Mario Batali settles suit accusing him and partner of skimming staff's tips

Chef Mario Batali attends a premiere at Jazz at
Lincoln Center in New York on Feb. 1, 2010.

(CBS/AP) NEW YORK - Celebrity chef and author Mario Batali and his New York business partner have agreed to pay $5.25 million to settle a lawsuit that alleged they confiscated a portion of their restaurant workers' tips.

According to court papers filed in Manhattan federal court, the settlement, which still must be approved by a judge, may compensate as many as 1,100 waiters, captains and other staffers. The lawsuit against the 51-year-old Batali, who is frequently seen on TV, and Joseph Bastianich was filed in 2010. It claimed their restaurants had a policy of deducting 4 to 5 percent from the tip pool at the end of each night.

Lawyers for both sides said the matter was resolved to the satisfaction of all parties.
The Seattle-born chef, who also markets a line of cookbooks and kitchenware, has restaurants in New York, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Singapore. His Manhattan restaurants include Babbo, Bar Jamon and Del Posto.