Liberty Ridge Farm was purportedly established to “rehabilitate” young men, who were forced to work six days a week, leading to yearly revenues close to or exceeding $1 million.
Granting summary judgment to the Department of Labor with regard to several claims arising under the FLSA against a Mennonite nonprofit, a federal district court in Pennsylvania found that the teens and children who were sent to a labor farm by their parents in an effort to address alleged behavioral issues should have been considered employees for FLSA purposes. The same determination was also made as to “mentors” assigned to oversee the young laborers and who were paid a monthly stipend of $250 plus room and board. The court found the violations to be willful, and ordered the nonprofit to pay back pay and liquidated damages totaling more than $1.3 million, while permanently enjoining the defendants from violating the FLSA (Chavez-Deremer v. Mennonite Messianic Mission of the Eastern Pennsylvania Mennonite Church, No. 1:22-cv-01355 (M.D. Pa. Dec. 17, 2025)).
Defendant Mennonite Mission is a 501(3)(c) organization consisting of “group of members of the Eastern Pennsylvania Mennonite Church Ministries” who together conduct the mission activities of the church. The organization formed the Liberty Ridge Farm Committee (LRFC) to operate Liberty Ridge, the activities of which are the subject of this lawsuit.
“Rehabilitation program.” Parents and guardians in the Mennonite community sent their “troubled...
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