Harney v. Speedway Superamerica

Plaintiffs brought a class action lawsuit against their employer, Speedway SuperAmerica LLC, alleging that the manner in which Speedway pays and forfeits its employees bonuses violates Indianas Wage Payment Statute and Wage Claims Statute. The district court granted summary judgment to Speedway, finding that Plaintiffs bonuses did not constitute "wages" under Indiana law, and therefore the two statutes did not apply. At best, the district court held, the bonuses were a form of "deferred compensation," which were forfeited when Plaintiffs failed to meet the bonuses condition of continued employment with Speedway. Plaintiffs now appeal the district courts grant of summary judgment to Speedway, claiming that the district court erred in determining that the bonuses were not "wages" under Indiana law, and that the retention element of Speedways bonus programs violates Indiana law.