Wm. Mulherin’s Sons’ Owners Accused of Pocketing Servers’ Tips [Updated]

Italian restaurant Wm. Mulherin’s Sons in Fishtown is facing controversy again. A former server filed a lawsuit against the restaurant’s owners and management on Monday, reports Philadelphia magazine.

The federal class action suit alleges that Wm. Mulherin’s Sons violated labor laws by skimming tips — pooling tips given to servers and using some of the money to pay bussers, bartenders, cooks, and other non-tipped employees. That practice can open up the possibility of management keeping a portion of the money for themselves, which the lawsuit claims is what happened at Wm. Mulherin’s.

The defendants named in the suit include owners David Grasso and Randall Cook of Method Hospitality, along with Michael Jreidini, who is no longer at the restaurant but was the general manager.

The server, Michael Cona, also filed a second lawsuit Monday in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas alleging he was fired and defamed when sexual harassment allegations against Jreidini, the restaurant’s then chef-partner Chris Painter, and two staffers not identified were made public via a Philly Mag article, Philly.com is reporting.

This story was updated February 26 at 7 p.m. to include details of the Court of Common Pleas lawsuit.

• Wm. Mulherin’s Sons Hit With Class-Action Tip-Skimming Lawsuit [Philly Mag]
• Former waiter sues Wm. Mulherin’s Sons over his firing, also alleges tip-skimming [Philly.com]
• Do You Know Where Your Tip Money Is Going? [Eater]