BECKLEY – A Raleigh County man has filed a potential class action lawsuit against a local chain of strip clubs, claiming the business violated state wage laws.
Southern Xposure, parent company BRC Café Inc. and owner Mahesh Patel are the defendants named in the lawsuit filed Nov. 17 by Billy Grossi in Raleigh Circuit Court.
In the complaint, Grossi says he was hired by the defendants on an hourly basis.
“After being hired, he was not paid for any of his time worked, and not paid overtime,” the complaint states. “The (West Virginia Wage Payment and Collection Act) required payment to be made within four business days of a scheduled payday or within four business days if the employee is terminated.”
Grossi said the defendants violated the act by failing to follow that law.
“Defendants benefited by failing to pay any of its employees,” the complaint states. “The named plaintiff, as well as all other similarly situated individuals who worked for defendants have been harmed by defendants’ actions.”
Grossi seeks compensatory judgment for himself and all members of the proposed class for all damages they have suffered. He also seeks pre- and post-judgment interest, front pay, back pay, benefits, emotional damages, non-economic damage, court costs and attorney fees.
He is represented by D. Adrian Hoosier II of Lord Hoosier PLLC in Charleston. The case has been assigned to Raleigh Circuit Judge H.L. Kirkpatrick III.
Raleigh Circuit Court case number 16-C-726