Court finds in favor of woman denied minimum wage

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A Wisconsin appeals court has ruled in favor of a waitress who said the Italian restaurant where she worked did not pay her the required minimum wage.

The 2nd District Court of Appeals on Thursday said Shawn Johnson, of Waterford, was entitled to more than the $10,000 in attorneys’ fees awarded by a lower court in the 2007 lawsuit. It sent the case back to the Racine County Circuit Court to determine what she is owed.

Johnson sued the Roma restaurant where she worked claiming she was underpaid in violation of both federal and state laws. She asked for $112,000 in damages, including both unpaid wages and attorneys’ fees.

The appeals court says it is unclear how the lower court decided to award so much less than was requested.