$240,000 Preliminary Settlement Reached in Hotel Employee Class Action

Williamstown, MA: A $240,000 settlement has been proposed in a wages class action lawsuit brought against The Orchards Hotel by 150 current and former hourly employees.

The suit alleged that the hotel had withheld tips and wages. State law dictates that food establishments found to withholding either or both, must play employees three times as much as they're owed. According to the lawyer representing the class, the settlement is not only the recovery each employee is owed, but a multiple of what is owed.

The case reportedly involved a portion of service charges, which are added onto bills at the end of banquets, weddings and large events, being withheld from servers, and all hotel and restaurant staff working at least eight-hour shifts were having 30 minute meal breaks deducted from their paychecks even though they weren't receiving them.

The listed defendants in the case are HCC Orchards LP, Hay Creek Hospitality LLC, Hay Creek Management Company, and former General Manager Scott Frankel.