ROBERT DE NIRO - DE NIRO CHAIN TO SETTLE $2.5 MILLION LAWSUIT

DE NIRO CHAIN TO SETTLE $2.5 MILLION LAWSUIT

Actor ROBERT DE NIRO's upmarket restaurant chain Nobu is reportedly close to settling a $2.5 million (£1.7 million) lawsuit over staff tips. Two waiters sued Nobu in 2007 on behalf of hundreds of workers at three of its exclusive New York restaurants, Nobu, Nobu 57 and Nobu Next Door, claiming they were forced to share tips with management and were not paid overtime.
Now company owners, including De Niro, chef Nobu Matsuhisa and others, have agreed to settle the lawsuit, according to court papers filed on Friday (30Jan09).
Current employees and ex-employees who worked at the three restaurants between August 2001 and August 2008 will reportedly receive an average of $3,300 (£2,200) each.