Coyote Ugly Saloon Sued by Employees for Tip Pool, Overtime, and Other Wage Violations

The Nashville location of Coyote Ugly Saloon, a restaurant chain made famous in the movie Coyote Ugly, was sued by its bartenders who have alleged that the restaurant violated minimum wage and overtime laws.  The Complaint, filed in federal court in the Middle District of Tennessee on April 7, 2011, alleges that the restaurant required its bartenders and other tipped employees to share tips with non-tip eligible security personnel, in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act.  The lawsuit also alleges that the restaurant failed to pay its bartenders for all hours worked, including mandatory meetings and dance practices, and failed to pay overtime for all hours worked over forty in a work week.