Opinion
SUCV20170491BLS1
10-06-2017
Tremayne Smith-Berry et al., Individually and as Class Representatives v. National Amusements, Inc. et al. [1]
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER ON MOTIONS FOR RECONSIDERATION
Edward P. Leibensperger, Justice
Both plaintiffs and defendants ask the court to reconsider its decision dated August 29, 2017 (" Decision" ), allowing, in part, and denying, in part, defendants' motion to dismiss Count III of the First Amended Complaint.
Plaintiffs re-argue their position that workers at Showcase Cinemas are entitled to be compensated at one and half times their regular pay (" premium pay" ) when they work on Sundays. After review of the argument, plaintiffs' motion to reconsider is DENIED for the reasons stated in the Decision.
Defendants, referred to collectively in the Decision and here as " Showcase," move to reconsider that portion of the Decision that denied complete dismissal of Count III. In the Decision, I held that application of G.L.c. 136, § 13 required that Showcase pay premium pay to workers for work performed on three holidays: New Year's Day, Columbus Day and Veteran's Day (the " Holidays" ). This somewhat odd result was directed by the decision of the Appeals Court in Drive-O-Rama, Inc. v. Attorney General, 63 Mass.App.Ct. 769, 829 N.E.2d 1153 (2005) concerning retail establishments.
Showcase now argues that its operation on the Holidays is governed by a different section of the General Laws that does not require premium pay. For the reasons stated below, I agree.
Section 13 of c. 136 applies to a retail establishment that operates on the Holidays " under the exemption granted by this section." Showcase now points out that movie theaters operate on the Holidays pursuant to another section of c. 136; i.e., § 14. Section 14 was enacted by the Legislature on the same day as § 13, and states that " [n]otwithstanding any provision of this chapter to the contrary" the activities of " sport, fair, exposition, play, entertainment or public diversion" may be conducted on any legal holiday. " [A]ny labor, business or work necessary or incidental thereto may be performed on any legal holiday . . ." Section 14, unlike § 13, does not require premium pay for employees working on any legal holiday.
As referenced in the Decision, a movie theater may be viewed as a retail establishment. At the same time, the operation of a movie theater is also a business providing " entertainment or public diversion" as described in § 14. That conclusion is consistent with the plain meaning of the words in § 14. Moreover, the conclusion is bolstered by the Legislature's specific reference to " exhibition of motion pictures by a movie theater" in Clause 8A of § 4 of c. 136. Clause 8A exempts movie theaters from certain licensing requirements that otherwise would have applied to a business providing " entertainment or public diversion." By implication, the Legislature recognized that movie theaters are businesses providing " entertainment or public diversion."
Because § 13 and § 14 were enacted together in St. 1962, c. 616, § 2, I conclude that the Legislature intended that " retail establishments" and businesses providing " entertainment or public diversion" should be treated differently when it comes to the obligation to provide premium pay for work on the Holidays. That is made abundantly clear by the Legislature's language in § 14 providing " [n]otwithstanding any provision of this chapter to the contrary" a provider of " entertainment or public diversion" is governed by § 14.
" It is a basic canon of statutory interpretation that 'general statutory language must yield to that which is more specific.'" TBI, Inc. v. Board of Health of North Andover, 431 Mass. 9, 18, 725 N.E.2d 188 (2000), quoting Risk Mgmt. Found. v. Commissioner of Ins.., 407 Mass. 498, 505, 554 N.E.2d 843 (1990). Applying that canon here, I conclude that the inclusion of movie theaters in § 14 by virtue of being a business providing " entertainment or public diversion" is a more specific reference to the business of movie theaters than the generic " retail establishment." That means that movie theaters are governed by § 14, not § 13. Because § 14 does not require premium pay for work on the Holidays, Plaintiff's Count III must be dismissed in its entirety. Defendants' motion for reconsideration is ALLOWED. Count III is dismissed.