Houston Restaurant Holds Customers Hostage Over Tip Rob Houglum LeadLinkMedia.com Friday, May 04, 2012
After a woman and five friends failed to leave 17-percent gratuity on their meal at a Houston, Texas eatery called 'La Fisherman,' the executive locked them inside and called the cops.
The woman and her pals claim the cafe staff did not merit the 17-percent tip needed of parties of five or even more. However when it comes to this case, who is right legally? Judge Napolitano discussed the legal ramifications in the case on today's Fox and Buddies.
Napolitano said there is not any categorical court governing on this because the concept of adding tips is relatively new, but he explained that one argument manufactured by the trattoria might be that it was not a tip, it was a surcharge that they were made aware of beforehand.
From the other viewpoint, he announced, "It has been a custom and convention in this country for hundreds of years ; you like the service, you leave a tip. You detest the service, you just settle up and go, and the amount of the tip is to your own choosing."
Legally, he said the restaurant can't arrest these people and hold them against their will. When talking about locking the shoppers inside the restaurant, the judge says that's called fake imprisonment, so that the woman and her chums can technically sue the restaurant. Tags: b
After a woman and five friends failed to leave 17-percent gratuity on their meal at a Houston, Texas eatery called 'La Fisherman,' the executive locked them inside and called the cops.