Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb has filed a lawsuit against Talea Ristorante and its owner, Hamza Hadani, for multiple workers' rights violations. According to the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) release, Talea, an Italian restaurant in Cathedral Heights, is accused of paying less than the tipped minimum wage, denying workers proper overtime compensation and paid sick leave, and retaliating against those who speak out.
"Hamza Hadani exploits his employees while basking in the attention he receives as a well-known restauranteur," said Attorney General Schwalb in the same release. The lawsuit claims employees were underpaid, with some working over 70-hour weeks without proper compensation. Since Talea opened, workers were paid as little as $3.99 per hour, far below the tipped minimum wage, which reached $10 by July 2024.
Talea allegedly failed to track or honor paid sick leave, leaving workers without pay or scrambling to find replacements if they became sick. The Office of the Attorney General also found that Hadani required a doctor's note for medical absences, which was difficult for financially strained employees. Additionally, Talea and Hadani reportedly avoided the requirement to maintain detailed payroll records, issuing handwritten checks without itemized statements.
The OAG's investigation also found that Hadani retaliated against employees who discussed their wages or participated in the investigation, with some being fired or blacklisted from other positions in the industry. The lawsuit seeks back wages, restitution for affected workers, and civil penalties. A copy of the complaint can be accessed on the Office of the Attorney General's website.
The case is being handled by Assistant Attorneys General Morgan Sperry and Jude Nwaokobia, Investigator Shelby Miller, Dennis Corkery, Assistant Chief of the Workers’ Rights and Antifraud Section, and Graham Lake, Section Chief of the Workers’ Rights and Antifraud Section. The Office of the Attorney General has secured over $25 million since January 2023 against employers violating District laws. Workers suspecting wage theft or other violations can contact the OAG at (202) 724-7730 or via email at [email protected] or [email protected].
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