“Top Chef” Judge, Craft Owner Sued Over Tips, Wages

Employee Claims She Was Unfairly Terminated

Famed restaurateur and "Top Chef" celebrity judge Tom Colicchio and his nationwide chain of restaurants, Craft, Craftbar, and Craftsteak, is being sued by a former employee who claims the company misappropriating employee tips, withholding some overtime pay and sometimes failing to pay minimum wage. The lawsuit, filed by Nessa Rapone, a former Craftbar employee from Brooklyn, alleges that Mr. Colicchio and Craft Worldwide Holdings, LLC, violated the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and the New York Labor Law by misappropriating employee tips and withholding proper overtime pay. The company that operates Craft restaurants in Dallas, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Las Vegas, and Ledyard, Conn. In addition, the suit alleges, Rapone was terminated in May 2007 after she complained about defendants' unlawful wage and hour policies.

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