Dry cleaner sued by former employee for allegedly withholding wages

GRETNA – A dry cleaner is being sued by a former employee who allegedly improperly decreased her wages after terminating her employment.

Christine Kimball filed suit against Alpine Cleaners Inc. in the 24th Judicial District Court on June 2.

Kimball claims she was employed by Alpine Cleaners Inc. located at 3501 Chateau Blvd. in Kenner as a cashier making $8 an hour that was allegedly decreased to $7.25 an hour without her agreement for her last pay period from Oct. 17 to 30, 2013 during which time she worked a six to seven hour day for two to three days per week. The plaintiff asserts that on Oct. 29, 2013 she had a dental surgery including the extraction of six teeth at once that had been planned long ahead of time and after which she could not return to work the following two days. Kimball alleges that after alerting her boss that she would be missing a second day she was terminated and asked to return her set of keys.

The plaintiff claims she was charged $84.60 on her last pay stub as well as $19.35 from the decreased pay wage for a total of $103.95. Kimball asserts that when she texted the owner about why the amount had been deducted she did not receive an answer.

The defendant is accused of breach of contract.

Damages in the amount $103.95 plus penalties of $4,680 and attorney’s fees are sought by the plaintiff.

Kimball is represented by attorney J. Courtney Wilson of Metairie.

The case has been assigned to Division A Judge Raymond S. Steib Jr.

Case no. 739-005.