Former Unruly Kitchen back‑of‑house worker sues alleging tip theft, wrongful termination

A former back-of-house employee has filed an employment lawsuit against Unruly Kitchen LLC and owner Paul Jachim, alleging the restaurant failed to pay minimum wage, misappropriated employee tips and terminated her shortly after she raised questions about tip distribution. The complaint was filed Feb. 10, 2026 in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan.

The filing identifies the core claims as unpaid minimum wages and misappropriated employee tips, and says the plaintiff was terminated roughly 90 minutes after she questioned tip distribution practices. The complaint and the plaintiff’s name have not been made public in the materials reviewed; the initial report provides the filing date, court and named defendants but does not include the full text of the complaint or any response from Unruly Kitchen or Paul Jachim.

Allegations of tip misappropriation and unpaid minimum wage strike at two persistent pain points in restaurant labor: how tips are pooled and shared between front-of-house and back-of-house staff, and whether employers properly account for tips when meeting minimum wage obligations. For back-of-house cooks, dishwashers and prep cooks who typically receive little direct tipping, disputes over tip pools can translate into meaningful pay gaps and simmering BOH-FOH tensions.

The complaint’s claim that the employee was fired soon after questioning tip distribution raises additional workplace dynamics concerns. Quick terminations after complaints about pay or tip policies can chill employees from speaking up, making it harder for staff to raise violations internally or seek corrections without fear of retaliation. Labor lawyers and worker advocates often point to such patterns when pursuing wage-and-hour claims.

Key details are still missing from public summaries. The complaint’s full text, plaintiff counsel, docket number and any specific damages sought were not included in the initial report. There is no available statement from Unruly Kitchen LLC or from owner Paul Jachim in the material reviewed.

For restaurant workers, the case underscores the importance of documenting hours, tips and any communications about pay or tip-policy objections. For operators, it is a reminder to maintain clear, written tip-pooling policies and payroll records that demonstrate compliance with minimum-wage rules.

The lawsuit will proceed through the federal court process in the Western District of Michigan; the complaint was filed Feb. 10, 2026. Observers should watch for further filings that name the plaintiff, lay out the full factual allegations and show whether Unruly Kitchen or its owner respond or seek to settle.