Federal lawsuit filed against McMenamy’s

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

The U.S. Department of Labor has filed a federal lawsuit alleging that McMenamy’s Restaurant and Banquet Center of Niles failed to pay minimum wage and overtime to 33 employees.

The suit, filed last week, lists the employees the Labor Department says McMenamy’s failed to pay at least $7.25 per hour or overtime for hours worked above 40 per week.

The lawsuit names as defendants Kelly Greens Investment Co. Inc., doing business as McMenamy’s; Richard Leonard and Robert Leonard.

A call to the Leonards at McMenamy’s, 325 Youngstown-Warren Road, on Monday afternoon was not returned.

The company failed to pay the required amounts since Sept. 1, 2009, the suit said.

The business failed to keep records of employees and wages, hours and other conditions of employment “in that the records fail to show adequately and accurately, among other things, the hours worked each workday, the total hours worked each workweek and the start and quit time for 14- and 15-year-old employees,” the suit said.

McMenamy’s also violated federal laws by employing workers age 14 to 16 in occupations requiring them to work after 7 p.m. from Labor Day to June 1 and after 9 p.m. during the remainder of the year, the suit said.

The suit seeks an order to prevent the business from continuing its reportedly improper practices and an order finding the business liable for paying the amounts owed to workers and interest on the money.

The case is assigned to Judge James S. Gwin of U.S. District Court in Youngstown.