TAMPA — Three former employees are suing Cocina Aqui LLC, Frances Bartlett and Vitaly Grasiano, their former employers, alleging violations of wage laws.
Nicole Degrasse, Claudio Lopez Perea and Beatriz Fernandez filed a complaint on Dec. 5, in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida against the defendants alleging that they failed to pay fair wages to the plaintiffs.
According to the complaint, the plaintiffs allege that Degrasse was underpaid due to incorrect application of a tip credit, that she did not receive her last three paychecks, and that the defendants took garnished money from her pay but apparently converted it to their own use. Perea and Fernandez allegedly worked for more than 40 hours per week without being paid any overtime compensation. The plaintiffs holds the defendants responsible for the alleged violations of differing provisions of wage laws.
The plaintiffs request a trial by jury and seek unpaid compensation, liquidated damages, interest, all legal fees and any other relief as this court deems just. They are represented by R. Michael Pierro, Jr. of Law Office of R. Michael Pierro, Jr., P.A. in St. Petersburg.
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida Case number 8:16-cv-03329-MSS-JSS