Class actions in employment cases have existed for years. In recent years, however, likely as a result of the large verdicts and large awards for attorneys’ fees in tobacco litigation in Florida, lawyers representing employees have joined groups of current and former employees together in what are called “collective actions.”  The Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”) allows current and former employees to bring claims together under what are referred to as collective actions.  Mr. Harper has defended a number of “collective actions” under the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”). In the past decade the number of wage/hour claims under the FLSA and the Florida Minimum Wage law has increased to the point that the federal courts in Florida have special procedures for dealing with FLSA claims.