A veteran area bartender applied for a job at Orchard Tavern West in Guilderland. He didn’t get it. But he did win a judgment against the bar in small-claims court, because the judge agreed that information he provided after an August interview was the equivalent of consulting services deserving compensation.
The bartender, James Bytner, asked for $350 for 10 hours of time and advice at $35 per hour, provided during six weeks of conversation by phone, text and in person with Orchard Tavern West owner Kris Monforte following a job interview on Aug. 27.