Exclusive: T.I. & Partner Shell Out $78K To Settle Ex-Scales 925 Employees Overtime Pay Suit

ATLANTA, GA – SEPTEMBER 25: Clifford “TIP” Harris and Tameka “Tiny” Harris attend “Tip’s Birthday Celebration” at Scales 925 Restaurant on September 25, 2015 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Prince Williams/WireImage)

Rapper Agrees To Pay His Ex-Workers To Settle Lawsuit Over Back Pay & Alleged Retaliation

T.I. has quietly settled a lawsuit accusing him of stiffing his employees of their overtime of his restaurant, BOSSIP has learned.

This month, the rapper, whose real name is Clifford Harris, struck a deal with his ex-staff, Avery Lee, Kyle Vargas, Khori Vargas and Shawn Yarborough after they sued him, his business partner and the restaurant for withholding their overtime pay and for money damages, according to court papers obtained by BOSSIP.

The suit alleged that T.I. and his business partner Charles Hughes violated the Fair Labor Standards Act by withholding their employees’ overtime. One plaintiff, Lee, also contended that T.I. and the company retaliated against him when he complained about his wages.

T.I., Hughes and and the restaurant denied any wrong doing, but in settlement papers agreed that the case would be difficult to try on both sides, and that a settlement would be the best solution.

ATLANTA, GA – SEPTEMBER 25: T.I., Reggie Rouse, and DC Young Fly attend “TIP’s Birthday Celebration” at Scales 925 Restaurant on September 25, 2015 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Prince Williams/WireImage)

Under the settlement, Lee will receive $8,500 in back pay and $8,500 in money damages, Kyle and Khori Vargas will each receive $6,000 for overtime and damages and Yarborough will get a $2,000 payment. T.I., Scales and Hughes also agreed to shell out $43,000 to settle the men’s legal bills to bring the suit.

In total, T.I. agreed to pay a total of $39,000, while Hughes and Scales 925 paid another $39,000 to make the case go away.

In exchange, the former employees agreed not to hold T.I., Hughes or Scales 925 liable for their wage dispute and not sue them or the eatery again.

Although this case is closed, the “Whatever You Like” rapper and his restaurant is facing a separate suit over unpaid wages from other restaurant employees.