A former employee of the now defunct Serenata Beach Club has filed a class-action lawsuit alleging that staff were forced to work “off the clock” and were denied minimum wage compensation.
The complaint was filed last month in St. Johns County Circuit Court by former staffer Luis Alvarado, who seeks to represent himself and other employees affected by the alleged violations.
According to court documents, the lawsuit targets Bernoulli Growth Capital, LLC, doing business as Serenata Beach Club, along with former owners and managers Molly Butler and Michael Mota.
Their tenures were marked by financial turbulence and temporary shutterings, with staffers claiming they were routinely stiffed out of pay.
The troubled club eventually went up for sale at auction and is now run as the South Ponte Vedra Ocean Club by new owners.
The filing states that between August and September 2024, Serenata employees were required to work on days off or during shifts without clocking in to avoid paying overtime.
The complaint alleges at least 16 employees were affected, though the exact number will be determined from employment records.
The lawsuit requests that the court award unpaid wages, liquidated damages, post-judgment interest, and attorneys’ fees to the plaintiff and class members.
