A Jacksonville man is taking his former bosses to court, claiming the old Serenata Beach Club in Ponte Vedra Beach ran on unpaid labor and sub-minimum wages during its final months under previous ownership. The proposed class-action lawsuit was filed Feb. 26 in St. Johns County Circuit Court and seeks more than $50,000 in damages on behalf of employees who say the problems occurred between August and September 2024.
Allegations in the complaint
According to News4JAX, plaintiff Luis Alvarado alleges the club routinely required staff to work before and after their scheduled shifts without clocking in, then failed to pay them at the applicable minimum wage rate. The lawsuit names Bernoulli Growth Capital LLC, doing business as Serenata Beach Club LLC, along with former owner Molly Butler and manager Michael Mota as defendants. Alvarado is seeking unpaid wages and other relief available under the Florida Minimum Wage Act.
Defendants' response
Mota pushed back on being included in the case, telling News4JAX that the answer is "100% no" when asked if he should be a defendant. He said he only briefly managed the property in 2024. Mota also told the station he heard employees complain that paychecks were bouncing. A former employee, who spoke to the station on condition of anonymity, confirmed that pay issues dragged on for several weeks and that at one point staff were paid in cash.
Sale and reopening
The money troubles at Serenata did not start overnight. Financial problems stretched back into 2023, and the club was ultimately sold at a foreclosure auction in September 2024 before reopening under new management and a new name, South Ponte Vedra Ocean Club, according to the Jax Daily Record. The sale, along with lingering unpaid wage concerns, had already surfaced in local coverage, and the property was acquired in an auction amid controversy. The new owners have said they invested in renovations and are trying to rebuild trust with members.
History of complaints
Coverage by The Boston Globe and local television outlets had already cataloged a growing list of member and employee frustrations, including bounced checks, abrupt closures and the rollout of new mandatory fees. The Globe reported that some workers took their concerns to federal labor officials, while some members tried to organize buyouts and block particular bidders at the foreclosure auction. All of that forms the backdrop for Alvarado’s lawsuit, which appears to be the latest chapter in a long-running fight over the club’s finances and payroll practices.
Legal stakes and next steps
Alvarado’s complaint says he sent written notice of the alleged unpaid wages in November 2024, a step Florida law requires before filing a lawsuit over unpaid wages. The proposed class would cover nonexempt employees who worked at Serenata during the specified period. The case is still pending in St. Johns County Circuit Court, and a judge will decide whether it can move forward as a class action, according to Spot On Florida, which posted the station’s coverage.
