City, Malt Shop argue in court

State District Judge Denise Barela-Shepherd has ordered the Route 66 Malt Shop and its managers to avoid speaking to their employees about litigation over Albuquerque’s new minimum wage.

She also ordered them not to talk about the validity of any contracts in which employees may have agreed to work for less than the new minimum wage.

“I do not want there to be any pressure by management or ownership of the business on these present employees,” Barela-Shepherd said in a hearing Wednesday.

City attorneys have filed a lawsuit on behalf of an ex-employee against the malt shop seeking unpaid wages and accusing the restaurant of retaliation.

Charles Lakins, an attorney for the malt shop, said he will challenge the validity of the city’s wage ordinance when the suit goes to trial.