Tip-pooling hearing postponed

4 March 2008

By Arnold M. Knightly

LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- State Labor Commissioner Michael Tanchek's second look at the controversial Wynn Las Vegas tip-pooling policy has been postponed.

The Nevada Department of Business and Industry notified interested parties Monday that a hearing scheduled for 9 a.m. March 19 at the Sawyer Building in Las Vegas has been postponed by agreement of the attorneys involved.

The case is for a wage claim filed by former Wynn dealer Megan Smith challenging the legality of the new policy and seeking $8,334 in unpaid tips.

Attorneys asked Tanchek for the delay so they could properly focus on other cases involving the policy.

One case centers on the Nevada Supreme Court's announcement Wednesday that the court would hear oral arguments April 7 involving two Wynn Las Vegas dealers who sued to challenge the hotel-casino's implementation of a controversial dealer tip-pooling program.

Daniel Baldonado and Joseph Cesarz saw the lawsuit tossed in December 2006 but the pair appealed the ruling.