Former Trump Chauffer Sues for Overtime

Courthouse News Service ^ | July 9, 2018 | JOSH RUSSELL

[TaxPayer2000]

MANHATTAN (CN) – A New Yorker who had been President Donald Trump’s personal driver for 20 years claims in court that the “purported” billionaire stiffed him on overtime.

Represented by the firm Davidoff Hutcher & Citron, the July 9 suit in Manhattan Supreme Court demands compensation for six years of service under the applicable statute of limitations.

The driver, Noel Cintron says he “was forced to work thousands of hours of overtime without compensation” before Secret Service took over the job of ferrying President Trump. Cintron no longer drives the president but his service to the Trump Organization allegedly continues as a member of its security staff.

For the last eight years, according to the complaint, Cintron has been earning $75,000 a year. This is up $7,000 from Cintron’s last raise in 2006, but the driver disputes that the 2010 salary was actually a raise since it came at the expense of his health insurance. By paying Cintron a little more, the Trump Organization allegedly saved itself $17,866.08 per year in premiums.

The first page of Cintron’s 14-page lawsuit is rife with indignation. “In an utterly callous display of unwarranted privilege and entitlement and without even a minimal sense of noblesse oblige President Donald Trump has, through the defendant entities, exploited and denied significant wages to his own longstanding personal driver,” it states.

Later the complaint says: “President Trump’s further callousness and cupidity is further demonstrated by the fact that while he is purportedly a billionaire, he has not given his personal driver a meaningful raise in over 12 years!”

This story is developing…

[Mr. K]

I like it

I remember it (vaguely) from a business law course I had 30 years ago and had to look it up.

That and “Ipse dixit” (Latin for “because I say so”) are some of my current favorites.

[wally_bert]

I’d apply.

[GreyFriar]

Thank you for the explanation. I had never heard the word “laches” before.

[freedumb2003]

>>hat and “Ipse dixit” (Latin for “because I say so”) are some of my current favorites.<<

One I use almost daily: “res ipsa loquitur” — “The thing speaks for itself.”

[qaz123]

Does it say in the lawsuit, President Donal Trump’s personal driver?

If so, then the lawsuit should be tossed for impersonating a federal agent. In this case a Secret Service Agent.

A ‘personal driver’ for the President, doesn’t exist. There are limo driver’s assigned to the Presidents Protective Detail, but no personal ones.

[freedumb2003]

>>Thank you for the explanation. I had never heard the word “laches” before.<<

It is an important concept. The law says you have to move with deliberate speed to assert your rights. For example, if you were stiffed by a landlord for your deposit and let 3 years go by before suing for it (assuming a 4 year statute of limitations), most courts will find you committed laches unless there is a damn good LEGAL reason for the delay.

“Justice delayed is justice denied” applies to more than the “speedy trial” clause of the 6th Amendment.

[AppyPappy]

I think that $47k was held up.

[qaz123]

I’m not defending the guy in any way. If he didn’t like the job, he didn’t have to stay there. But....

$75k in NYC isn’t much. By the time you get done paying Federal, State, County and City income taxes, you’re looking at close to 50% gone.

[freedumb2003]

>>Does it say in the lawsuit, President Donal Trump’s personal driver?

If so, then the lawsuit should be tossed for impersonating a federal agent. In this case a Secret Service Agent.<<

The article says over 20 years so I reasonable assume it precedes President Trump’s tenure as POTUS.

[blu]

No, he meant laches: lach·es ˈlaCHəz/ nounLaw noun: laches unreasonable delay in making an assertion or claim, such as asserting a right, claiming a privilege, or making an application for redress, which may result in refusal.

[qaz123]

Precisely. Thus, tossed into the nearest crosscut shredder.

[Political Junkie Too]

I'm sure that at the time, he thought it was all about the prestige of being Trump's driver. He didn't care about the overtime back then, just the resume enhancer and bragging rights to his friends.

-PJ

[GOP Poet]

No it says his salary was once $75,000. (Sounds like possible benefits were also in place. But I’m not clear.) So not hourly.

[GOP Poet]

Ha! Yep. Been there done that in Tech. This driver has no idea what overtime means! At Microsoft and Amazon they rarely left the building. People slept in cots at Amazon in Seattle. Microsoft employees printed immense files and snuck home to get some shut eye while it looked as though they were there. All salaried employees. The consultants were the ones that made the cash as they were often hourly.

The drivers a whiner.

[EVO X]

A chauffer would be hard pressed to fit into any of those molds unless the employer can reasonably demonstrate that the chauffer has had extensive professional training, manages at least 2 other chauffers’, or demonstrates independent judgement as a driver.

There is a domestic service employment exemption. If he was Trump's personal family chauffeur he probably falls under those rules. If he was driving Trump employees around, he probably has a case.

[GOP Poet]

Yeah. There has to be something else going on here. Some other motive. Maybe he wants to be a media darling. Maybe he wants to get paid doing ‘the circuit’ like Stormy and her ‘attorney.’ He wants money alright. But I doubt its really from the Trump Organization. Although he’s already getting that and it looks as though he’ll take more to pay his lawyer that filed.

[GOP Poet]

HA!! Great point!!!

[GOP Poet]

Nice to know. They really need to let Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos this. And well all their employees.

[GOP Poet]

Well put.

[EVO X]

I think that $47k was held up.

It got shot down last fall. A district court judge said DOL exceeded their authority.