Jean-Georges Vongerichten sued for alleged underpaymentJean-Georges Vongerichten sued for alleged underpayment

NEW YORK Six former servers of V Steakhouse, Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s now-shuttered upscale restaurant in the Time Warner Center here, have sued the chef and restaurateur for dividing tips among restaurant managers and other tipped staff members. As a result, they claim they were underpaid.

The proposed class-action suit was filed July 9 in Manhattan Federal Court here.

A report in the New York Daily News said the servers had been threatened with termination if they complained to Vongerichten, who closed the steakhouse in December 2005.

Vongerichten’s office did not return calls for comment. Vongerichten also owns and operates such top-rated restaurants as Jean Georges, Spice Market, Vong and Perry St.