Opinion
1:21-cv-1056-RP
01-02-2024
STEPHEN HUNZELMAN, et al., Plaintiffs, v. PERRY'S RESTAURANTS LTD d/b/a PERRY'S STEAKHOUSE AND GRILLE and CHRISTOPHER V. PERRY, individually, Defendants.
ORDER
ROBERT PITMAN UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
Before the Court is the report and recommendation of United States Magistrate Judge Susan Hightower concerning Plaintiffs' Motion for Partial Summary Judgment, (Dkt. 37). (R. & R., Dkt. 47). The parties timely filed objections, responses, and replies to the report and recommendation. (Dkts. 54, 56, 57, 58, 59, and 60).
A party may serve and file specific, written objections to a magistrate judge's findings and recommendations within fourteen days after being served with a copy of the report and recommendation and, in doing so, secure de novo review by the district court. 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(C). Because the parties timely objected to the report and recommendation, the Court reviews the report and recommendation de novo. Having done so and for the reasons given in the report and recommendation, the Court overrules the parties' objections and adopts the report and recommendation as its own order.
Accordingly, the Court ORDERS that the report and recommendation of United States Magistrate Judge Susan Hightower, (Dkt. 47), is ADOPTED.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Plaintiffs' motion for partial summary judgment, (Dkt. 37), is GRANTED IN PART and DENIED IN PART. Summary judgment is GRANTED with respect to Defendant Perry's Restaurants d/b/a Perry's Steakhouse and Grille's liability for the cost of Plaintiff Vilbig's aprons, vests, pepper mills and holders, and crumbers. Summary judgment is DENIED in all other respects.
Accordingly, the following claims remain:
(1) All Plaintiffs' claims that Defendants violated the FLSA's minimum wage requirements and are not entitled to the tip credit because they did not allow Plaintiffs to retain all their tips and required Plaintiffs to contribute 4.5% of their tips to an illegal tip pool, perform non-tipped work unrelated to their tipped occupation, and perform non-tipped work exceeding 20% of their time each workweek;
(2) All Plaintiffs' claims that Defendants violated the FLSA's minimum wage requirements by requiring them to pay for clothing and other items and incur dry-cleaning expenses;
(3) All Plaintiffs' claims for license expenses;
(4) Expenses for aprons, vests, pepper mills and holders, and crumbers for Plaintiffs Hunzelman, Adashefski, and Dobelbower; and
(5) All claims against Defendant Christopher V. Perry, individually.