Morgan & Morgan Files New Dent Wizard Lawsuit: What Technicians Should Know About Unpaid Overtime

If you've worked as an automotive restoration service technician outside of Dent Wizard’s retail locations, you know that the job entails long hours, weekend work, and driving between work locations during the day.

You know the amount of work you have to do usually cannot be completed in a forty hour week. And under federal law, many employees are entitled to be paid overtime premiums for this overtime.

Morgan & Morgan has filed a new federal lawsuit against Dent Wizard International, LLC, bringing renewed attention to the wage and overtime rights of automotive service technicians. 

The case follows earlier litigation involving allegations that Dent Wizard technicians worked more than 40 hours per week without receiving the overtime compensation they were owed.

For current and former Dent Wizard ARS technicians working outside of Dent Wizard’s retail locations, this offers an opportunity to take a closer look at how their working hours were recorded, how their pay was calculated, and whether they may have been denied wages under federal law.

If you think you may have been shortchanged, you can easily contact Morgan & Morgan for a free, no-obligation case evaluation.

What Is the New Dent Wizard Lawsuit About?

On October 13, 2026, Morgan & Morgan attorney Angeli Murthy filed a federal lawsuit against Dent Wizard International, LLC, on behalf of plaintiffs Justin Stokes and Damon Patraw.

The case, Stokes et al. v. Dent Wizard International, LLC, was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the federal law that establishes minimum wage and overtime protections for covered employees.

The lawsuit adds to a history of wage-and-hour litigation involving Dent Wizard, a company that provides automotive repair and reconditioning services.

Although the specific allegations in the new complaint have not yet been publicly reviewed for this article, earlier litigation against the company involved claims that certain technicians regularly performed work beyond 40 hours per week without receiving legally required overtime compensation.

Those earlier allegations offer important context for technicians who may have experienced similar pay practices.

Previous Dent Wizard Lawsuit Raised Concerns About Unpaid Overtime

In a separate federal lawsuit, Sullivan v. Dent Wizard International, LLC, automotive repair and reconditioning technicians alleged that the company failed to properly compensate them for overtime hours.

According to allegations described in a May 2025 federal court order, technicians working outside Dent Wizard's retail locations performed vehicle repairs and cosmetic reconditioning services for commercial customers, including automobile dealerships.

The plaintiffs alleged that technicians sometimes worked beyond the standard 40-hour workweek but were instructed to record only 40 hours on their timesheets.

They also claimed that work performed after regular hours, including completing work orders and administrative responsibilities, was not properly tracked or compensated.

Another concern involved how technicians were paid. According to the earlier lawsuit, some workers initially received an hourly guarantee before transitioning to compensation based on a percentage of the work they billed. The plaintiffs alleged that overtime compensation was not properly provided under either arrangement.

These were allegations made in the earlier litigation, rather than findings that the company violated the law. Dent Wizard disputed the claims.

However, the issues raised are worth understanding because federal wage protections can apply even when an employee receives commissions, production-based compensation, or another alternative to a traditional hourly wage.

When Are Automotive Technicians Entitled to Overtime Pay?

The Fair Labor Standards Act generally requires covered, nonexempt employees to receive at least one and a half times their regular rate of pay for hours worked beyond 40 in a single workweek.

For example, a technician earning a regular hourly rate of $25 would ordinarily be entitled to $37.50 per overtime hour if covered by the law and not exempt. But many automotive service employees don't receive a simple hourly paycheck.

Some technicians earn commissions. Others are paid according to completed jobs, production, or a percentage of the revenue generated by their work.

These arrangements can complicate overtime calculations, but they do not automatically eliminate a worker's right to overtime compensation.

Federal law recognizes certain exemptions for qualifying employees, including specific exemptions involving automotive services and commission-based employment. Whether an exemption applies depends on the employee's duties, compensation arrangement, and the employer's business.

A technician who has been told that commissions or flat-rate pay make them ineligible for overtime may have reason to review that classification with an attorney.

What Counts as Work Time for Dent Wizard Technicians?

For many automotive service technicians, completing a repair is only part of the job. Depending on the circumstances, compensable working time may include preparing tools and materials, completing required paperwork, updating work orders, communicating with customers, or traveling between job locations during the workday.

Some of these activities may happen before the first repair begins or after the last repair of the day ends.

For example, a technician might spend eight hours performing vehicle repairs, then another hour completing required documentation and preparing equipment for the following day. If that additional hour qualifies as compensable work, it generally must be included when calculating the employee's total hours.

Federal law generally requires employers to account for compensable work they require or permit employees to perform, even when that work takes place outside a regularly scheduled shift.

