Department of Labor Investigating Antico Pizza Owner for Wage Violations

The owner of several popular Italian restaurants in the Atlanta area is under investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor for allegedly not paying workers and threatening workers who spoke to the government.

Giovanni Di Palma, who owns Antico Pizza Napoletana, Gio’s Chicken Amalfitano, Bottega Luisa, Caffe Gio and Bar Amalfi, has been accused of withholding overtime pay for workers at his restaurants, reports CBS Atlanta. Some of the workers have logged up to 60 hours of work a week, the government says.

The government also claims that Di Palma has threatened to fire or deport any of his workers who have cooperated with wage hour investigators. The government is seeking an injunction which would legally bar Di Palma from speaking to his employees regarding the matter.

Di Palma’s attorney claims the injunction order denies Di Palma his due process rights, is not procedurally correct, violates Di Palma’s First Amendment rights, and is unnecessary because Di Palma has offered to agree to all “reasonable” conditions set forth by the department, an offer which the department allegedly refused to accept.