By Yepoka Yeebo
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MANHATTAN — Bosses at the Penthouse Executive Club have hit back at claims made by a former cocktail waitress suing the strip club, the New York Post reported on Thursday.
Lourdes Garcia is part of a class action suit by employees alleging that they were not paid minimum wage or overtime, the Post reported.
In papers filed in Manhattan Federal Court, the Hell's Kitchen strip club claims it paid employees fairly, pointing put that "Garcia earned almost $300,000 over the approximately four years she was employed at the club," according to the Post.
Papers filed by the club also claim Garcia "was terminated as a club employee in December 2009 when she was caught overcharging customers and stealing from the club," the Post reported.
Lloyd Ambinder, who represents Garcia, denied she had been fired for stealing from the club.
"This is the first time we've heard about this alleged theft," he told the Post.
Garcia originally said she was fired when she rejected sexual advances from managers of both sexes, according to the Daily News.
"It's disgusting," said Garcia, 34, after filing a suit against the club in Manhattan Federal Court in February.
The Post reported that Garcia eventually withdrew the sexual harassment charges. Garcia's lawyer said the sexual harassment claims were filed by a lawyer she later fired.
Jeffrey Kimmel, lawyer for the strip club told the paper her changing stories were proof her claims were shaky.
“This is Ms. Garcia’s second bite at the apple in trying to find something to claim against The Executive Club. Her changing stories are evidence of the lack of merit of her claims," he said.
