Justin Timberlake's BBQ restaurant has landed the singer in hot water - a former employee is suing the eatery over claims he was short changed out of tips. In a lawsuit filed in a New York court on Friday, ex waiter Felipe Ramales alleges he and several co-workers were not given their rightful share of automatic gratuity charges.

Ramales, who worked at the singer's Southern Hospitality restaurant in New York for a year, also claims he wasn't paid overtime despite regularly working for more than 40 hours a week.

However, restaurant manager Chris Russell denies the accusations - insisting staff took home all their tips and that employee salaries were well over America's minimum wage, according to E! Online.

Timberlake and his pals Trace Ayala and Eytan Sugarman launched Southern Hospitality in July 2007.

A spokesperson for Timberlake had not commented on the suit at press time.

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(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)