David W. Ricksecker
Wed, 02/08/2023
Cannabis dispensary workers suing their employer Curaleaf asked a federal judge to certify a class in their suit, claiming managers at locations around the country stole the contents of tip jars. Heller et al. v. Curaleaf Holdings Inc., Case No. 1:22-cv-01617 (N.D. Illinois). According to the plaintiffs, even though managers at different stores chose different ways to steal tips, and justify the tip theft, because Curaleaf has a centralized management structure, the workers were subject to the same general policies. The plaintiffs explained in their motion for certification that:
Like barbeque, Curaleaf’s tip theft as alleged in the second amended complaint, had certain regional flavors. Barbeque, be it Carolina, Memphis, Kansas City or Texas, is at basic slow-cooked meat and similarly, whether Curaleaf’s managers were stealing tips outright, confiscating and donating tips to charity or using the tips to buy lunches, it is at basic tip theft.
The proposed class is defined as all current and former hourly employees at any of Curaleaf’s 147 dispensaries between March 28, 2019, and now, who were not paid the full amount of tips they earned.
MSE represents workers who have not been properly paid by their employer. If you work for a cannabis dispensary and have had tips stolen by management, or have other wage and hour violations, contact us at info@mselaborlaw.com.
