Park Avenue Winter Experiences Legal Discontent

This February 2008 article in The New York Magazine covers a Joseph, Herzfeld, Hester & Kirschenbaum LLP wage violation lawsuit led by our prolific partner Maimon Kirschenbaum. The case involves the restaurant Park Avenue Winter, which is a part of a group of restaurants owned by celebrated industry power house, The Smith & Wollensky Restaurant Group. The matter is complex and multifaceted. The plaintiffs -- a waiter and captains at The Park Avenue Winter -- allege that their tips had been sliced and diced and given away to non-tipped workers. They also contend that several employees of East Asian descent were discriminated against on the basis of international origin. Plaintiff Salim Shahriar, for one, claims he suffered insurance problems and financial trouble after his new manager reduced his hours for purportedly no other reason than that he was of East Asian descent.