A federal commission has filed a class-action lawsuit against the owner of Roy's Poipu Bar & Grill on Kauai, saying that the restaurant operator ignored complaints alleging that a manager sexually harassed female staffers. Eatery sued over
sexual harassmentA federal commission accuses
Roy's Poipu of ignoring complaintsBy Rick Daysog
rdaysog@starbulletin.comIn a five-page suit filed in U.S. District Court yesterday, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission alleged that Roy Yamaguchi Enterprises and Hawaiian Pacific Restaurant Group failed to take action for "an undue length of time" against a Kauai employee who allegedly harassed female employees repeatedly since 1997.
The EEOC lawsuit is based on allegations by three female workers who alleged that the harassment was "persistent and egregious."
The commission said that Roy's promoted the employee to restaurant manager even after receiving complaints. Roy's fired the employee in 1999, the EEOC said.
"What kind of message is sent to employees when the person accused of harassment is given supervisory powers?" said Susan McDuffie, director of the EEOC's San Francisco District.
A manager at the Poipu restaurant declined comment.
In their suit the EEOC is asking that a federal judge issue an injunction against the restaurant barring any form of harassment. The commission also is asking that restaurant operators compensate alleged victims for lost wages, medical costs and emotional distress.
U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission