Houston Restaurant Holds Customers Hostage Over Tip Rob Houglum LeadLinkMedia.com Friday, May 04, 2012
After a lady and five friends failed to leave 17-percent tip on their meal at a Houston, Texas eatery called 'La Fisherman,' the boss locked them within and called the cops.
The lady and her chums claim that the trattoria staff failed to deserve the 17-percent tip needed of parties of five or more. But , when it comes down to this case, who is right legally? Judge Napolitano discussed the legal implications in the case on today's Fox and Friends.
Napolitano said there isn't any specific court controlling on this because the idea of adding tips is pretty new, but he explained that one discussion made by the restaurant could be that it wasn't a tip, it is a surcharge that they were informed about beforehand.
Alternatively, he said, "It has been a custom and practice in this country for centuries ; you like the service, you leave a tip. You don't like the service, you pay the bill and go, and the amount of the tip is to your own choosing."
Legally, he said the restaurant can't arrest these folks and hold them against their will. When talking about locking the customers within the restaurant, the judge asserts that's called fake imprisonment, so the lady and her pals can technically sue the eatery. Tags: b
After a lady and five friends failed to leave 17-percent tip on their meal at a Houston, Texas eatery called 'La Fisherman,' the boss locked them within and called the cops.