Safran Turney restaurants to pay $252,500 to settle wage-tip lawsuit
Waiters allege that they had to pay managers and silverware polishers. The company did not admit wrongdoing.
Issues over tipping, specifically how tips are shared among restaurant workers, continue to trip up restaurateurs and land them in court.
Safran Turney Hospitality has agreed to pay $252,500 to settle a class-action lawsuit filed last year on behalf of 52 waiters at their Center City restaurants Barbuzzo, Jamonera, Little Nonna’s, and Lolita, who allege that the company unfairly took a portion of tips.
Safran Turney, whose representative declined to comment, said in court papers that the suit, filed by R. Andrew Santillo of the Dresher law firm Winebrake & Santillo, lacked merit. The settlement is awaiting final approval at a July 23 hearing before U.S. District Judge Chad F. Kenney.
The lead plaintiff, Sarah Smith-Centz, who left Barbuzzo in 2018, alleges that from Sept. 19, 2015, to Aug. 28, 2017, she gave $10 to $20 per shift to managers and, on certain shifts, paid $10 to $20 to silverware polishers.
Under the settlement, $162,500 will be distributed among servers, receiving an amount based on the number of hours worked and the amount of shared tips — or about $3.95 for every hour. According to a breakdown submitted to the court, each server will receive $92 to $8,830.
Winebrake & Santillo has requested compensation of $85,000. Santillo declined to comment.