WAGE and HOUR LAW: Iron Chef Batali Sued for Lost Tips by Former Employees in LA

August 16, 2010

Los Angeles – A lawsuit over lost tips has just been filed against popular TV chef Mario Batali and his business partner yesterday.

The lawsuit was filed in the Los Angeles Superior Court by a bartender and a server who previously worked in the Iron Chef’s famous restaurant in LA, Pizzeria Mozza.

According to the lawsuit, the former employees allege that Batali and his partner ran a scheme that stole tips from employees.

The former employees claimed that a percentage of tips that were given through credit cards were kept by Batali for themselves.

They also claimed that this practice was also ran in Batali’s other restaurants including the Osteria Mozza next doors.

Lastly, the two former employees also claimed that they were not given adequate breaks and that they were not paid promptly after their employment ended.

Batali and his representatives have no comment as of writing.

Batali is also the subject of another lawsuit regarding lost tips that was filed just last July in New York.