A former employee of Thomas Keller’s French Laundry restaurant is taking the restaurant to court over alleged pay- and break-based violations of the California Labor Code.

The complaint, filed March 19 by the Glendale-based Koul Law Firm in Napa Superior Court on behalf of Elena Flores Beteta — identified as a dishwasher for the Yountville restaurant from 2022 to 2025 — names the French Laundry Restaurant Corporation, French Laundry Partners, LP and KRM, Inc., which does business as the Thomas Keller Restaurant Group, as defendants. Chef Thomas Keller, who took over the restaurant as chef and owner in 1994, is not personally named as a defendant.

Beteta — who brought the representative action complaint on behalf of herself and over 50 “similarly situated aggrieved employees” — alleges in the complaint the defendants didn’t consistently pay for all hours worked, including overtime hours. They also allegedly failed to pay minimum wage, failed to provide rest breaks, failed to provide proper resting facilities or breakrooms, among other alleged violations of the California Labor Code.

“Plaintiff was required to work off the clock, work through meal and rest periods without compensation, received pay stubs that failed to accurately reflect her hours and premium wages, and was not paid final wages upon separation,” the complaint says. “These violations occurred pursuant to uniform policies implemented by defendants across its workforce.”

The Thomas Keller Restaurant Group said in an emailed statement that while it couldn’t comment on the specific allegations, “we believe the claims are without merit” and denied “any allegations that have been made against the company.”

“We value our employees and maintain a respectful, professional, and inclusive workplace,” the statement said. “We are committed to complying with all applicable employment laws and regulations, and we maintain policies and practices designed to promote fairness and compliance across our organization.”

Beteta is seeking civil penalties under the Private Attorneys General Act, in an amount to be determined at trial, along with an award of attorneys fees.

The lawsuit was filed amid pushback from prominent Yountville business figures, including Keller, to a proposed workforce housing project in Yountville. Keller and others have argued that the town needed to do more employee and employer outreach on the project, along with clarifying financial elements and other questions, before moving forward with it. But that project is currently paused after a proposed referendum opposing the project obtained a sufficient number of signatures from local voters.