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A federal court has approved a $465,000 settlement resolving a lawsuit brought by 68 Brownsburg firefighters over unpaid overtime and improper pay calculations.
“The settlement resolves our members’ claims over money they are owed for hours they worked, but it does not change the reason we brought this case forward,” David Brock, President of Hendricks County Professional Firefighters IAFF Local 4406. “Residents deserve a clear account of how the Town of Brownsburg handled the pay concerns that led to our lawsuit.”
The pay dispute began in December 2023, when a firefighter questioned a paycheck. Local 4406 took the concern to department leadership, and an internal review corrected the paycheck error the following month. But broader questions about overtime calculations and the department’s compensation method remained. Local 4406 sought an IAFF legal review in April 2024, and formal notice of the Fair Labor Standards Act concerns was sent to the Town on August 9. With those issues still unresolved, firefighters filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana on May 5, 2025.
While the lawsuit was pending, Brownsburg moved firefighters to an hourly pay system, effective April 6, 2026. Hourly rates provide a clearer way to track time worked, calculate overtime pay, and ensure employees receive the money they are owed.
“This change more accurately tracks firefighters’ hours, helping make sure the Town is compliant with federal law and our members are paid for any time worked,” Brock said.
