Key Takeaways
- Jeff Ruby Culinary Entertainment is settling a class-action lawsuit for $1.55 million over allegations of unpaid tips and wages to former employees.
- Over 700 servers, bartenders, and server assistants are eligible for a share of the settlement fund.
- The company denies any wrongdoing and is settling without admitting to violating labor laws.
- Former employees claim they were required to work off the clock and give up some of their tips, with some owed as much as $19,000 in unpaid wages.
- The settlement is subject to final approval by a magistrate judge in May.
Introduction to the Settlement
Jeff Ruby Culinary Entertainment, a luxury restaurant group based in Cincinnati, has agreed to pay $1.55 million to settle a class-action lawsuit filed by former employees. The lawsuit alleged that the company failed to pay earned tips and full minimum wage for non-tipped work to its servers, bartenders, and server assistants. The settlement fund will be available to over 700 eligible employees who worked at the company’s locations in Ohio and Kentucky. The company is settling the lawsuit without admitting any wrongdoing and denies violating labor laws.
Background of the Lawsuit
The class-action lawsuit was led by Jonathan Lamb, a former server at Jeff Ruby’s in Lexington, Kentucky, and Jim Belmont, a former server at Carlo and Johnny in Montgomery. The lawsuit alleged that Jeff Ruby’s failed to pay tipped employees the full minimum wage for time spent doing non-tipped duties, such as rolling silverware, cleaning booths, and slicing bread. The employees claimed that they were required to work off the clock and give up some of their tips, with some owed as much as $19,000 in unpaid wages. The lawsuit also alleged that the company violated federal and state labor laws by paying out some of the tips to back-of-house employees who are not eligible for tips.
Company Response to the Lawsuit
When the lawsuit was first filed, Britney Ruby Miller, president and CEO of Jeff Ruby Culinary Entertainment, denied the allegations, stating that the company "has always and will always stand up for justice in truth." The company claimed that it was a "family-owned business" that was "passionately dedicated to our employees" and that the lawsuit was filed by a "disgruntled former employee." However, one of the attorneys representing the plaintiffs, Bob DeRose, called the company’s actions "wage theft" and stated that it was not uncommon for employers to bully employees who stand up for their wage rights.
Settlement Details
The settlement fund of $1.55 million will be available to over 700 eligible employees who worked at Jeff Ruby Culinary Entertainment’s locations in Ohio and Kentucky. The employees who are eligible for the settlement include those who started working at the company’s locations in Ohio from 2021 or Kentucky from 2019. The settlement is subject to final approval by Magistrate Judge Barbara Holmes in Nashville, who has already preliminarily approved the settlement. The final approval is expected to take place in May, barring any objections.
Conclusion
The settlement of the class-action lawsuit against Jeff Ruby Culinary Entertainment highlights the importance of employers complying with labor laws and paying their employees fairly. The allegations made by the plaintiffs, including being required to work off the clock and give up some of their tips, are serious and demonstrate the need for employers to prioritize their employees’ rights. The settlement provides a measure of justice for the affected employees, but it also serves as a reminder that employers must be vigilant in ensuring that they are complying with labor laws and treating their employees with fairness and respect.
