A bakery chain in New York is facing a legal battle over alleged wage violations. On February 6, 2026, Giovanny Cavaliere filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York against Butler Soho LLC, doing business as Butler Bake Shop, and its owner Rod Coligado. The lawsuit claims that the defendants failed to pay overtime wages and provide necessary wage documentation to their employees.
According to the complaint, Cavaliere, who has worked at Butler Bake Shop since November 2021, alleges that he and other non-managerial employees were not compensated fairly for overtime hours. Despite working up to seventy-three hours per week during certain periods, they were only paid their regular hourly rate instead of the required time-and-a-half for overtime. “Defendants intentionally failed to provide wage notices and accurate statements,” states the complaint, accusing Butler Bake Shop of violating both federal and state labor laws including the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and New York Labor Law (NYLL).
The lawsuit further details how Cavaliere was paid $21 per hour initially and later $22 per hour for all hours worked beyond forty per week until September 2025 when his overtime rate was adjusted to $33 per hour. However, prior failures in providing proper wage notices or statements allegedly concealed these discrepancies from employees. The plaintiff asserts that this lack of transparency was part of a broader scheme by Butler Bake Shop to minimize labor costs unlawfully.
Cavaliere seeks injunctive relief alongside compensation for unpaid wages under both FLSA and NYLL provisions. The relief sought includes liquidated damages, statutory damages for failure to provide wage notices under the Wage Theft Prevention Act (WTPA), pre- and post-judgment interest, as well as attorneys’ fees and costs. Additionally, Cavaliere is advocating for collective action status on behalf of approximately forty similarly situated workers who have been affected by these alleged practices.
Representing Cavaliere is Pechman Law Group PLLC with Camille A. Sanchez leading the case. The case has been assigned Case ID 1:26-cv-01060 with jurisdiction under Judge LO.
Source: 126cv01060_Giovanny_Cavaliere_v_Butler_Soho_Complaint_Southern_District_of_New_York.pdf
