Wage Theft. Can I Potentially Still Get My Money?

Location: North Carolina

In 2013, I worked as a host at a popular chain restaurant in North Carolina. At the time, I was young and struggling to find employment, so I took the job and stayed for nearly a year. My hourly wage was $2.13, plus tips. If you've worked in the restaurant industry you know that you never see that $2.13. Every two weeks I would get a check for $0.10. Unfortunately, the tips rarely accumulated to a substantial amount. After working anywhere from six to twelve hours, my take-home pay would often be around $30, sometimes up to $50 for a twelve-hour shift. I recall breaking down in tears in front of my managers, explaining that I had to pay rent. Despite working four consecutive twelve-hour shifts and earning nearly $200, they showed no empathy. I eventually found a better job and left after eleven months.

Fast forward to the present day, and I've come to realize that my former employer's practices were extremely illegal. They were undoubtedly guilty of wage theft. I've since contacted other former employees, and we've all reached the same conclusion over the years. Although the restaurant chain is thriving nationwide, the location where I worked unfortunately closed a couple of years ago. I looked into the franchise from when I worked there and discovered that the company filed for bankruptcy in 2018. How shocking. I'm wondering if there's any way I can still recover the money I earned all those years ago. Would it even be possible in this scenario?

To those who might judge me for staying in that situation. I was 18, I left my abusive childhood behind and moved halfway across the country with barely any money and was renting a room on Craigslist. Life was a real challenge. Give your girl some grace.