A former employee has taken legal action against a country club, alleging violations of labor laws that have resulted in unpaid wages and wrongful termination. Shelby Lewallen filed a complaint on January 29, 2026, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia against Reunion, LLC, doing business as Reunion Country Club, along with Robert A. Fritzsche and Danka Stoycheva Speegle.
The case revolves around alleged violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), with Lewallen accusing the defendants of failing to pay minimum wages and unlawfully retaining tips. According to the complaint, while working at Reunion Country Club from August to October 2025, Lewallen was paid less than minimum wage under a tipped cash wage system. She claims that an invalid tip pool was operated by the defendants, which included managers and supervisors who were not entitled to participate in such pools under FLSA regulations. Furthermore, Lewallen alleges retaliation after she raised concerns about these practices, leading to her termination.
Lewallen’s lawsuit seeks justice not only for herself but also on behalf of similarly situated employees who faced similar issues during their employment at the country club. The plaintiff asserts that she was subjected to adverse actions following her complaints about illegal tip pooling and sub-minimum wage practices. The complaint details how managers improperly participated in tip pools and retained employee tips for management’s benefit. It also highlights that these actions were willful violations of labor laws.
The relief sought by Lewallen includes certification of the case as a collective action under FLSA provisions, recovery of unpaid wages including differences between tipped cash wages and federal minimum wages, return of unlawfully retained tips with interest, liquidated damages equal to unpaid wages and retained tips, compensatory damages for emotional distress due to retaliation, reinstatement or front pay as appropriate, attorneys’ fees and costs associated with litigation efforts.
Representing Shelby Lewallen are attorneys Christopher B. Hall and Gordon Van Remmen from Hall & Lampros LLP based in Atlanta. The case is under Case ID 2:26-cv-00021-RWS.
Source: 226cv21_Shelby_Lewallen_v_Reunion_Complaint_Northern_District_of_Georgia.pdf
