Houston's parent settles suit over breastfeeding

Nation's Restaurant News,  Nov 5, 2007  

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WEST PALM BEACH, FLA. -- The Houston's chain's parent, Hillstone Restaurant Group, has settled a lawsuit filed here in June by a Boca Raton, Fla., woman who claimed she was asked to leave a local Houston's while breastfeeding her son.

The Beverly Hills, Calif.-based chain resolved the matter in September for an undisclosed amount and the case was officially closed Oct. 23, according to the plaintiff's attorney, Andrew Smith. He described the payment to Simone Bertucci as nominal.

Bertucci was asked to leave the restaurant by its manager, who was unaware that Florida law entitles women to breastfeed in public.

Hillstone previously apologized to Bertucci and expressed regret that she and her infant son had been made to relocate to her car while her family finished their meals. The company also had previously refunded the family's $150 meal cost.

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