Mario Batali's Tip Lawsuit Settles For $5.25 Million

One of the three wage violation lawsuits filed against Mario Batali finally reached a settlement, and New York City workers were awarded $5.25 million from Joe Bastianich and Mario Batali's restaurant.

The settlement will be awarded to all individuals who worked at Babbo, Bar Jamón, Casa Mono, Del Posto, Esca, Lupa, Otto, and Tarry Lodge, according to a settlement document. Individuals who worked "as captains, servers, waiters, bussers, runners, back waiters, bartenders, and/or barbacks from July 22, 2004 to February 14, 2012, and who do not opt out of the settlement," all get a cut of the $5.25 million according to the number of hours worked.

The lawsuit claimed that Batali's restaurants gave 4 to 5 percent of the tips for alcohol and wine sales to sommerliers' salaries, instead of the servers they were meant for. Settlement payment is scheduled for June (and no word on the other lawsuits yet), so Batali may want to offer a few more truffle tasting menus.