Feds: Biltmore Estate Violated Labor Laws

Federal authorities have fined the Biltmore Estate in Asheville for violating federal labor laws. 

The estate that owns the massive, gilded-age mansion in western North Carolina was fined for hiring a non-United States citizen over a qualified applicant from the U.S.

The U.S. Department of Labor said the Biltmore paid nearly $7,000 in back wages to an applicant for a cook position. The Asheville Citizen-Times reports the estate also spent more than $24,000 on a civil penalty.

Estate spokeswoman LeeAnn Donnelly said the hiring decision was the result of a "miscommunication" and that Biltmore "did not fully understand" the local applicant's desire for the entry-level cook position.

The 8,000-acre estate and mansion usually employ some 2,400 workers, depending on the season. It draws more than a million visitors a year.