Former Tampa Tribune writer sues, seeks unpaid overtime

TAMPA — A former Tampa Tribune sports writer says he went years without being paid overtime and is suing the paper's parent company, Media General, for the missed wages.

In a lawsuit filed in Florida's Middle District Tuesday, Brett McMurphy's lawyers wrote that he worked more than 40 hours per week, but was not paid for all hours at the "appropriate overtime compensation rate."

The suit says McMurphy didn't receive the overtime pay rate between Feb. 1, 2007, and Oct. 1, 2009, his last day with the company. It also alleges that he wasn't regularly given the overtime rate, although he was required to work more the 40 hours weekly from August to March throughout his time at the Tribune, which began in 1987.

McMurphy broke the story of former University of South Florida football coach Jim Leavitt's alleged abuse of a player for Fanhouse.com after leaving the Tribune.

A call to the Tribune sports department for comment was referred to the managing editor, who was not available.