Generous Tip Turns Complicated
A restaurant in Pennsylvania has filed a civil lawsuit against a customer who left a $3,000 tip for a waitress, only to later dispute the charge. The incident, which initially appeared to be a heartwarming act of generosity, has now turned into a legal battle.
The Surprise Tip
In June 2022, staff at Alfredo’s Cafe in Scranton were left stunned when customer Eric Smith left a $3,000 tip after ordering a stromboli, which cost only $13.25. The waitress, Mariana Lambert, was overwhelmed by the generous gesture.
“It really meant a lot to me because everyone’s going through stuff. It really touched my heart. I still can’t believe it. I’m still in shock,” Lambert said.
Verification of the Tip
To ensure the tip wasn’t a mistake, Matt Martini of Alfredo’s Cafe verified the amount and collected additional ID from Smith, who had written ‘Tips for Jesus’ on the check. Smith explained that he was inspired by a social media trend known as ‘Tips for Jesus’ and wanted to participate after experiencing Lambert’s hospitality.
Disputed Charge
However, a few weeks later, the cafe received a letter stating that Smith was disputing the charge for the tip. “We thought somebody was actually trying to do a good thing. And then now we are, what, three months later? Not even, and there’s nothing. There’s nothing to show for it at this point,” said Zachary Jacobson, another employee at the cafe.
Financial Impact on Alfredo’s Cafe
Since the cafe had already given the $3,000 to Lambert, they were forced to repay Smith out of their own pockets. Despite attempts to communicate with Smith on Facebook, the situation remained unresolved, leading Alfredo’s Cafe to file a civil lawsuit against him.
Legal Action
Jacobson explained, “Unfortunately, we had to file charges through the magistrate’s office because now we’re just out of this money at this point. And he told us to sue him. So that’s what we’re going to end up doing, I guess.”
