By JENNIFER FERMINO
Last updated: 4:37 pm
July 2, 2008
Posted: 4:03 am
July 2, 2008
A Manhattan judge has paved the way for a class-action lawsuit against rapper Jay-Z and his nightclub 40/40, ordering brass to fork over the names of all employees over the last three years.
The suit was filed in the name of Celeste Williams, a former waitress who claims the hotspot didn't pay overtime or minimum wage.
"This is a good day for restaurant workers all over the city," said her lawyer, Maimon Kirschenbaum, who will now try to reach out to hundreds of other club workers to see whether they want to join the suit.
He said between 10 and 20 past and present 40/40 bartenders, waiters and other workers are already on board.
He doesn't know how much money they are entitled to because he hasn't been able to access 40/40's records completely.
Ron Berkowtiz, a spokesman for the Brooklyn-born rapper, said, "The club is not settling this lawsuit because they are innocent. We're taking this to court and we're letting the judge decide."
