Dinner Club Deception: Employee Alleges Entertainment Mogul Ronald Onesti Stiffed Her
A glitzy supper club empire, 13 bad checks, and one woman’s fight for justice.
Based on Kane County Circuit Court case no. 13 L 467
When Katherine Bell signed on to work for the man behind the famed Onesti Dinner Club, she didn’t expect the job to end in bounced paychecks, legal warfare, and a court ruling on deceptive business practices.
But that’s exactly what unfolded in the lawsuit Bell v. Onesti Entertainment Corporation et al., where the former employee accused Ronald Onesti and his companies of failing to pay over $33,000 in wages and bonuses between 2008 and 2009 — including more than a dozen checks that bounced or were voided outright.
“You Worked, You Got Screwe
Bell alleged that she worked 1,342 hours at a promised rate of $25 per hour and was never paid. Her lawsuit, filed under the Illinois Wage Payment and Collection Act (IWPCA), claimed that Onesti and his officers, including Jennifer Sherman, knowingly withheld wages — and further accused them of misusing corporate entities to evade financial responsibility.
The suit demanded not just back wages, but liquidated damages, treble penalties, and attorney’s fees — eventually totaling a six-figure judgment in Bell’s favor.
A Web of NSF Checks
Among the most damning pieces of evidence? A list of checks that Onesti’s entities allegedly issued — all returned for insufficient funds, expired, or canceled:
Check No. 11005 – $1,949.34 (NSF)
Check No. 11184 – $1,975.54 (Expired)
Check No. 11656 – $1,723.85 (Stop Payment)
In total, Bell identified over $17,000 in failed check payments.
A Judge Rebukes the Defense
While the case never reached a full damages jury verdict, the court awarded Bell’s attorneys a modified total of $129,625 in fees, citing excessive time and unnecessary legal entanglements — a number significantly less than the $228,690 initially requested but still a sharp signal of the case’s seriousness.
The court chastised Onesti’s team for their behavior, noting their "failure to maintain adequate corporate records" and “constant commingling of funds,” further strengthening Bell’s call to pierce the corporate veil.
Aftermath and Alleged Retaliation
Adding fuel to the fire, Bell claimed she was terminated after requesting the wages — an act she says was direct retaliation, in violation of state public policy. She sought compensatory and punitive damages for emotional distress and loss of livelihood.
The case closed with a settlement reached the morning of a bench trial, though subsequent disputes about compliance with that settlement reportedly persisted.
📑 Court Records Cited:
Case No. 13 L 467, Kane County Circuit Court
Final fee determination and judgment order dated July 6, 2016
Illinois Wage Payment and Collection Act (820 ILCS 115/1)
Exhibits including check logs, employment records, and attorney fee petitions