Celebrity Chef Mario Batali Settles Tip Lawsuit for $5.25 Million
Celebrity chef Mario Batali has settled a lawsuit alleging that he took tips from nearly all of his employees. Batali and business partner, also a celebrity chef, Joe Bastianich settled the lawsuit for $5.25 million.
According to the New York Daily News, two-thirds of the money will be split among 1,100 workers and the rest will go to the lawyers who represented Batali and Bastianich. Neither chef has commented on the settlement, which has been two years coming. Instead, they left the talking to their lawyers, who issued a single statement for both men.
"The matter has been resolved to the satisfaction of all parties," the lawyers said.
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The lawsuit was brought by two former employees, Stephanie Capsolas and Hernan Alvarado, who said that they were forced to share tips with other workers and had been shorted of pay. Soon, more than 100 workers joined in the lawsuit, claiming that they were paid below the minimum wage while being forced to work more than 40 hours per week.
While Batali remained relatively quiet about the suit, Bastianich was not and offered his take on the whole situation.
"Money-hungry lawyers, through frivolous lawsuits, are shaking down the very foundation of Manhattan's restaurant industry. You're forced to settle. Why go to trial and risk a $5 million settlement if you can settle for a million and a half?" Bastianich was quoted as saying by The New York Post.
As part of the settlement, all those who agreed to receive funds had to sign a confidentiality clause preventing them from commenting on the situation and the case in general. The clause stated that they cannot "communicate to any media or media representative, including but not limited to the electronic, print or digital media or social networking site, information regarding the Litigation."
Batali is the owner of several restaurants and serves as a chef while also competing on The Food Network's "Iron Chef America." Bastianich also owns several restaurants and stars on the Fox hit "MasterChef" and "MasterChef Junior."
