Jay-Z Hit With $taff Rap at Hip Club

Jay-Z Hit with $taff Rap at Hip Club

Jay-Z's 40/40 Club has won some renown has a hip joint in Chelsea. However, according to this May 23, 2007 article published by New York Magazine, the West 25th Street Lounge had been committing Wage and Hour employment law violations of many different stripes since it opened its doors in 2003. Joseph & Kirschenbaum LLP's own Maimon Kirschenbaum led the filing of a Wage and Hour violation lawsuit against 40/40. According to this article, waitresses like Celeste William were illegally forced to give up percentages of their tips - all told, over 100 different employees (past and present) may have experienced Wage and Hour violations.

Waiters Serve Papers to City Hall and B.B. King Blues Club

This April 2007 article in New York Magazine details another Maimon Kirschenbaum-led legal gladiatorial match -- this time against the BB King Blues Club & Grill Restaurant for allegedly violating New York Labor Laws. Waiters, such as Mohammed Uddin, were denied overtime pay. Another server, Brandon Salus, saw his paycheck deducted when customers abandoned his tables. The article cites a sad instance in which a group dined at BB King, racked up a $240 tab, and then ditched. The presiding waiter had the tab docked from his own pay and was left with just $20 for an entire weeks' work!

Upper West Side Diners Allegedly Paying Waiters in Ham Sandwiches

This March 23, 2007 article in New York Magazine reviews a wide ranging lawsuit filed by our partner Maimon Kirschenbaum, against the Heartland Brewery Company for dramatically underpaying wait staff and busboys at four of its restaurants. Many employees had to work full workweeks plus some (60 plus hours), earning a rate of $2 an hour in some cases - far below the minimum working wage. The owner of these diners on New York's West Side, according to the article, has not exactly been stingy with his money when it comes to shelling out for restaurant decor. He spent $40,000 alone on a remake of City Diner, according to resources quoted.

Legal Battle on Tap for Heartland Brewery

This article from New York Magazine (March 7, 2007) covers the brewing brouhaha between Joseph & Kirschenbaum LLP's own Maimon Kirschenbaum and the Heartland Brewery Company. At issue is Heartland's allegedly heartless treatment of waitstaff, which include wage and hour violation charges galore. Founder Jon Bloostein shot back against the accusations, which included:

• waiters forced to pool tips illegally
• systemic abuse of punch card recording (time shaved off illegally)
• company failed to pay overtime to some workers

According to the article, our firm had successfully pursued a similar case against steak giant Smith & Wollensky in 2006.