Deaf Anthology #56: "The Waitress"

DC Police have taken into custody a former waitress at G&G II Italian restaurant, she will be charged with credit card fraud, a felony, after receiving several complaints from Gallaudet students for unauthorized charges on their account. In the intake court hearing, the waitress complained to the judge that Gallaudet students who frequented her restaurant never leave a tip, and that she is struggling to make ends meet as a single mother of two. "These Deaf students are able to afford a $30 meal, if only they can put down $3, just 10%, that will be enough, but often my children goes to school hungry." The waitress was released on bail, and ordered to pay an restitution to all those affected. Washington Post investigators noted that the waitress always add the tip to the credit card without the student knowledge, this was able to go on quite awhile as students often don't bother to check the receipts they signed. The judge ordered that postings be put up on the Gallaudet campus, notifying them that anyone who was a victim of the crime, to send a copy of the credit bill to the court within 30 days. The waitress made a plea bargaining that she will reimburse the students 23%, 15% as normal tip, 8% as punitive compensation, plus 42 cents postage (new rate). It ain't much but it can be significant for those who frequented the establishment. The judge took this step in an effort to avoid having them file a class-action lawsuit, which will be a burden on the already backlogged court system. University officials are planning to add "tipping" workshops in their orientation program for incoming Freshmen in the fall.
John: "Did you see the Washington Post article this morning."

Joan: "It only just reinforced the myth that Deaf people don't tip."

The G&G II manager explained to the local media that the problem isn't a factor to their filing for bankruptcy in the first place, but the competition from the food court in the Union Station, we were a thriving business in the neighborhood until the Metro was completed. The manager noted that those waitresses that are fluent in ASL often get all the tips. The manager agreed to give consideration in paying tuition to his waitresses to take courses in ASL at Gallaudet,and being paid on the clock as an initiative, this may be an answer to the high turnover problem.

G&G II was recently selected by the Washingtonian magazine as one of the 100 best restaurant.
John: "A student organization on campus paid the bail."

Joan: "Apparently they are embarrassed by the incident, as their reputation is at stake."

Jason and Jeffrey: "Mom, what's for dinner tonight?"

Joan: "As a matter of fact, just came back from grocery shopping, we'll Spaghetti tonight, we got the recipes from that famous Deaf cook, Geo, in Seattle."

Revised (5/06/08)

This is Smokey, stay tuned for the next episode of Deaf Anthology. Good Night, Deaf America!