SALT LAKE CITY Nine drivers for All Resort Express have filed a class-action lawsuit against the Park City, Utah-based passenger transportation company, claiming it has been illegally keeping a large percentage of their tips.

In their suit, filed in U.S. District Court here, the drivers allege that when customers paid for services with anything other than cash, such as a credit card, the tip they left went directly to the company and not to the driver.

"The company was keeping a fairly hefty percentage of that money. And its against the law to do that," said the drivers lawyer.

"It appears that over time the company has attempted to use a variety of explanations to excuse their unlawful activity," said attorney Joe Wrona.

"They claimed it was a service fee, as opposed to a tip. At times they tried to claim the drivers are not tipped employees. But the explanations are nonsense. Its breaking the law and violating the rights of the drivers," said Wrona.

The alleged tip-swiping activity has been going on for years and affects all of the companys drivers, the lawsuit says. When All Resort drivers complained about the policy, they were allegedly threatened.

Any time a driver has questioned the practice, rather than correcting itself, the company has threatened the drivers, said Wrona.

Scott Hagen of Ray, Quinney and Nebeker law firm, representing All Resort, told a Utah newspaper the company has confidence in the judicial system, and that All Resort believes it hasn't violated any laws and intends to vigorously defend itself against the suit.

All Resort is the parent company of Lewis Stages, a motorcoach operation that has been in business nearly 100 years. All Resort, which acquired Lewis Stages in 2006, was founded by Gordon Cummins as a resort shuttle service in 1990.

Richard Bizzaro acquired All Resort in 2004.