A Fort Lauderdale restaurant owner has been cleared in a wages dispute case. Server Janet Holloway sued her former employer, Rocchio Tunnel Marketplace Enterprises LLC, claiming federal law violations by operating an alleged illegal tip pool at the Valentino Cucina Italiana restaurant from 2012 to 2015. She claimed four managers participated in the pool.
The defense denied all allegations and argued the four were eligible because they did not set worker schedules or hire or fire employees, they have more than minimal customer interaction and serve an important customer service function. The jury agreed, finding the tip pool was legal and valid.
