Mario Batali’s Restaurant Settles Case For $1.15 Million
It appears that celebrity chef may have paid his employees less than the law requires. Specifically, a lawsuit was filed against one of the chef’s restaurants alleging that tips were being distributed in violation of the fair labor standards act (FLSA). The suit also alleges that many employees did not receive overtime pay to which they were entitled. The settlement reached in the case agrees to pay back wages owed and attorneys fees but it also agrees to new benefits for the employees. Specifically, many of the employees will now receive paid vacation and sick leave. A commodity that many restaurants do not provide.
Every year our office handles numerous cases in Tennessee and surrounding states involving restaurants failures to pay employees in accordance with the law. The most common violations we see are know as “tip pool” violations. Basically, the fair labor standards act says that if you are payed as a “tipped employee” then you must be allowed to keep all of your tips. The only exception to this is a valid tip pool. To be a valid tip pool the tips can only be shared with other tipped employees and non can be kept by the restaurant or the management for themselves. It is amazing how many tip pools violations our Tennessee Overtime Lawyers handle at a time when restaurants are trying to be more local and earth friendly. Maybe the restaurant should have equal concern for their employees
If you have a question for one of our Tennessee Tip Pool Violation Lawyers, please give us a call.
Author Bio
Jim Higgins, founder of the Higgins Firm, is a seasoned personal injury attorney with deep roots in Nashville, Tennessee. A 4th generation Nashvillian, Jim carries on the legal legacy of his father, a judge for over 30 years. After graduating from the University of Memphis School of Law, Jim’s career began on the other side of the courtroom, defending insurance companies and learning their tactics for minimizing settlements. However, he soon realized his true calling was fighting for the rights of the injured, and for the past several years, he has exclusively represented plaintiffs in personal injury cases.
Since then, his dedication and skill have earned him membership in the prestigious Million Dollar Advocates Forum, an organization limited to attorneys who have secured million and multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements for their clients. Licensed to practice in Tennessee, Kentucky, and Georgia, Jim focuses on personal injury, product liability, medical malpractice, and workers’ compensation cases. His exceptional work has been recognized by his peers, earning him a spot on the Super Lawyers list from 2021 to 2024, a distinction awarded to only a select group of accomplished attorneys in each state.
