{ Banner }

Texas drillers can classify engineers as contractors, court rules

March 8, 2019
San Antonio Business Journal

In an article published on March 8, 2019 by San Antonio Business Journal, shareholder and chair of the firm’s national labor and employment group Annette Idalski is featured for serving as lead counsel for Premier Directional Drilling in Parrish v. Premier Directional Drilling. In the highly anticipated court case with broad implications for the oil industry, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals court unanimously concluded that directional drilling engineers can be classified as independent contractors and not employees.

Idalski states that to her knowledge, this was the first time the Fifth Circuit has applied the Federal Labor Standards Act to oil and gas workers. Premier President Mike Kennedy says, “My phone has been ringing off the hook with calls and texts from other directional companies and oil companies with congratulations.” For the full article, please click here.