A former kitchen employee alleges that two food delivery businesses failed to pay legally required overtime wages, raising questions about wage practices affecting cooks and food preparers across the country. The complaint was filed by Irma Liliana Calle in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on March 13, 2026, naming Cookunity, Inc. and Brooklyn CU1 LLC as defendants.
According to the filing, Calle worked at the Grand Avenue location in Chicago from February 19, 2022 until March 3, 2026 under an employment agreement with both companies. The complaint states that Cookunity, Inc., a Delaware corporation with operations in several major cities including Chicago and New York City, and Brooklyn CU1 LLC, a Pennsylvania limited liability company operating in similar markets, jointly employed Calle during her tenure.
The central claim is that Calle regularly worked approximately seventy-two hours per week—twelve hours per day for six days each week—without receiving overtime compensation at one-and-one-half times her regular rate for hours worked over forty per week. Instead, she was paid straight-time wages for all hours worked regardless of total weekly hours. The suit further alleges that lunch breaks or rest breaks were not provided during shifts.
Calle’s attorneys argue that these pay practices violate multiple laws: the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the Illinois Wage Payment and Collection Act (IWPCA), the Illinois Minimum Wage Law (IMWL), and the City of Chicago Minimum Wage Ordinance (Chicago Code). The complaint asserts that “Defendants knowingly, deliberately, and voluntarily failed to pay their employees for all hours worked over forty in a workweek at the federal and state mandated overtime rate.” It also claims that defendants maintained control over key aspects of employment such as hiring, firing, payroll, timekeeping, reimbursements, pay rates, deductions, and other practices affecting Calle and other similarly situated workers.
The lawsuit seeks collective action status under Section 16(b) of the FLSA on behalf of all current and former cooks, food preparers, and kitchen assistants employed by Cookunity or Brooklyn CU1 LLC nationwide within the past three years who were not paid proper overtime wages. Calle’s attorneys write: “Plaintiff will serve as the representative plaintiff in the FLSA collective action. As this case progresses, it is likely that other individuals will also join this case as opt-in plaintiffs.” They allege common policies or practices resulted in underpayment for all affected employees.
Specific damages are detailed throughout the filing. Under Count II (violation of IMWL), Calle seeks $50,656 in unpaid minimum and overtime wages plus treble damages totaling $151,968 along with monthly interest as allowed by law. For Count III (violation of IWPCA), she requests at least $65,072 in unpaid wages plus statutory penalties accruing at five percent per month from when amounts became due through judgment date. Under Count IV (violation of Chicago Code), she again claims at least $50,656 in unpaid overtime plus statutory damages amounting to three times any underpayment ($151,968) along with attorney fees.
In addition to monetary relief for herself and others who may join as plaintiffs if collective action is granted by the court, Calle asks for declaratory judgments stating that defendants violated relevant labor laws; prompt notification to similarly situated employees; reasonable attorney fees; costs; pre-judgment interest; injunctive relief requiring compliance with wage laws; and any additional relief deemed appropriate by the court.
The complaint was prepared by attorneys James M. Dore and Daniel I. Schlade of Dore Law Offices located at 6232 N. Pulaski #300 in Chicago. The case is identified as Case No. 26-CV-2842.
Source: 126cv02842_Irma_Liliana_v_Cookunity_Complaint_Northern_District_of_Illinois.pdf
