Olympic Restaurant in Belleville sued by former waitress

A former waitress at a Belleville restaurant says she was harassed on the job, witnessed improper payments to employees and then was fired for reporting both.

Tatum Holloway filed a lawsuit March 1 in St. Clair County Circuit Court against Olympic Restaurant and Naser "Nick" Bektesoski, doing business as Olympic Restaurant. Lusha Adonska is also named as a defendant.

Holloway says she worked as a server at the West Main Street restaurant beginning in March 2012. According to the complaint, Holloway was pregnant during her employment but was still able to perform all the functions of the job. Holloway claims that she was harassed by her supervisor, Adonska, and treated differently than the other employees because of her pregnancy. The waitress alleges Adonska created a hostile work environment by requiring Holloway to go to the doctor to confirm her pregnancy and to call in each day to receive her schedule.

Holloway also contends the Olympic Restaurant failed to properly pay employees for the time they worked, failed to take out the proper taxes on their paychecks, deducted time for meal breaks and paid employees "under the table" in cash. Holloway says she reported those activities to her supervisor, Adonska, and was allegedly fired for doing so.

Holloway accuses her supervisor, the restaurant and its owner of violating the federal Civil Rights Acts of 1964 and 1991 and the Pregnancy Discrimination Act. She also accuses them of retaliatory discharge for reporting illegal activities of her employer. Holloway asks for a judgment of more than $350,000 in damages for lost wages, lost benefits and court costs.

Attorney Michael J. Brunton of Collinsville represents Holloway.

St. Clair County Circuit Court Case No. 13-L-116