David Ricksecker embarked on a career in labor law not only to help workers, but to be on the right side when litigating cases. He joined McGillivary Steele Elkin LLP (formerly “Woodley & McGillivary”) in 2003 after working as staff counsel for the Sheet Metal Workers National Pension Fund. In 2009, he was made partner in the firm. While handling a traditional labor practice, David specializes in representing unions and employees in cases brought under the Fair Labor Standards Act. He has been successful in many large cases in federal court across the country in cases brought on behalf of America’s workers – workers who have been denied overtime pay in violation of the FLSA.
David has significant experience litigating wage and hour cases pursued to arbitration through collective bargaining agreements. In particular, he has represented AFGE and IFPTE Local unions in grievances brought to recover overtime backpay and liquidated damages for bargaining unit members who were wrongly exempted from the FLSA, denied overtime pay for work performed before and after their tour of duty, or denied pay for work performed during uncompensated meal breaks. David has successfully represented unions and employees in over 60 Fair Labor Standards Act overtime pay cases, in court actions as well as in arbitration proceedings, recovering millions of dollars for the clients he serves.
David’s expertise has helped public employees such as:
- Federal employees (e.g., border patrol agents, engineering technicians and engineers, correctional officers, criminal investigators computer specialists, fire fighters, quality assurance specialists, budget analysts, shipyard workers, forestry service workers, police officers, realty specialists, paralegals, education assistants, security specialists, engineers)
- City, State and County Employees: (fire fighters, paramedics/EMTs, police officers, police canine, truck drivers, delivery drivers, laborers, clerical employees, social workers, homeless service workers, child protective specialists, budget analysts, counselors, juvenile counselors, clerical employees)
In 2009, the D.C. Employment Justice Center named David the “Volunteer Attorney of the Year.” He is also a contributing editor on federal pay issues for the Federal Claims Bar Association Executive Summary. He is a frequent speaker on FLSA and wage and hour issues for the American Bar Association and other groups. He graduated with distinction from the University of Iowa, College of Law in 2001, where he was Managing Editor of the Iowa Law Review. He published “New Obstacles in the Ability of State Employees to Sue Their State Employers Under the Americans with Disabilities Act.” 85 Iowa L. Rev. 1835.
David is also an active member in the Legal Network for Gender Equity and the TIME’S UP Legal Defense Fund.
