ROGELIO Alegre, a security guard, has filed a civil lawsuit in federal court against Micronesia Resort Inc., doing business as Kensington Hotel Saipan, for failing to pay for overtime hours that he worked.
Alegre sued the hotel for violations of the U.S. Fair Labor Standards Act and the CNMI Minimum Wage and Hour Act.
The plaintiff is asking the court for an order awarding compensatory damages to be proven at trial, as well as liquidated damages under both the MWHA and FLSA.
The lawsuit also seeks an order awarding costs of suit, including reasonable attorney’s fees, and other relief.
Alegre is represented by attorney Cong Nie.
According to the complaint, Alegre was employed as a security guard at Kensington Hotel from March 16, 2020, until approximately June 9, 2025.
In May 2025, the hotel informed Alegre that he would be laid off and subsequently terminated his employment. His last day was June 9, 2025.
Regardless of the job title assigned to Alegre, his primary duties were those of a security guard: patrolling the premises, inspecting employees’ bags and vehicles, responding to security incidents, investigating suspicious activities, and reporting to management, the lawsuit stated.
Alegre was never exempt from overtime pay.
During his employment, Alegre was generally compensated for 40 hours of work per week, with no overtime pay.
However, the lawsuit alleges Alegre typically worked more than 40 hours weekly.
Hotel management assigned him a regular schedule from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
But management required Alegre to arrive earlier than 8 a.m. to attend briefings with outgoing security staff ending their shifts, the lawsuit said.
He was also required to prepare and submit daily reports after his shift ended.
Further, Alegre was asked to stay past his scheduled hours to perform housekeeping duties, including inspecting for rodents and cats, setting traps, and sanitizing restaurants and garbage areas on the hotel premises.
As a result, Alegre averaged 15 to 30 minutes early arrival and could not leave until 20 to 30 minutes after his scheduled shift ended.
The lawsuit also alleges that during his 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. schedule, Alegre was allowed about a half-hour break but was required to remain on hotel premises and be on standby to respond to any security or emergency calls.
The hotel did not count this time as compensable and never paid Alegre for it, the complaint stated.
Alegre also alleged that he was assigned to patrol at night, assist with events and parties, cover for absent security guards, and perform loading and unloading of goods for the NC Picks store in Garapan and for the Kensington Hotel.
Additionally, the hotel required Alegre to attend human resources meetings and work-related training sessions, including OSHA training.
Some of these meetings and training sessions were outside his regular 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., five-day workweek schedule, but he was never compensated for the additional hours, the lawsuit said.
According to the complaint, Alegre worked at least five hours of overtime each week, with some weeks exceeding 17 overtime hours.
The District Court for the NMI issued a summons to Micronesia Resort Inc./Kensington Hotel on June 18.
Variety was unable to get a comment from Kensington.
Kensington implemented a reduction-in-force effective May 21, 2025, citing “unprecedented business losses,” and will be temporarily closed from June 9 to July 6, 2025.
