A FORMER EMPLOYEE FIGHTING TO BE PAID ALBUQUERQUE'S NEW MINIMUM WAGE IS GETTING SOME LEGAL HELP. CITY ATTORNEY DAVID TOUREK ANNOUNCED ON TUESDAY THAT THE CITY WILL REPRESENT KEVIN O'LEARY IN A LAWSUIT AGAINST ROUTE 66 MALT SHOP IN NOB ILL.

TOUREK SAYS VOTERS APPROVED THE HIGHER WAGE LAST NOVEMBER AND IT'S THE CITY ATTORNEYS JOB TO SEE THAT IT'S ENFORCED. HE SAYS EMPLOYERS MUST PAY THE NEW WAGE OR FACE LITIGATION. TOUREK SAYS THE CITY IS MAKING AN EXCEPTION IN THIS CASE.

ERIC SZEMAN'S WIFE OWNS THE MALT SHOP. HE TELLS 770 KKOB THEY WANT TO FIGHT THE LAWSUIT, BUT IT'LL BE TOUGH. HE SAYS THEY DON'T HAVE THE MONEY FOR AN ATTORNEY. HE ALSO SAYS PAYING THE NEW MINIMUM WAGE TO THEIR TIPPED EMPLOYEES WILL FORCE THEM OUT OF BUSINESS.