By Gary Lloyd
TRUSSVILLE — Two former Hooters servers at the Trussville location have filed a class action lawsuit against the owner over allegations that the restaurant violated the Fair Labor Standard Act.
Brooke Pearman and Jodi Lee filed the suit, dated Jan. 6, against Hooters of Trussville, LLC.
According to the filing, Pearman was employed by Hooters in Trussville from June 2009 through July 2014. Lee was employed there from May 2011 through the present, according to the filing.
The complaint states that the action is brought “to recover unpaid compensation, in the form of unpaid wages and overtime.”
Pearman and Lee allege in the lawsuit that Hooters of Trussville required the servers to perform non-server duties, such as washing windows; cleaning sections; wiping down tables, chairs, window ledges and baseboards; making tea; and setting up tables and server stations, which involved filling table caddies with condiments.
According to the filing, Hooters of Trussville allegedly compensated the servers the wage of a tipped employee at .13 per hour despite their performing non-server duties.
Pearman and Lee also allege in the lawsuit that Hooters of Trussville required servers to contribute a part of their tips to “Staff Guys” who do not directly interact with customers.
Pearman and Lee seek unpaid compensation and benefits, along with attorney’s fees and costs.
Pearman and Lee are represented by Wiggins, Childs, Pantazis, Fisher & Goldfarb, LLC in Birmingham.
The Hooters in Trussville is located on Edwards Lake Road.
Contact Gary Lloyd at news@trussvilletribune.com and follow him on Twitter @GaryALloyd.