Former employees at a prominent Atlanta-area gentlemen’s club filed federal lawsuits alleging they were forced to pay hundreds of dollars nightly just to work, with some dancers receiving no wages and taking home nothing after club fees.

Lawsuit Claims Illegal Fee Structure

Heather West, a former Pink Pony dancer, filed a collective-action lawsuit against Trop, Inc., which operates the Brookhaven club, along with CEO Michael Kap, CFO Dennis Williams, and night manager Eddie Stone. The lawsuit seeks to represent all dancers who worked at the establishment during the past three years. West claims dancers received no wages and were required to pay fees based on their tips, with those earning only sixty dollars forced to surrender the entire amount to the club.

The complaint includes photographs allegedly showing posted fee schedules detailing how much dancers must pay based on their earnings. Attorney Jonah Flynn, representing West, called the practice fundamentally unfair and a violation of federal law, noting that not every exotic dance club operates this way.

Pattern Of Similar Claims Emerges

West’s lawsuit marks the third filed against Pink Pony in recent months. A bartender and a house mom separately sued the club, both alleging management improperly took large percentages of their tips. The club filed responses denying the claims in at least one of the lawsuits. These multiple complaints suggest a potential pattern affecting various employee categories beyond dancers.

Management Disputes Allegations

CEO Michael Kap disputed the allegations, stating dancers are commissioned sales employees selling entertainment. He told reporters the club pays seven dollars and twenty-five cents per hour minimum wage, explaining he changed payment systems six years ago after clubs faced federal lawsuits in 2019. Kap insisted his operation now complies with wage laws like other Atlanta clubs. However, the lawsuit directly contradicts these claims, alleging dancers received no wages for work time on premises and that fees pushed earnings below minimum wage requirements.

Worker Rights At Stake

The case highlights ongoing debates about worker classification and wage protection in service industries where tips constitute significant income. Federal law requires employers to ensure tipped employees receive at least minimum wage when tips and direct wages are combined. If the allegations prove accurate, the fee structure could represent systematic wage theft affecting dozens of workers over multiple years at one of metro Atlanta’s most recognized establishments.