Joan Ruiz has taken legal action against a well-known restaurant, alleging serious violations of labor laws. On February 5, 2026, Ruiz filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia against Rumi’s Kitchen, LLC and its Chief Operating Officer, Stephen Kaplan. The lawsuit accuses the defendants of failing to pay minimum wage and overtime as required by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), among other allegations.
The case centers around claims that Rumi’s Kitchen systematically underpaid its employees, particularly those working as servers. Joan Ruiz, who worked at the restaurant from December 2024 to February 2025, asserts that he was paid an hourly rate of $2.13 without being properly informed about tip credit provisions under FLSA § 3(m). This lack of notice meant that employees like Ruiz were not compensated according to federal minimum wage standards. Furthermore, Ruiz alleges that despite regularly working over forty hours per week—sometimes up to eighty hours—he did not receive overtime pay at one and a half times his regular rate.
Ruiz’s complaint also highlights unlawful practices concerning tip pooling arrangements. He claims that servers were forced to share a significant portion of their tips with non-tipped staff members, which is a violation of FLSA requirements for “free and clear” payment of wages. The lawsuit seeks collective action status on behalf of all similarly situated employees who have worked at Rumi’s Kitchen over the past three years under similar conditions.
In addition to seeking unpaid wages and overtime compensation, Ruiz is asking for liquidated damages equal to the unpaid amounts due to what he describes as willful violations by the defendants. The complaint also requests attorneys’ fees and costs associated with bringing this action forward. Moreover, Ruiz alleges retaliation by Rumi’s Kitchen after raising concerns about these illegal practices; he claims his employment was terminated in response to his complaints.
The legal representation for Joan Ruiz includes attorneys Jordan P. Rose and Carlos V. Leach from The Leach Firm, P.A., based in Winter Park, Florida. The case is identified under Civil Action File No: 1:26-cv-00664-SEG and will be presided over by Judge SEG in the Northern District of Georgia’s Atlanta Division.
Source: 126cv00664_Joan_Ruiz_v_Rumis_Kitchen_Complaint_Northern_District_of_Georgia.pdf
