Legal Question in Business Law in Illinois

My question is a little complex. I will start with the back story.

I worked at a restaurant for a year and a few months. I started as a server/bartender then got promoted to manager. The owners brought in new management to run the establishment and this is when problems occurred. I quit because of many inappropriate and unethical things that were happening at the business, not necessarily unethically business wise (that I know of). The culprits included; The General Manager, two Managers, some gentlemen in the kitchen, and a few servers/bartenders. I then obtained a much better opportunity a month later.

The incidents that I know of are as follows; The GM having sex with employees. Also attempting to force herself on a much younger, she is in her 40s he is 22, employee. One Manager makes extremely inappropriate gestures and comments at employees while customers are in ear shot. She also has docked employee�s hours because of their relation with other people and others due to lack of respect. The same manager has yelled at customers for absolutely no reason. The second manager lies about any mistake he makes and blames it on his subordinates. Some severs/bartenders/kitchen guys do drugs, steal, drink alcohol, and have sex during work hours.

I have returned to the restaurant a few times to have a few drinks with my friends. The most recent time I returned, I got extremely intoxicated. This is a rarity seeing as I have had many more drinks at other times, than I did that night, and I have never felt that way before. I had been loud, but I talk loud anyway. I also told an employee that I don�t like the management and they are corrupt. There are a few people that had it out for me at the restaurant and I believe that they were looking for a way to stop me from coming back. They �cut me off� that night, but let me stay and socialize. Then I got a ride home. I planned on never going back, not only because they don�t have good food or drink, but because I was tired of dealing with the things that went on there.

As the aftermath from this situation, I receive a letter in the mail stating that I was no longer allowed at their establishment. This was a certified letter.

Here are my questions�

1) I understand that if I did go back they would call the police. But what exactly does a certified letter mean?

2) The letter asked for a return receipt. I have been working on a letter for a couple months that explains what inappropriate things happen behind the scenes. Do I send my return receipt with this letter or will that lead to larger problems? Should I send the letter later?

3) I know the owners personally. My original plan was to send this letter to the owners so that they understand what the problems are with the people who work there. If I sent this letter to the owners, would this lead to larger problems? Can they come after me legally if I send a letter from a disgruntled customer?

4) Due to how quickly and the degree I got intoxicated, I think that they might have spiked my drinks. When I woke up in the morning, I didn�t not remember anything! Luckily my girlfriend works there and she was there the whole time and was able to fill me in (she had already put in her two weeks� notice). If sending the response won�t lead to larger problems, should I include my thoughts of having my drinks spiked?

I have more questions, but I can�t think of them off the top of my head, so these will suffice for now. Thank you very much for taking time to help a person who knows nothing about the law, and I look forward to your response


Asked on 1/21/10, 6:51 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Thomas Moens Moens Law Offices, Chartered

Your question is a bit lengthy for this forum. To be honest, I skipped to the questions at the end after the first couple of sentences.

1) Certified letter is merely a means of ensuring you received the letter. Nothing more. Google "certified letter return receipt requested" for more.

2) and 3) If you signed for the letter, the return receipt is already done. It has nothing to do with you responding. It is evidence that you received the letter. Without knowing what you are going to say, and to whom you are going to say it in your letter, I have no idea if it will lead to larger problems. If you no longer work there and have no reason to go to this establishment my advice is simple: Let it go.

4) If you reasonably believed the drinks were altered, you should have obtained medical attention immediately and contacted the police. You may still want to obtain medical attention and contact authorities, since some chemicals could have long-lasting and deleterious effects. This is a very serious accusation. Suggesting that this happened without any evidence will most certainly cause "larger problems."

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Answered on 1/27/10, 7:11 am


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