks denied earned wages, including overtime pay, to mortgage loan officers and other mortgage origination employees. Employees allegedly were required to work substantially more than 40 hours per week without overtime pay and were illegally classified as ineligible for overtime pay. The banks are also accused of deducting from employee wages the banks’ costs of conducting business including such items as credit report fees, appraisal fees, and other fees and items. 

The named plaintiffs are mortgage loan officers Micah DuBeau and David DuBeau, both of Medford, Oregon. They worked for the banks between 2010 and 2012.  The case is Micah DuBeau and David DuBeau, et al., v. Sterling Savings Bank and Golf Savings Bank, Case No. 1:12-cv-01602-CL in the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon, Medford Division.