Not every preparatory activity or period of travel is necessarily compensable. However, employers generally cannot disregard qualifying work simply because it happens outside the hours entered on a timesheet.

Signs That You May Have Been Denied Overtime Pay

Unpaid overtime isn't always obvious from a paycheck. Some workers know they've been putting in extra hours but assume those hours are already reflected in pay they receive. Others may believe their employer's timekeeping or compensation policies are simply part of working in the automotive service industry.

For Dent Wizard technicians, potential warning signs may include regularly working more than 40 hours per week while only being allowed to record 40 hours, or receiving no additional overtime compensation despite extended days and workweeks.

Questions may also arise when an employer adjusts recorded hours, discourages employees from reporting overtime, or incorrectly treats workers as exempt from federal overtime requirements.

These circumstances do not automatically establish a legal violation. But they may warrant a closer examination of the employee's actual working hours and compensation.

Can Former Dent Wizard Technicians Recover Unpaid Wages?

Potential wage claims are not necessarily limited to current employees. Under the FLSA, workers generally have two years to pursue unpaid overtime claims, although that period may extend to three years for willful violations. Other laws and circumstances may affect the available claims and deadlines. Depending on the state in which work was performed, state overtime laws may also be implicated. 

Workers who successfully establish an FLSA overtime violation may be entitled to recover unpaid wages and, in qualifying cases, additional damages. The law also provides for reasonable attorney's fees and costs in successful actions.

A worker's eligibility depends on the facts of their employment, the applicable legal exemptions, and the amount of compensable work performed.

Even technicians who no longer have access to their former employer's payroll system may have evidence that helps establish their working hours.

Pay statements, personal calendars, job assignments, work orders, text messages, and other records can help reconstruct a work schedule. Employees should preserve records they lawfully possess and avoid accessing confidential company systems without authorization.

An attorney at Morgan & Morgan can help determine what additional employment records may be available and whether the circumstances support a claim.

Frequently Asked Questions About Dent Wizard Technician Overtime

Can Dent Wizard technicians receive overtime if they're paid based on a percentage of the amount invoiced for their work?

Potentially, yes. Percentage-based compensation does not automatically make an employee exempt from overtime requirements. Some percentage-based employees qualify for specific legal exemptions, but those exemptions have requirements that must be met. An attorney can evaluate how a technician's compensation arrangement and job duties affect their rights.

What if I worked more than 40 hours but my timesheet only showed 40?

You may have grounds to investigate an unpaid overtime claim. Federal law generally requires covered employers to maintain accurate records of compensable working time. If an employee worked additional hours that were not properly recorded or paid, other evidence may help establish the hours worked.

Can I pursue unpaid overtime if I no longer work for Dent Wizard?

Yes, former employees may be able to pursue unpaid wage claims. Strict filing deadlines apply, however, so it's important to determine when the alleged violations occurred and whether any recovery period remains available.

Can my employer retaliate against me for asking about unpaid overtime?

Federal law generally prohibits employers from retaliating against workers for engaging in protected activities under the FLSA, including asserting their wage rights or participating in protected legal proceedings. Retaliation may create additional legal concerns, depending on the circumstances.

Do I automatically qualify to participate in the new Dent Wizard lawsuit?

No. Eligibility depends on the claims asserted in the new case and the circumstances of your employment. Workers with similar experiences may have legal options, but those options must be evaluated individually. Filing a lawsuit does not automatically include every current or former employee.

What if I have an arbitration agreement?

While arbitration agreements can eliminate an employee’s right to proceed in court, they do not mean that an employee cannot bring a claim to recover unpaid overtime. If the arbitration agreement is valid, the claim must be filed in the proper arbitration forum, and determined there. An attorney can help to determine whether the arbitration agreement is valid, and if so, whether there is a valid claim to present in arbitration. Morgan & Morgan’s attorneys are experienced not only in court, but also in arbitration, and can assist in making this evaluation.

Morgan & Morgan Is Fighting for Workers' Rights

Automotive technicians perform demanding, skilled work, and their compensation should reflect the hours they are legally entitled to be paid for, including applicable overtime.

Morgan & Morgan's new lawsuit against Dent Wizard International, LLC, underscores the importance of holding employers accountable when workers believe their rights have been violated.

If you currently work or previously worked for Dent Wizard and believe you were denied overtime pay, you may have legal options. Morgan & Morgan's employment attorneys can review your circumstances, explain your rights under federal wage-and-hour laws, and help determine whether you may be eligible to pursue compensation.

Contact Morgan & Morgan today for a free, no-obligation case evaluation. Our attorneys are here to help you understand your options, stand up for your rights, and pursue the wages you may be owed.