Starting in 2015, the plaintiff worked at a Chili’s chain restaurant in Liverpool, N.Y. When she started, the restaurant was operated by Pepper Dining Inc., but shortly thereafter was purchased by Brinker International Payroll Company LP. Once Brinker took over, Chili’s employees were required to sign new employment documents, including an arbitration agreement. In January 2019, the plaintiff’s employment with Brinker ended.
The plaintiff sued Brinker, alleging that she and a class of similarly situated workers had experienced a variety of employment law violations under the Fair Labor Standards Act and state laws. Her lawsuit was joined by another plaintiff who began working at the same restaurant in 2017.
