Latest Restaurant Lawsuit Tries to Force Flay to Pay

With the economy drying up and waiters' pockets coming home not quite as stuffed with tips, are those in the food service industry more likely to sue their employers to get their fair share? We're not sure if that's what's behind it, but there sure have been a smattering of restaurateurs getting sued recently. The latest to get hit with one is celebrity chef Bobby Flay who was served a wage and labor violations lawsuit in Manhattan court Friday on behalf of employees in a number of his restaurants, including local spots Bar Americain, Mesa Grill and the now defunct Bolo. The suit claims Flay forced workers to buy and launder their own uniforms and refused to give them a share of mandatory tips charged to private party tabs. Other lawsuits have been served up in recent months to high-profile restaurants belonging to Robert DeNiro, Top Chef's Tom Colicchio and Hawaiian Tropic.