Holiday tip prompts doorman's lawsuit

NEW YORK, May 16 (UPI) -- A New York doorman has filed a $2 million lawsuit after losing his job for allegedly stealing a fellow doorman's holiday tip.

Sutton House doorman Viorel Cincu is suing his former employer and the couple who gave his coworker the tip because of the allegations made against him and the fact he lost his job, The New York Times said Wednesday.

While officials at the hotel said they have video evidence of Cincu stealing $400 from a coworker's tip envelope, the 49-year-old has maintained his innocence during the ordeal.

On Tuesday, Cincu even accused those related to the situation of unfairly labeling him a thief.

"They made me a thief... . It's been very difficult," Cincu said.

Circu's lawyer, Douglas Rosenthal, told the Times the tip money likely was thrown away by accident and that his client was simply made the fall guy by a supervisor who disliked him.