Baltimore County Sued Over Work-Release Wages at Recycling Facility

An Essex man who worked 10-hour days at Baltimore County’s recycling facility as part of a work-release program has sued the county, alleging it violated federal and state labor laws by not paying him minimum wage and overtime.

In a federal lawsuit filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Maryland, Michael A. Scott says he and others in the county detention center’s work-release program were paid a flat rate of $20 a day to work at the Cockeysville recycling center operated by the county’s Department of Public Works.

The lawsuit alleges violations of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, and Maryland wage and hour laws. Lawyers for Scott are seeking class-action status to include others who worked at the recycling facility as part of the county work-release program.

The state’s minimum wage is $11.75 per hour.