Celebrities Robert De Niro, pop star Justin Timberlake, and rapper Jay Z as well as celebrity chefs Jean-Georges Vongerichten and "Top Chef" TV show judge Tom Colicchio are among restaurant owners who have been hit with lawsuits for mistreating employees at their posh eateries, including allegedly dipping into tips and refusing to pay overtime.

The celebrity-owned restaurants have been hit with class actions representing hundreds of current and former workers. In one of the latest developments, the Nobu restaurant chain, in which De Niro is a partner, agreed to settle the case against it on Friday (Jan. 30) for $2.5 million, according to court papers. A hearing to approve the Nobu settlement is set for February 6.

Two waiters sued in 2007 on behalf of hundreds of workers at three of the exclusive Japanese restaurants. They said they were forced to share tips with management and the chain, which charges high prices for its fare and also allegedly cheated them out of overtime pay.

Chef Nobu Matsuhisa and others, opened Nobu in New York's Tribeca area in 1994. It has since expanded to 16 locations around the globe. The settlement covers Nobu, Nobu 57 and Nobu Next Door, all in Manhattan. Current employees and ex-employees who worked there between August 2001 and August 2008 will get an average of $3,300 each, court papers said.
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Labels: Celebrities and Food, Crime, Industry, Kitchen Catastrophes