Christopher v. SmithKline Beecham Corp.

Holding: The petitioners " pharmaceutical sales representatives whose primary duty is to obtain nonbinding commitments from physicians to prescribe their employer"s prescription drugs in appropriate cases " qualify as outside salesmen under the most reasonable interpretation of the Department of Labor"s regulations.

Plain English Summary: In this case, two sales representatives of a large pharmaceutical company sued their employer, alleging that they were owed overtime wages. The pharmaceutical company argued the sales representatives were not entitled to overtime wages because they were classified as "outside salesmen," who are exempt from the federal law that requires payment of overtime wages. The Court held that the sales representatives were outside salesmen and as such are not entitled to overtime wages.

Judgment: Affirmed, 5-4, in an opinion by Justice Alito on June 18, 2012. Justice Breyer filed a dissenting opinion in which Justices Ginsburg, Sotomayor, and Kagan joined.