Lawsuits

Oh, Burn: Le Bern Is the Latest Restaurant to Be Hit by Wage-Violation Lawsuit

Ripert: Probably not smiling.
Ripert: Probably not smiling.

Grub Street learns that a class-action lawsuit is this instant being filed against Le Bernardin chef-owner Eric Ripert and co-owner Maguey Le Coze for alleged wage violations. In the document sent to us by lawyer Maimon Kirschenbaum, two employees are bringing suit on behalf of themselves and other workers against the restaurant for failure to pay minimum wage and overtime, and supposed illegal tip-pooling. Le Bern joins a long line of restaurants who have already been sued for similar violations, including Alto, Convivio, Babbo, Jean Georges, and Balthazar. You’ll recall that just a few months back, Joe Bastianich spoke out in the Post against Kirschenbaum, who’s brought more than 100 lawsuits against New York restaurants over the years. Boy is Bastianich going to be pissed now.

Luis Pazos and Miguel Gonzalez vs. Le Bernardin, Inc., Maguey Le Coze, and Eric Ripert [PDF]
Earlier: Lawyer Fires Back at Joe Bastianich Over ‘Frivolous Lawsuits’ Comment

Oh, Burn: Le Bern Is the Latest Restaurant to Be Hit by Wage-Violation Lawsuit