A former employee has filed a lawsuit against a Georgia-based sports bar and its owner, alleging violations of federal labor laws. Coco Jimpson initiated the complaint on January 12, 2026, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia against Blue Ribbon Events LLC, doing business as Madhouse Sports Bar & Grill, and its owner Mirna Elie-Massas. The lawsuit claims that the defendants failed to pay minimum wage and overtime compensation to their employees.
According to the complaint, Jimpson worked as a server at Madhouse Sports Bar from July 2023 until the present. She alleges that she was paid an hourly rate of $2.13, relying on tips to make up the difference to meet minimum wage requirements. However, Jimpson contends that the sports bar did not properly inform her or other employees about this tip credit system as required by law. Furthermore, she accuses the defendants of failing to pay overtime wages for hours worked beyond forty per week and requiring employees to perform unpaid side work unrelated to their primary duties.
The complaint highlights several alleged unlawful practices by Madhouse Sports Bar. Employees were reportedly forced to pay “house fees” or tip out back-of-house staff from their earnings. Additionally, servers like Jimpson had to cover costs for customer walkouts and cash drawer shortages with their tips. These actions are claimed to be in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), which mandates that wages be paid “free and clear.” The lawsuit also asserts that despite complaints from employees about these practices, management retaliated through measures such as suspensions or adjustments in work schedules.
Jimpson is seeking collective action status for this case on behalf of all similarly situated employees who have worked at Madhouse Sports Bar within the last three years under similar conditions. The plaintiffs are asking for unpaid minimum wages and overtime compensation along with liquidated damages equal to those amounts. They also seek attorneys’ fees and litigation costs under FLSA provisions.
Representing Jimpson in this legal battle are attorneys Jordan P. Rose and Anthony J. Hall from The Leach Firm, P.A., based in Winter Park, Florida. The case is being presided over by Judge LMM with Case ID 3:26-cv-00007-LMM.
Source: 326cv7_Coco_Jimpson_v_Blue_Ribbon_Complaint_Northern_District_of_Georgia.pdf
