Spotted Pig to pay $240G to settle sexual harassment suit
The owner of the Spotted Pig restaurant has agreed to pay $240,000 to settle claims that employees were subject to come-ons, forcible kisses, pressure to send nude photos and other sexual harassment, according to state Attorney General Letitia James.
The famed West Village restaurant, owned by Kenneth Friedman, maintained the hostile workplace since 2005, according to a settlement dated Dec. 18 but released Tuesday by James' office. Friedman himself and his celebrity customers "made sexually explicit comments and gestures toward female staff members," her news release said.
"On more than one occasion, Friedman forcibly kissed employees and pressured them to send him nude photos," the release said about the agreement to settle the investigation, based on state and city human rights laws and corroborated, James said, by witnesses.
The settlement also alleges that those who complained were subject to firing for made-up reasons.
Friedman did not admit to the allegations as part of the settlement, James said. He is stepping down from managing the restaurant, she said.
Friedman did not return a message left Tuesday on his cellphone seeking comment.
In a written statement to the blog Eater New York, he said, "I disagree with several of the allegations," but added: "I hope this agreement will bring some comfort to those former employees impacted by my behavior. And I hope we are all able to put this painful chapter behind us."
Exterior of The Spotted Pig in Manhattan on Tuesday. Credit: Charles Eckert
The Spotted Pig serves modern British food. At its peak, the restaurant was a hot spot where the wait to get in was hours long — without reservations.
James said her investigation began after The New York Times and "60 Minutes" did stories on the claims.
The settlement includes a profit-sharing arrangement for 10 years of 20% with the 10 women and one man, now all-former employees who complained. Payments under the settlement, which also requires the restaurant to implement anti-sexual-harassment training, are to begin later this week and depend on length of employment and other variables, ranging from $10,000 to $50,000, James said.
One of the accusers, Jamie Seet, who began as an oyster shucker and became general manager, appeared at a news conference Tuesday at James' Manhattan office. "Today is the day that we get justice and we take our dignity back," she said.
"I want to thank #MeToo and the #TimesUp movement," James said at the news conference.
Friedman is accused of verbally harassing employees.
"Friedman repeatedly told a female employee that he had a threesome with her mother," the settlement said in one example.
A settlement in the case alleges that celebrity chef Mario Batali, a Spotted Pig investor, subjected women employees to unwelcome advances and groping.
In graphic detail the settlement describes sexual behavior Batali conducted in semipublic areas, including with a semi-unconscious woman.
Additionally James said she was investigating allegations against Batali at his restaurants. But since he did not have managerial authority at the Spotted Pig, his conduct could not be targeted or subject to the settlement. Neither he nor his representative could be reached for comment.
Matthew Chayes, a Newsday reporter since 2007, covers New York City.
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Out East with Doug Geed: Wine harvests, a fish market, baked treats and poinsettias NewsdayTV's Doug Geed visits two wineries and a fish market, and then it's time for holiday cheer, with a visit to a bakery and poinsettia greenhouses.
