Law suits are bad for business, especially when they concern workers’ rights, or when they get into the press, or result in picket lines.

Daniel Boulud survived a law suit, eventually settling with his workers over accusations of discrimination against non-white employees. That case was in the news in 2007, now nearly forgotten.

But not quite — because now it’s time for Mario Batali and Joe Bastianich‘s turn.

Recently, two employees of Babbo filed a lawsuit, alleging that they had not been paid. The Wall Street Journal reported that “…the restaurant was improperly taking 4.5 percent of its wine sales every night and subtracting it from the tip pool, depriving employees of that income and decreasing their base wage.”

The two employees — a waiter and a kitchen runner — hoped increase the stakes by bringing in more employees as part of a class action suit.

That’s exactly what has happened, according to a press release from the workers’ lawyers.

Now, it seems they’ve added a few more workers and included Bar Jamon, Casa Mono, Lupa Osteria Romana, Otto Enoteca Pizzeria in New York City, plus Tarry Lodge in Port Chester, New York. So far, tht leaves about 10 other Batali-Bastianich restaurants out of the suit.

What’s the lesson from Daniel?

Settle.

Press releases:
Stephanie Capsolas, et al., v. Pasta Resources Inc., et al.

Related news:
Wall Street Journal
CBS News
WNBC New York
Village Voice
Crain’s New York Business
Digital Spy
New York Post
Gawker
Examiner
Huffington Post

(Images of Mario Batali from Flickr and Joe Bastianich from the Las Vegas Sun