In a significant legal move, an individual has filed a lawsuit against a dog training company and its owner, alleging violations of labor laws. Alexandria Jett initiated the complaint in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia on February 24, 2026, targeting Canine Ph.D. Dog Training Incorporated and its owner, Meredith Minkin.
The lawsuit centers around claims that Jett was misclassified as an “independent contractor” by her former employer to avoid paying overtime wages. According to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), employees are entitled to overtime pay for hours worked beyond the standard 40-hour workweek. However, Jett contends that despite being economically dependent on Canine Ph.D., she was compensated via Form 1099 and not provided with the necessary overtime premiums. She argues that her classification as an independent contractor was merely a strategy employed by the defendants to circumvent federal labor laws.
Jett’s employment with Canine Ph.D. spanned from December 3, 2024, to January 1, 2026, during which she worked as a Dog Trainer/Day Trainer. Throughout this period, she regularly clocked more than 40 hours per week without receiving the mandated overtime compensation of one and a half times her regular hourly rate. The complaint highlights that Meredith Minkin had operational control over Jett’s employment conditions and thus should be considered an “employer” under FLSA definitions.
The plaintiff is seeking several forms of relief from the court. She demands judgment against the defendants for unpaid overtime compensation and seeks liquidated damages equivalent to those unpaid wages under Section 216(b) of the FLSA. Additionally, Jett requests reasonable attorney fees and costs incurred due to this legal action. Her legal representation argues that Canine Ph.D.’s failure to comply with FLSA requirements was willful and intentional, warranting an extension of the statute of limitations for these claims to three years.
Representing Alexandria Jett in this case is Thomas F. Martin from Martin & Martin LLP based in Tucker, Georgia. The case is presided over by Judge Steven D. Grimberg under Case ID: 1:26-cv-01055-SDG.
Source: 126cv01055_Alexandria_Jett_v_Canine_PHD_Complaint_Southern_District_of_New_York.pdf
