In response to a class action lawsuit filed by employees against the Buddha-Bar NYC and alleging numerous unlawful pay practices, the owners of the original Buddha Bar in Paris, Dubai, Beirut, Sao Paolo, London and Cairo deny any affiliation with the Buddha-Bar NYC.
"We at the original and authentic Buddha Bar are disturbed to learn that the operators of the New York restaurant, calling itself the Buddha-Bar NYC, have been accused of failing to pay their employees as required by law," said Raymond Visan, an Owner of Buddha Bar Worldwide. "We assure you that all of our employees are well respected and compensated and this issue is only in the New York City Buddha Bar and does not represent the original and authentic Buddha Bar."
Legal action has been taken by the owners of the original Buddha Bar to force the owners of Buddha-Bar NYC to stop using the name. The operators of Buddha-Bar NYC are not licensed to use the name of the original and authentic Buddha Bar and have refused to stop using the name, forcing the original and authentic Buddha Bar to take this action.