Federal Lawsuit Dropped Against MDOC

JACKSON – A lawsuit filed against the Mississippi Department of Corrections in federal court over alleged unpaid overtime wages has been dismissed.

The court ordered the dismissal Nov. 30. Myia Norwood, a six-year correctional officer, filed the class-action complaint April 11 in U.S. District Court for the Southern District in Jackson. Norwood remains employed with the agency.

The court’s action came after Norwood failed to file a written statement with the court by Nov. 18 letting it know whether she and others intended to pursue their claims. The court had set that deadline after Norwood’s former attorneys told the court they had been unable to contact her and the other plaintiffs. The attorneys were allowed to withdraw from the lawsuit in October.

“I am pleased that the court has granted the Department of Corrections’ request that the lawsuit be dismissed,” Commissioner Christopher B. Epps said. “While anyone can file a lawsuit, this lawsuit should not have been filed because the MDOC is following state law in the payment of overtime compensation.”