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Stevedore firm at Port of Charleston agrees to settle overtime lawsuit

A company that hires stevedores to work at the Port of Charleston has agreed to settle a lawsuit filed by employees who say they weren’t paid overtime while supervising International Longshoremen’s Association dock workers. SSA Cooper LLC will pay $694,553 to 25 stevedores READ MORE…

Hyman’s Seafood settles wage theft suit for $1 million

A federal judge in Charleston on Friday approved a $1 million settlement for Hyman’s Seafood employees who sued the restaurant for illegally shorting their wages through an improper tip pool and breakage fees. READ MORE…

West Ashley restaurants sued over tip out schemes

Two West Ashley restaurants are being sued for allegedly requiring employees to share their tips with owners and managers. Attorney Marybeth Mullaney, who filed the separate suits against Gene’s Haufbrau and Bear E. Patch Café-West, says, “A tip is presented by a customer in recognition of some service performed by the server that waited on […]

Jury to hear wage theft suit against Hyman’s

A lawsuit concerning Hyman Seafood Co.’s illegal practice of charging employees for theoretical broken glasses and dishes is headed to trial. Marybeth Mullaney, one of the plantiffs’ attorneys, says Charleston’s reputation for hospitality is largely a reflection of its restaurant employees’ hard work. “It will be my privilege to help them tell their story to […]

Restaurant’s Wage Deduction for Broken Dishes Heads to Jury

A lawsuit concerning Hyman Seafood Co.’s illegal practice of charging employees for theoretical broken glasses and dishes is headed to trial. Marybeth Mullaney, one of the plantiffs’ attorneys, says Charleston’s reputation for hospitality is largely a reflection of its restaurant employees’ hard work. “It will be my privilege to help them tell their story to […]

Several wage theft lawsuits involve Lowcountry restaurants

Lowcountry restaurants are accused of paying servers and bartenders less than they are owed, or skimming tips that belong to the employee. Employment Lawyer Marybeth Mullaney says, “You are leaving a tip to that employee in appreciation for the service that they provided to you and it is not a gift to the owner.” READ […]

Zen Asian Fusion sued over skimmed tips

An employee of Zen Asian Fusion earlier this month sued the West Ashley restaurant for requiring servers and bartenders to contribute a portion of their tips “to the house.” Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, tips are the sole property of the tipped employees. Sharing arrangements are allowed, but it’s illegal to create a tip […]

Former employees claim Baroni’s underpaid them

Baroni’s Pizza violated federal labor laws by paying its delivery drivers less than minimum wage for time spent washing dishes, mopping floors and cleaning out drains, a lawsuit recently filed in district court claims. Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, it’s legal for employers to require servers and other tipped employees to perform non-tipped tasks, […]

Fact or Fiction: Can employers require COVID vaccine?

The CDC reports all three COVID 19 vaccines available in the U.S. are safe and effective, but some people are choosing to hold off on the shot. So what if an employer requires its workers to get the COVID vaccine? “They are allowed to ask if you’ve been vaccinated, but it stops there,” Employment and […]